The importance of visual design as an integral part of software and Web development is still often overlooked. Peter highlights the importance and value of visual designers as key contributors to the design and structure of products. They provide a different and compelling perspective on the visual design of information technology. Although there have been many successful and high-profile integrations of visual design, such as Apple, Yahoo!, and Amazon, sometimes software development tools are overlooked.

Software development tools are equally as important as consumer products because they can both benefit from the improved user experience and ease of use that professional visual designers can provide. Efficiency savings and reduced errors are also important in this arena. The paper highlights the benefits of prototyping through visual design, in order to explore concepts before cutting any code. This is a crucial step in any project. An example of an application of visual design within the eclipse.org software development framework is provided.