Questions about whether web design is necessary or affordable are quite beside the point; if you have or want a web presence then design is inevitable but it does not need to cost the earth. The alternative to good web design is bad web design, not no design at all. Without realising it design judgements are made by all of us all of the time. Our individual concept of good design is simply the result of making these decisions consciously, at the right stage, as the want or need arises. My job, as web designer is to guide your customers, by way of good design, to your product or service at an affordable cost to your business.