A good downtown design program always leads to an improved environment that reflects the present as well as the past. Though there is no exact formula for achieving it, good downtown design does require a few basic things: an appreciation of Main Street's unique assets, an eye for improvements that are compatible with the existing environment and the ability to use local design resources effectively. All components that communicate a visual message to consumers about the downtown - buildings, signs, public improvements, parking, merchandise presentation, graphics, walkways - should be addressed by the revitalization effort's design improvement program.