Remember dealing with this when our library redid their teen section signs. The clean, bold look got teens to actually look at the boards, which was the whole point. Some longtime volunteers hated it, called it corporate. The library ran a simple poll for a month, and the new style won by a landslide. Sometimes trying too hard just means trying something new, and that's okay.
When our town hall got new benches, I voted for the sleek ones, but now everyone says they're not comfy and call them 'ice blocks'. I guess my eye for design is as good as my skill with houseplants. It's easy to miss the vibe when you're too set on what's new. But like Linda said, sometimes trying something is the whole point.