To balance design style and database performance, start by understanding the priorities of your users and business to determine whether design or performance is more critical. Analyze and optimize your current design and database structure to identify and address bottlenecks, focusing on query performance, indexing and data retrieval methods. Implement a component-based design to isolate performance-critical areas, allowing improvements without overhauling the entire design.

- Understand the Requirements: Start by clarifying the functional and aesthetic requirements. - Optimize Queries: Focus on writing efficient queries. Use indexing to speed up data retrieval, and consider denormalization where appropriate for performance, while still maintaining a clear structure for design needs. - Data Modeling: Use a logical data model that supports your design goals but is also optimized for performance. - Use a CDN: If your design relies on heavy assets, leverage a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve static files faster, reducing the load on your database.