The Design Process

For many people, the design process can be confusing and even chaotic. If you approach the process with guidelines to follow, the design will develop more thoroughly. I'd certainly have a difficult time putting together a desk if it did not come with instructions. So why put together a design with guidance? Don't confuse the design process with brainstorming. Brainstorming is something that should be boundless and generate ideas. The design process is a guide to refining and formulating the ideas into a finished solution. If you stick to the step laid out below, your designs will develop easier and the finished product will be more polished.

1. Identify the objective

• What is the desired outcome?
• When is it due?

 

2. Collect information about the objective

• What is it that will judge the success of this design?
• Explore the culture, industry or environment.
  
  

3. Analyze the information

• What relationships do you find within your research?
• Is there a general feel among them?

4. Explore solutions

• Brainstorm ideas – write all ideas down.
• Create thumbnail sketches.
• Clip images that express ideas.

5. Choose the best ideas

• Narrow the best ideas down to about three to develop more completely.
• Be objective. Think on behalf of the audience.

6. Filter the ideas

• Refine and develop the designs.
• Create a timeline to stay on track.

7. Implement the design

• Submit the designs to the client.

8. Critique and receive feedback

• The client may have suggestions to implement.
• Be open to constructive criticism.

9. Refine the design

• Use the feedback received to fulfill the objective

 

10. Submit completed works

Everyone has their own way of doing things, but in general, they all break down to the illustrated steps. Of course, just like art itself, everything is subjective and open to further development so please don't feel entirely bound by these guidelines for they are not rules, but rather just a plan.