by victoria | Oct 30, 2012 | design methodologies
Every term my mind is more open to the possibilities. While all this preliminary work is at times time consuming – it serves as a good exercise. As able I try to introduce the students to the concept of preliminary work and record keeping. They live computer and so it can be a stretch. There is no formal organization when they do preliminary work, my own is getting better yet my physical methods need improvement. I may have a methodology now it needs refinement. This term also expanded the writing methodology which will be most helpful when it comes time to do a thesis project.’ Thankful … for a second chance when most needed, a Professor who doesn’t let us off the hook (no matter how painful) developing skill set and expanded thinking. Goals for the week – get it done! Get one night of 7 plus hours of sleep. Learn and implement into new more...
by victoria | Oct 30, 2012 | design methodologies
This week reviewing the three process binders included in the unit readings, I am struck with how different everyone’s binders can be. Jane Dorns was the most inspiring in that it was casual yet tight, it was also not elaborately designed and relied on the process to work out the details. It looked like a sketch book and not a project. In the PDF version half the spread was computer generated the other the sketch book page. An idea from Dorn’s Process is the yellow highlighting of usable or best ideas. This is very clever simple device used to jog her own memory and process as well as guide the reader through. April’s as well is very clean, white paper, small type and lines used to direct the flow. Again the same half page digital information and the other the sketch book. Turpin’s book is more “designed” yet her illustrations are wonderful. They are well done and rich with detail for thumb-nailing. *********** Ironic that this is the course content for the week because it has come to me that I need to sketch on half sheets of tracing paper so that I can scan them easier. I have tried to make my process binders simple and clean and have not succeeded at this. In past courses we were shown examples that look like we designed thought out final projects which in reality were process binders. What I take from this is permission to keep it clean(er) and spend more time on the ideation and less on the compilation. I do like to sketch on tracing paper because of the smooth surface and the way the markers leave...
by victoria | Oct 24, 2012 | design methodologies
Our processes determine the quality of our products. If we wish to improve our products,we must improve our processes; we must continually redesign not just our products but also the way we design. That’s why we study the design process. To know what we do and how we do it. To understand it and improve it. To become better designers. Dubberly,Hugh. How do you design?, (San Francisco: Dubberly Design Office, 2005) Two things passed my way today that got me thinking about the process and students. One was a link to a site which had 50 examples of creative brainstorming for logo’s (noupe.com) and the above quote of Dubberly from the intro to his new book, How Do You Design. My own process is undergoing an amazing amount of growth, I am invigorated by expansion of my knowledge and skills. In class or shortly after a few students were hanging around and we were talking about what design education could look like. This was in response to which software to use. In a short span of 62 credits, there is not enough time to evolve and explore further the skills obtained. Too much emphasis is on the teaching of software and not enough on thinking. Yet as possible small steps can be made – at least for now to get students thinking. Yet the process is lost on most. While many balk at the limitations or assignment perimeters, the hope is one day they will think back to being forced to sketch or brainstorm and illumination will...
by victoria | Oct 24, 2012 | design methodologies
LOVE! Nathan Felde’s What the AIGA didn’t tell you,” process. The first step Felde lists first “acquiring a distinctive persona” is so spot on. It is a bit cynical and snarky yet so much of the industry is fitting the image. The bright side of this is that people with persona’s or personality that stands out – stands out. And anyone can take something about themselves and make it part of a persona. (Dubberly 49) Bryan Lawson, Creative Process is another that speaks to me in a real way. Insight, prep, incubation, illumination and verification. Such words put a magical spin on the process. Incubation and Illumination. The bright idea that sparks. Lawson gives credit to the period of time in the process where one is not conscientiously thinking about the process – rather they are not and that is when the solution shows itself. This is also know as the shower effect. (Dubberly 42) Lawson’s model doesn’t give much room for analysis, yet it it does give creed to the mental process of creativity. Ideo adds a step “rapid prototyping” which is an interesting concept – they feel you should not waste time, mock up everything from products to services. This seems like a useful way to brainstorm beyond the norm. It add excitement and energy that can push the ideas. (Dubberly 65) The system approach after Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, allows for continuous back and forth movement through every step which seems to be the most reflective of the design process where as anyone other than the designer is involved. (Dubberly 32) My own approach is evolving regarding my process. Room for brainstorming in alternative ways and analysis is developing. Hugh Dubberly, How do you design?, (San Francisco: Dubberly Design Office,...
by victoria | Oct 18, 2012 | design methodologies
Once upon a time — the process of working while the world slipped away was groovin, then it because in the zone and now its the flow. Go with the flow has been a saying for a long while. It is not necessarily the same as achieving design flow. Honestly have no idea when the actual concept came to my realization, yet I can remember spending hours in my darkroom as a teen, surprised later to find several hours had passed. Then drafting or drawing elevations, again hours would zoom by. Sitting at the computer pushing elements around on the page the same feeling of the world slipping away occurs. This tends to happen whenever I am engaged in the process of creation, particularly when it is going well. Or yoga. Sadly my running days never put me in the zone. Sometimes work is not going well and it becomes harder to focus. The groove, the zone, the flow don’t come. The mind wonders aimlessly and nothing great accomplished. It is at those times that I have to fake the groove. Usually find time when the house is quiet (or as quiet as possible with a teen, two cats and a dog who barks at every leaf that drifts by the window). I light some candles, yellow for creativity. Make some tea or hot lemon water. And trick myself into relaxed mode. I reread the requirements and then set to focusing on the project. Hadn’t thought of fitting it into my methodology because it organically happens once I am in the brainstorming or ideation stages. Yet the fake it till you make it zone could...
