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...
by victoria | Oct 18, 2012 | design methodologies
My creative process begins before I have an assignment. Naturally curious and desiring to learn, I explore as much as possible —new ideas, new ways to use typography, software, illustrative styles. And I observe — all the time. What are other designers doing, what are the trends? I look for ideas and ways to solve design challenges. When I begin a project, the first step is to research. What’s being done in similar areas, what does the collateral materials look like, what about branding? Research includes ways to communicate, as much background information about the client or project as possible. Brainstorming is process within a process. Mind mapping, word lists, word or idea associations, thumb-nailing, shower theory – step away for awhile, crazy ideas, more sketching. After arriving at several options it is time to analyze — have the objectives been meet? Does it communicate the message clearly? If so then I move onto ideation or the digital (or non) solution. Another round of analysis. It’s either on to refinement or back to the drawing board. This is not really the end, the final is never the final until it is approved by the client. One thing about the creative process is that is fluid, entailing far more research than ever thought. The course reading this week mentions the concept many young designers have – that designs magically appear out of nowhere, perhaps intuitively. While this is true to some extent, life and experience contribute to the process. You cannot work isolated, away from the happenings of the world. The ability to fit life into your work is what give your work humanity and relevance. COLLABORATION My skills set...
by victoria | Oct 14, 2012 | design methodologies
They often say there is a method to the madness, baby, I can feel the madness. The madness turns out to be very thoughtful approach to developing research methodologies. The blogs, the course discussions, the readings, the research, more reading, mapping, outlining, CRAPPing—it’s all starting to come together. Although it does feel a bit like my calculus class the night before the exam. Reading is key. Do it first. Get a grasp on the content of articles. I mistakenly gave credit to the wrong speaker yet the content spoke loudly to me. Organization is important. Make sure you keep quotes in context—reading in blurbs can lead to misunderstanding. Presentation Topic Introduction The first several presentation takes were too long. Thirteen minutes, the ten and finally 7 minutes and 18 seconds or there about. It was difficult to present the topics in a way that did not make a case or try to impress opinions on the viewer. Head long into the prep for the project, I realized mistakes in my preliminary prep and the organization of main topic points. However, for the video presentation I was able to highlight the topics. Presentation Tone Lets just say its a good thing the out-takes did not make it to air. Have a hard time pronouncing names like Poggenpohl and Guililium. And it may sound to anyone not familiar with me—like an accent. The words design decision roll off the tongue dezindeezcession. Talk a bit fast and can be a bit hyper excited. Vocabulary Presentation Pedagogy is probably the only word not everyone is familiar with, and really this speaks to the education of children. Yet it is the word we continue to use for...
