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...
