The Design Process

To design means to plan. Someone has designed almost everything we come in contact with.

The three steps of the design process are:

Step 1:  Concept

• Everything starts as an idea—a gleam in the designer’s eye! The concept is the starting point of the design, the idea---What you want to do!

• Brainstorm a written list of ideas for what you want to accomplish and how you plan to meet your client's needs.

• The steps that follow are directed by and must answer to the concept.

• The results are only as good as the ideas that originate them.
• Research is an important part of the concept. There are many reasons to do research: look for subject matter, find images for reference or discover techniques and styles.

Step 2:  Form

• Form is the process and the product.

• This is the physical part of the design process; it's when the work gets done.  You give form to your concept. Willingness to work until you are successful is an important attribute.

Part A:  Preliminary Sketches:  Where the visual idea is generated. Produce a variety of visual solutions.  They are in rough sketches, not final, detailed products.
 

Part B:  Variations:  Refine the preliminary sketch that has been chosen as the best one. Usually produce the variation to the same size as the finished product. Resolve any questions about the appearance. Emphasis is on detail.
 

Part C:  The Product:  Decide on your best idea, the one you will recommend to your client.  This one should be full colour.

Step 3:  Content

• Your final product created in software.

• Content is the meaning--Does the final product satisfy the concept?

• Only when the final product meets the expectations of the concept is the process successful.

• If the process inspires the designer to a new or better idea, then the concept can be modified.