Designer's GuideSeven stages of design for new designers
1.Brief.
Every project can be separated into three primary components: Action steps are specific tasks that inch you forward. References are any project related handouts, sketches, notes or websites that you may need to refer to. Backburner items are things that are not actionable yet, but may be soon, or something that you can save for a project in the future.
2.Research.
Whether in virtual folders or in a paper based system, put your research in the right place. Use keywords to describe the contents. In months from now when you need it again, what keyword will you be looking for?
3.Ideas.
The greatest challenge for a creative is to consume their creative juice sparingly. New ideas have the potential to transform your work in wonderful ways, but they are also the most notorious source of distraction. Idea generation is an addiction that must be practised in moderation.
4.Roughs.
The creative persons tendency to jump from idea-to-idea often causes most ideas to die in isolation. Communicate your ideas, seek feedback on your roughs and develop a sense of accountability. When you feel accountable to others you are more likely to stay focused on the process.
5.Selection.
Success is the result of differentiation and emphasizing your unique value. Nothing extraordinary is achieved through ordinary means. The catalyst for making a meaningful impact is doing something different. Don’t be afraid to select the more unusual idea.
6.Solution.
When we sit down with a blank sheet of paper we have the tendency to think big. We ask ourselves, ‘what can I think of that is new and surprising?’ challenge yourself to search for the simple solution that can make a big difference.
7.Learn.
The start/continue/stop technique is simple and easy to implement. It works at the end of the year, at the end of the month or even after a single project. Feedback needs to be simple and action-oriented. The start/continue/stop methodology encourages a quick and efficient evaluation.
Every project can be separated into three primary components: Action steps are specific tasks that inch you forward. References are any project related handouts, sketches, notes or websites that you may need to refer to. Backburner items are things that are not actionable yet, but may be soon, or something that you can save for a project in the future.
2.Research.
Whether in virtual folders or in a paper based system, put your research in the right place. Use keywords to describe the contents. In months from now when you need it again, what keyword will you be looking for?
3.Ideas.
The greatest challenge for a creative is to consume their creative juice sparingly. New ideas have the potential to transform your work in wonderful ways, but they are also the most notorious source of distraction. Idea generation is an addiction that must be practised in moderation.
4.Roughs.
The creative persons tendency to jump from idea-to-idea often causes most ideas to die in isolation. Communicate your ideas, seek feedback on your roughs and develop a sense of accountability. When you feel accountable to others you are more likely to stay focused on the process.
5.Selection.
Success is the result of differentiation and emphasizing your unique value. Nothing extraordinary is achieved through ordinary means. The catalyst for making a meaningful impact is doing something different. Don’t be afraid to select the more unusual idea.
6.Solution.
When we sit down with a blank sheet of paper we have the tendency to think big. We ask ourselves, ‘what can I think of that is new and surprising?’ challenge yourself to search for the simple solution that can make a big difference.
7.Learn.
The start/continue/stop technique is simple and easy to implement. It works at the end of the year, at the end of the month or even after a single project. Feedback needs to be simple and action-oriented. The start/continue/stop methodology encourages a quick and efficient evaluation.
