Chapter 1. The Design Process
The design process can embody many different forms to many different designers. Some are activators and jump head first into the creative process before even having thought about what the heck they're doing. Some slow and methodical, thinking about the finished product even before the first stoke of a brush or the pencil has even hit the paper. David A. Lauer and Stephen Pentak have narrowed this process down to three activities that lead us through to the Design Process.
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| Groening, Matt. "Homer Simpson" The Sojourn. 27 Jan. 2011. Web. <http://sojournoflife.blogspot.com/2011/01/case -of-rejection-social-and-personal.html |
Thinking: Every piece of art was created with something in mind. Whether the intentions are to inspire an emotion, solve a problem or just leave you with more questions, someone has put brain power into why it does what it does.
Before you can go off and create the next masterpiece there are many decisions to be made; what do I want to achieve as a designer, how am I going to get there, what medium am I going to use, and how is it going to be received, to name a few. We can use everything that has been filling up our internal hard-drives to answer these questions, as well as the world around us. Inspiration can hit at any moment and come from any source.
As we think about design we must consider the content and function of what we will be presenting. These will shape the visual structure and determine whether or not the concept will even work. Thinking through this will insure you start out in the right direction and hopefully save you from drawing yourself into a dead end.
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| 1 Swim Goggle. "swim cap" Web. <http://swim-goggle-guides. blogspot.com/2011/05/wore-swim- caps-like-these.html> |
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| Irish Central. "Sinead O'Connor; Nothing 2 Comparesto You Period". 30 Jan. 2012 Web. <http://www.irishcentral.com/story /ent/amyandrews_gossipgirl/troubled -oscar-nominee-sinead-oconnor -back-with-her-husband-barry-herridge- for-a-second-time-138317629.html> |
Aerodynamics dictate that a shaved head allows a swimmer to hit speeds that the same swimmer could not reach with long flowing hair. The swim cap (1) was designed because not everyone wants to shave their head (2). Now that's design!
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| Other Ophthalmic Devices. "Glass eyes with diseases". 2001-2010. Web. <http://www.eyeantiques.com/OtherOphthalmic Devices/Glass_eyes_diseased.htm> |
Looking: This is arguably the number one source for any artist/designer. We can use everything around us. We observe and are inspired by acts of nature, historical references and artifacts and even other peoples designs.
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| Animals Doing It. "Froggy Style" 20 Jan. 2011. Web. <http://animalsdoingit.blogspot.com/2011/01/doin-it-froggy-style.html> |
Doing: Take all of the thinking and looking and put it to use. Just remember, you may not get it right the first time. (3) Draw sketches, play with different mediums. You may spend hours upon hours on a project just to scrap it and start all over again. Also remember that just because you think it's done doesn't mean everyone else thinks it's done. Always allow room for criticism. There are going to be times to hold true to your design and others to acknowledge that the clients opinion weighs more than your fragile ego.
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| Titanic Sinking. The Sphere. 27 April, 1912. Gouache on Board/Lithograph. Web. <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/matania.html> |
These three steps rolled into one great Design Process can lead you to the promise land. Remember to think about what you would like to accomplish as well as the means to do so, use visually poignant and stimulating design aesthetics and get your hands dirty!
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