Last week we talked about the Pomodoro Technique and how the app derived from its method: Focus Booster is a great way to induce focus and increase productivity in the design studio. This is a great general use tool to cover all stages of the design process that involve paperwork or computer work: but what is the design process – and do we all follow the same structure? Probably not, and it is important that we each have our own approach and methods since this is what distinguishes our styles from one another, and delivers our own identities to prospective clients.
For me though, it is important to at least attempt to stick to a format of logical progression.
I have never been good with deadlines…ever! Often at school or college I would only begin coursework or projects the night before they were due for submission. Naturally I handed them in a day or two late and suffered the subsequent penalties, but for some reason I really needed that pressure of impending failure to motivate and inspire my creativity – often producing work that was outstanding amongst my peers but that which I’m not sure could have been achieved if I had completed on (or in plenty of) time.
I therefore benefit greatly from the Pomodoro Technique and the mini-deadlines it creates.
Clearly there many aspects to producing a design and a set of drawings for a client; to me these are as follows:
- Initial presentation of the brand.
- Enquiry handling.
- Consultation.
- Survey.
- Digestion and formatting of information, and then an application of creativity to induce a loose concept.
- Formalisation of a firm concept.
- Production of concept images.
- Presentation.
- Production of technical drawings and specification.
- Delivery of product.
These perhaps aren’t exhaustive steps but they are what I would identify as being the main stages of design production and the process takes a period of weeks to complete.
Each of these 10 stages prompts a communication with the client and should set the rhythm for dialogue throughout the process. I deliver a report or some form of literature after each and every stage and hope, by doing this, that I keep my client’s informed, keep them involved in the design dialogue with a sense of collaboration, and also deliver added value which helps them to respect the professionalism of my humble business.
Next week we I’d like to tell you all about the different software applications that I combine to produce my work – and hope that you might share likewise!
What do you identify as being the key aspects of the design process and how long do you normally spend on producing any one design?
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