25/04/2016 - Lecture
In this lecture, we looked at the different design processes and the different stages. We looked at the double diamond design process which we looked at ages ago, I remember writing a blog post which I included the double diamond process.
There are 7 stages of a design process, I didn't know there were 7 stages, I thought it was just define, research, experiments/development and final design but there are more so I was eager to learn the other stages.
7 stages of the design process -
1) Define
2) Research
3) Ideate
4) Prototype
5) Select
6) Implement
7) Learn
1) Define
The start is about figuring out what the brief is trying to tell you and how you can tackle the problem.
You got to think about your target audience, amount of time you have, budget requirements, what exactly is the problem and how to solve it which is why questions like who, why, where, what, when and how are important, it will make the job easier.
question examples......
- Who is your target audience and client?
- What does your client want from you?
- When is your deadline?
- Where will the design be used?
- Why does the client require a design solution?
Basically, my job is to create a concept or story that conveys a clear message to my target audience, otherwise it wouldn't be successful because if my target audience don't feel something towards the message or don't understand the message then I have failed.
To communicate successfully, my message has to connect with my target audience on a personal level, it could be a solution to a problem they have or just simply to make them laugh.
2) Research
There are different types of research....
- Primary which is data collected by the researcher e.g me and secondary which is data that already exists.
- Qualitative is facts and reasons and quantitative which is statistics.
The point of research is basically to inspire and influence you. At the end of your research, you should have several ideas in your mind, if your research was effective.
You can normally tell if someone's research was successful or a failure by the ideas they have, which is why having an effective research could be the key to a great idea.
3) Ideate
This part is the ideas you have generated from your research. This stage is where you look at what you have and the ideas you have generated and by the end of this stage, you should have a clear idea or ideas that you have picked to develop further.
4) Prototype
This stage is all about creating a prototype like an example of what your final design could look like, this is key because it will give you an insight of what your final piece will look like and see if you need to make any changes to it. It isn't your final design so mistakes can happen which then can be fixed later on, as long as you have something to show.
Ideally, you should have 3 ideas with which to prototype on so that you have a range of work to pick from in case one goes badly or you /client doesn't like it anymore.
5) Select
This part is where you start to or already select the best work to display.
6) Implement
This stage is where you define and refine your work to get rid of any mistakes and make it as professional and good as possible. This is the stage where you add the finishing touches to your work.
7) Learn
This is the part where you look at your final work and get some feedback from people but also from yourself, ask yourself, what would you do differently next time?, where/what can you improve?, what don't you like?, what do you like about it? and have you solved the problem?
These questions are vital to ask yourself so next time you will be more prepared and know where you went wrong so you won't make the same mistake.
Conclusion
I have learned the different design stages there are. I found this information useful because I can use it when I'm doing a project, I can ask myself questions to help me understand what the problem is and how I can start solving the problem.
I have learned how important it is to ask questions and to answer them. I have asked myself questions in the past which has helped me but I'm going to continue and ask more questions to myself.
I like the last stage which is 'Learn' because I like to keep improving myself and the only way I can do that is by looking at my previous works and look at what and how I can improve certain aspects of my skills. I can do the same with this blog by looking at previous blog posts and improving them.
