Designing Different Things
Tips, Tricks, and Basics of Design
The world of design is full of myths. These are passed from one person to another, changing ever-so-slightly along the way. Some people believe that to design, you must be an artist. Or, that a design idea comes from a simple “flash” of inspiration of just the most privileged among us.
It makes sense that many people don’t know much about design; after all, the ins and outs of design aren’t found in the traditional school curriculum.
When it comes to design, some believe it is a mindset and it is something you can learn if you put your mind to it. Some tips, tricks, and basic information about design and the world of design can be found here.
Design Is a Process
Design represents a specific way that you approach problem-solving that applies to the various cognitive activities involved with design thinking. These are the processes that designers leverage to help create solutions. The design way of thinking is a creative process of thinking backward – starting at from the people that leads to the design of a product, service, or something altogether based on the conclusions gathered along the way.
Good Design Is Messy
When you are designing, there’s no single, straight path to go from your starting point to the end point. A better way of thinking is in terms of “squiggly lines” that lead to a single, final destination after you have taken several detours. Design thinking is something that involves integrative thinking. This is the ability you have to exploit opposite or opposing constraints or ideas to create an all new, creative solution. This process is often messy.
It Requires Empathy
As a designer, you must have the ability to put yourself in the position of the user. This is true regardless of if it is a learner or a customer. This means seeing the world as they do – through their eyes. With an effective design, it shifts the thinking from objects or technology to people. It is something that is based on what people require to improve their overall situation or to make things easier and better.
Context is the Basis of Good Design Solutions
An effective design will involve thinking about in the context that they are going to be used. Quality design will observe people in context, and it requires thinking. For example, how are people going to use something or in what situation would they use a course?
Prototypes Are a Must
Quality design practice will move quickly into the prototyping phase to allow users and peers to test out the product. In areas of industrial design, this could be a prototype of a device. If you are in the eLearning industry, it may be part of a game or even an array of interactions.
Understanding design and how to orchestrate a design is key to ensuring that you achieve the desired results, regardless of what they are or what your project is aimed at achieving.