Introduction to Design
The analysis process is the first step of design and good analysis can lead to a great design.
A key outcome of the analysis should be to recognise and understand the needs of the user.
We should also consider
- Action – What is the user trying to do?
- Physical location – Where do they need to be to do “it”?
- Time – does the process need to take place at a specific time?
- Emotions – High energy or relaxed?
- Social – Individual or group task?
- Technology – What do they have? What do they need?
- Governance – Controls? Compliance? Standards? Restrictions?
Tim Brown, CEO and President of IDEO
It’s not ‘us versus them’ or even ‘us on behalf of them.’
For a design thinker is has to be ‘us with them’
For a design thinker is has to be ‘us with them’
Albert Einstein PhD, Physicist and Philosopher
We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we crated them.
Dieter Rams, Industrial Designer and Academic
Indifference towards people and the reality in which they live is actually the one and only cardinal sin in design. Good design, is as little design as possible. Good design, makes products useful.
Robert L. Peters, Graphic Designer and Educator
Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future.
Steve Jobs, Co-founder Apple Inc,
Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But, of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works.
Pearl Zhu, Author and Digital Visionary
Reflection is the underlying theme of Design Thinking.
Maggie Mcnab, Designer and Author
Design is a fundamental human activity, relevant and useful to everyone. Anything humans create – be it product, communication or system – is a result of the process of making inspiration real.
Dr Prabhjot Singh, Director of Systems Design at the Earth Institute
We spend a lot of time designing the bridge but not enough time thinking about the people who are crossing it.
So, what are all these quotes telling us about “design”?
- Design should not be complicated – keep it simple.
- Design should be useful – it should add value to its user.
- Just because something looks good, it doesn’t make it a good design – it has to work as well.
- Design is a collaborative process – involving our stakeholders makes for a better end result.
- Design can change our culture and way of working – good design can be inspiring.
- Good design is innovative – we need think differently to make things better.
Can we apply these concepts to process design?
YES, ABSOLUTELY!