Where does design sit in the process from idea to creation?
There are many different ideas around where design starts and finishes. However in my mind it is not about where it starts but where is it essential. Working with people from many different backgrounds has shown me that the earlier you engage a design resource the better the outcome. The best results come from a combination of skills. Often the instigator is the visionary. They have seen a need or a problem and have a desire and passion for change. By partnering with the correct designer the visionary can convey their expertise in their field into a design brief for research and concept creation.
“...the earlier you engage a design resource the better the outcome..”
The research and concept phase is where ideas and prototypes are explored, created and tested. There is a loop where often many different concepts are explored until a favoured one is identified. This then provides some clarity of what the product actually is. From there it is often a relatively simple task to create the product
The design phase can also have a profound effect on the design brief itself. At regular intervals the brief must be examined to ensure connection between the problem/vision and the item. Sometimes during the prototype/research phase there is a realisation that the problem may not be what you thought it was at the beginning.
Engaging ID3D early in your project ensures a broad range of solutions are explored until the best one is found.
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