Design Process
- Grace C
- Apr 7, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 8, 2020
In DES100 we were tasked with creating a wallet/purse. We were required to go from an idea to a prototype. What occurred in between was the design process. The process we used was a framework that helped us to think like a designer and dig deep so we could come up with a successful solution.
We started with an interview. I asked my stakeholder about her wallet and its contents. We started with shallower level answers like its contents and it's colour. In the second stage of the interview I had to dig deeper. I asked her about things like; where she got it from, does it have sentimental value and what does she dislike about it. This interviewing process allowed me to understand what she liked and what she wanted from a new wallet.
The next stages were to capture my finding and come up with a point of view. This meant that I summarised the information I received and took the useful information to create a direction that I was heading with the design.
Then I created some quick sketches and showed them to her to see what she liked. She selected one that she felt best met her needs and I created a more detailed sketch from that, I then created a prototype. The prototype was made from card and glue but it meant that my stakeholder could physically inspect it to give me feedback.
I gave my stakeholder the prototype and asked her what worked and what didn't. If I were to continue this process I would have created a new prototype with all the changes she recommended as well as all the features she liked.
This process was a simplified one as we were under time constraints however it could easily be compared to the Design Councils Double Diamond Design Framework/the Framework for Innovation. (DC, 2020)
The Framework for Innovation contains the steps from the double diamond (discover, define, develop, deliver) as well as extra steps such as; being human centered, communicating, collaborating and iterating. (DC, 2020)
(DC, 2020)
One of the main parts of the Framework the Design Council includes is being human centered. Throughout the process I carried out my stakeholder was involved every step of the way this meant I was designing for her rather than myself. This also meant that a great deal of communication was involved in the process though a number of methods such as verbally and visually. This also meant I had to iterate a lot as she was telling me aspects of the design that she did not like.
Following a design process meant that I was able to efficiently streamline my ideas to meet the requirements of my stakeholder. By communicating with her throughout the entire process I was able to create a design that met all her needs. Following a process creates a structure that leads to a good design efficiently and allows you to better understand the problem or person you are designing for. (IDF 2020)
(1) The Design Council (2020) What is the framework for innovation? Design Council's evolved Double Diamond. The Design Council
(2) Friis Dam.R, Siang Teo.Y (2020 March) 5 Stages in the Design Thinking Process. The Interaction Design Foundation.
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