THE FIVE STEPS TO MY DESIGN METHOD

Before making any attempt at solving a design problem, the outcome depends on the designer’s creativity, technical skills and formal knowledge of good design. As a designer, I possess these essential qualities and more. I am very observant and absorb the world around me. I have a natural curiosity and sensitivity to notice even the slightest details. I am always interested in learning about people, culture and different life experiences. I am friendly and always try to make positive connections with my peers and clients.

I believe that graphic design is not just about making pretty pictures—it goes much deeper than that. Graphic design is about communicating a message to a specific target audience. That takes talent and a brain to yield successful designs.

Great designers strive to be innovative in their designs that will captivate the audience; who bring practical understanding, imagination and emotion to transform ideas into aesthetically compelling designs. Most of all, who bring passion and drive to all projects. I find a good challenge to be stimulating and always value constructive criticism and feedback to bring my designs up to the next level.

I consider myself to be an artistic scientist. I’ve always carried what I learned in my elementary school days of logic and scientific problem solving. I use the five steps of what I call the “creative-scientific method”.

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STEP ONE: DEFINE PROBLEM & TARGET AUDIENCE.

In order to fully understand the problem or task at hand, I must ask questions and listen carefully to the responses. This information is written down on the design brief, which is the single most important document. This allows everyone involved, including the clients, to be on the same page and fully understand the goals and expectations of the project.

STEP TWO: MAKE OBSERVATIONS/ RESEARCH.

This step is crucial: making observations and conducting research. Reading, observing and understanding the company by heart, current design trends and the company’s competitors are fundamental to build a strong design.

STEP THREE: PROPOSE HYPOTHESES/CONCEPTS.

Not having a strong concept makes a weak design, no matter how well-executed. Concepts are the heart of all great design. Relying on what I understand from the design brief and my research, I work at coming up with ideas that I think may resonate the most with my target audience.

STEP FOUR: TEST THE HYPOTHESES.

Finally, I take what I have gathered to practice. It is in this step that I perform design experiments (execute) to come up with solutions. Like in any science problem-solving, I have the control and the variable. My control is the current company situation. And my variables are the different ways of presenting the concept(s). By sketching thumbnails, executing and creating comps, I am ready to present my designs to the clients and if financially feasible, to test the target audience.

STEP FIVE: RECORD REACTIONS AND RESULTS.

By this point, the designs have been proofed (and reproofed) and published! Time to feel confident, lie back and watch as the solutions brew reactions and positive results!