DESIGN PROCESS

DESIGN Every design starts from research and early concept.

Experimentation Designer always start from sketchbook Initial Photographic research

Then, Abstraction of photographs and addition of text

Further exploration of text Looking at figure-ground relationship and color

Then, cut off the numbers as an alternative

FINAL DESIGN The final designs show how the research impacted the decision made

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT Here’s another example. How a designer develop his idea. Typographic experiment Map as a background image

Extended photographic research Drawn from magazine Further image abstraction

The last series of sketchbook pages shows the final decision

FINAL BOOK COVER DESIGN

Designer always brings up idea but easy to forget. So, it’s better to use sketchbook to write the idea down Or if you see some inspiring thing, use your cell phone to take picture.

At that moment, you may not need it But if forms an archives of idea and inspiration It can save your day later I mean it helps your design later. This book saves you when you are short of idea

Make it a habit Do it constantly. When something grabs your attention, draw it, write it or photograph it Record your initial thought Over time, it becomes your “catalog of inspiration” Later on, you’ll find out that you develop your own signature & style.

Another designer’s sketchbook - Design library catalog Get inspiration on document book in library

Typography and architectural elevation of the library Type displayed on its side Vertical typography Vertical “book-spine-like” structure on a page

directional arrows and fists are traditional

Victorian library signage The charm and form of brown paper envelopes Example of proposed finishing material. Print test onto the chosen paper.

FINAL DESIGN You remember those directional fist & arrow from his sketchbook The graphic element and 19 th century fonts give a historical feeling

The back of catalog The guy is the chief librarian The line of text connect the old time( directional fist) to contemporary collection (that guy who is still alive)

Do you still remember his sketchbook? He likes the type on its side and the “book-spine-like” structure. He applies at here.

Do you remember that he likes the charm and forms of brown paper envelopes? Now, he applies at here

LINEAR REASONING / LATERAL THINKING Focus & methodical Diffuse & expansive Both are very useful research & development tools

Linear reasoning Stragetic thought process, step by step logic, following a specific path e.g. split the idea into components like color, type…etc Then, work each through Then, finalize the design to fit the concept Lateral thinking Indirect exploration, generate many ideas Emphasize on indirect creative forms of research e.g. brainstorming

Think some words that are associated Keep exploring and comes out the idea that you have never thought of.

Some designers like to do brainstorming first. Explore the idea Then, use linear reasoning at later stage e.g. think of color, type and structure split everything into parts and combine into one final piece. OR a more linear way like storyboard

EXPLORATORY DRAWING Goal: explore idea Concrete form ---> abstract idea Abstract Drawing Originally, he is drawing some organic shapes with movement. Later, it invokes some letter forms/ calligraphy

Through drawing, you can understand the subject as shape, color as tone. It helps you to understand perspective and how an object exists in space. It shows you how to convey texture & density.

Here’s an example Through drawing, you know more about dimension & space Also, experiment with different media e.g. pencil, chalk & ink….etc

Exploratory drawing helps you to “understand form” The background is a map After the designer trace it, he finds out that it’s similar to the forms of plant & flower.

VISUALIZING IDEA Thumbnails Sketches for business card layout shows variety of options During the initial design stages (we call this “roughs”)

The roughs can be shown to a client Before committing extra time to refining a design

ROUGHS 1/3 or half of actual size Vague and no need to be detail So, it leaves a lot of imagination and leave options open Designers use thumbnails & roughs to work out idea

Combining Styles These logo development sketches provides quick visualization. Then, you combine the style that your clients like. Explore the possible layout & make a final design

DON’T BYPASS THIS PROCESS! DON’T PRODUCE YOUR IDEAS DIRECTLY ONSCREEN!! ( What if the client doesn’t like your idea? You need to do it all over again. Kind of wasting your time)

Cost-effective flexibility After the client finalize the idea, you can do it on computer You can provide multiple version of that design On little refinement. E.g. color and typeface can be easily changed by computer. That’s more effective in this way.

Computer Visualization After the client finalize the theme, you just move around the image, typeface and color.