Design efficiently with a design process guide ready. You don’t have to start from scratch with every project.
As designers, we have our own way of doing things. We’re artists who don’t usually follow a step-by-step procedure and often act on our instincts. However, a design process can be a big help. Having the right tools, processes or workflows can help us stay organised and focused whilst still allowing room for creativity.
If you’re looking to add some structure to your design process, here’s a six stage design process you can follow. This guide is a simple breakdown of stages you can integrate into your own process that will help you get the best results.
The research stage is the foundation of any good design. This is the stage where you’ll be conducting various forms of research, such as gathering data, talking to experts, and collecting inspiration that will shape your design. Think of it as some kind of mystery challenge where you’ll uncover insights around the needs of the customer or business requirements that will serve as the foundation of the design solution.
The ideation stage is where the magic happens. This is where you take all the information you've gathered in the research stage and start brainstorming possible solutions to your design challenge. This stage is all about exploring as many possibilities as you can, so get crazy. You can use mind maps, sketching, or any other method that works for you to generate as many ideas as possible.
Now that you’ve generated ideas from the ideation stage, it’s time to run them into something concrete. In the concept development stage, you'll be working on refining your ideas, sketching out rough drafts, and making decisions about which concepts have the most potential.
One of the key elements of concept development is wire framing, which is a crucial step in visualising the structure and functional elements of a design. It allows designers to experiment with layout, navigation, and other functional aspects of the design before committing to a final design.
The iteration and refinement stage is where the design begins to take shape. During this stage, designers take their refined concepts and continue to make improvements and fine-tune their designs. Prototyping can play a key role in this stage, as it allows designers to test and experience the design in a tangible way. This stage is all about testing, getting feedback, and making any necessary changes to make sure the design is exactly what the user needs.
The goal of this stage is to create a design that ticks all the boxes - one that meets the requirements and objectives set out in the research and concept development stages.
The testing and validation stage is where the design is put to the test. User testing is a key aspect of this stage, where real users provide feedback on the design's usability and functionality. It's about making sure the design meets all the requirements and objectives set out in the earlier stages, and is user-friendly and easy to use for the intended audience. Basically, this stage is crucial in ensuring the final design is not just a pretty face, but also functional and ready for the real world.
This is where the design is brought to life and transformed into a tangible product. Whether it's a website, app, or physical product, the implementation stage is all about executing the design and making it a reality. From coding to construction, this stage is all about making sure the design is executed flawlessly and meets the standards set in the earlier stages. The end result? A beautiful, functional design ready to make an impact in the world.
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