Unmythifing the Design Process

26 Jan 2011, Posted by Andrea in awareness,design,lifestyle, 1 Comments

Books about design are increasing in popularity and selection

For many reasons people have become more curious about the design process. As design is becoming part of everyday vocabulary people have also increasingly become fascinated and want to understand it. The Curious are understanding that the designs they see are a result of a process more difficult to understand. The wish to comprehend it (good luck!) has increased the attention the design process receives.

The phrase design process is being used much more today, in all forms of medias and industries. The phrase receives more that 4 million hits on Goggle and likely almost as many attempts to define it. In addition to the demand for information, the access (aka the Internet) has made it possible to gain and share it.

We live in a world where design and the creative process no longer belongs to just the designers. The process is being shared – the magic of how great design is transferred from idea to outcome is adapted to new industries. For example, the Human Centered Design Toolkit is a free guide for NPO’s to create social innovation by adapting a design process. Giving NPO’s access to the Toolkit has resulted in revolutionary innovations for several NPO efforts.

The Human Centered Design Toolkit has instigated new thinking and great innovations in the nonprofit world

Furthermore, performance art, live-action painting, and open art studios are growing in followings. Ben Johnson invited us into his art studio and creative process this winter through a video online . Herman Miller is sharing its designs, research, and thinking with the world. Their process, focused on sustainability, efficiency, and good design I am hoping others will ‘steal’ because it is a design process we all should adopt.

Ben Johnson in his studio

The increase in openness and transparency is great and it can help center consumers’ attention upon who you are and the values you are offering as a company.  It is interesting times we are living in.

Images from:

http://www.wallpaper.com/video/art/insidei-artist-ben-johnsons-studio/676057995001

http://www.ideo.com/work/human-centered-design-toolkit/

http://www.wallpaper.com/gallery/art/ben-johnson/17052199#38034

http://www.dwell.com/articles/dwell-labs-architecture-and-design-books.html