My Design Process - Study Task 01: (The Design Process?) Mind Map and Paper Folding

Design Process - Mind Map

Today we began looking at the Design Process and how everybody works individually. First off we created a mind map of all the things we do and consider whilst in the Design Process.

Then we used them to make a flow sheet showing a rough order. I found it quite hard to put everything in a set order because I find research is an ongoing thing as well as experimenting and getting feedback. It is important to constantly experiment and push the idea as well as constantly asking for feedback during crits because other people have different thoughts that can be really beneficial when it comes to developing an idea.

Paper Folding

First Idea:

We then moved on to experimenting with folding paper to try and show this. One idea that I began to develop was a booklet but both left and right pages folded out to reveal another layer. Creating this out of an A3 sheet allowed for 10 pages, meaning it folds out twice.

Once open you can see the first two pages.

Number 1 then folds out to reveal page number 4. Page number 3 is on the back of page 1.

The same again on the other side but with 5 and 6.

The 4 is then folded out and on the flip side its 7, with 8 underneath. 

Again, repeated on the other side showing pages 9 and 10.

The idea I had behind this fold out was to try and show how many layers of planning and how many different stages are in the design process. Im not quite sure how I would fit the information into the booklet but each page could be a designated main category. For example:

1.  Understanding the problem and requirments.
2. Mind map
3. Consider target audience...etc
4. Research
5. Experiment
6. Get Feedback
7. Choose one to pursue
8. Document everything. Good and Bad
9. Decide on Final Plans
10. Present, Reflect and Evaluate.

Second Idea:

My second idea to come from the first is to have a leaflet with a simple almost timeline bar, connecting 'read brief' and 'final design'. Both sides of the paper are pulled out to reveal a complicated amount of steps to the design process. The theory behind this is that at first a design process seems relatively straight forward but once you get into it there are so many more steps than originally thought.

 

This was a rough sketch of the idea. I don't like the idea of having it like a time line through the middle with different options coming off of it. I much prefer the second sketch with different answers to questions. I feel like the second one would be easier to relink back to options. For example: begin to research ideas > experiment > is it practical? NO > back to researching ideas or if YES > get feedback. The layout of the second idea is easier to work with and understand compared to the chunky block layout of the first sketch. After all the design process isn't clear sections, research and experimentation overlap constantly.

I will try to perfect this diagram so that it covers the whole design process as well as looking aesthetically pleasing and being simple to use.