Design Process

[transgression]

Can't stress enough about the importance of the design process. Here is a quick overview of the process:
Feel free to PM me with anything you'd like to add/corrections that need to be made. Cheers


THE DESIGN PROCESS

•   Stage 1 – The design brief
-   The design process generally begins with a meeting between the client and the professional designer to discuss design brief
-   The brief is a form of contract between the client and the designer
-   They will discuss:
     * Communication need
     *   Audience to whom it is directed
     * Shareholders (other members of the client’s firm or team)
     * Purpose that the communication need is to fulfill
     * Context within which it will be seen, placed, presented
     * Limitations and constraint
-   It is essential that both the client and the designer agree on the content before work is commenced
-   It can be legally binding and can be altered during the course of the design process (with agreement)

•   Stage 2 – Research
-   The designer familiarize him/herself with the communication need
-   Research for information and ideas
-   The designer will:
     * Visit the site of the client’s company or business
     * Look for examples of competing information, businesses, environments and products
     * Look at existing company designs
     * Look at related design areas supported by a similar audience
-   The designer may also interview company personnel and clients
-   Designers may use: voice recorders, sketchbooks, Internet, books, camera etc
-   Once research is collected, the designer must analyze and interpret the information

•   Stage 3 – Generating Ideas
-   This most creative work in the entire design process is undertaken
-   Designers work freely and quickly to generate a range of possible solutions
-   Designers may employ other specialist designers to develop solutions so that there are a range of styles and responses to select possible solutions
-   Annotations occur here
-   Some ideas would be selected for further development

•   Stage 4 – Refining Ideas
-   The number of ideas chosen depends on what you are creating eg. Logos have more chosen ideas
-   Choice may also be related to cost, and time
-   Design elements, design principles, methods, media and materials and presentation formats are looked at
-   Before going back to the client, designers must:
     * Draw the object from different angles and in different media
     * Explore colour, surface texture and scale
     * Extend ideas through the use of computer software or test dyes and materials
-   Presentation choices:
     * Digitally presented
     * Mounted on card
     * Audio, moving image, stills, slides, models
-   These are all outlined in the design brief

•   Stage 5 – Evaluation
-   Most significant stage
-   To continue refining solutions, the designer will need the approval of the client at this period in the design process
-   A formal presentation of potential solutions will be presented for discussion with the client’s representative ( people in charge of marketing, accounting, advertising)
-   Sometimes the client might not like any solutions and the designer must start from scratch
-   The designer will test/evaluate design alternatives to ensure that they :
     * Are consistent with the communication needs (specific need, audience, purpose, context)
     * Are developed within the budget constraints
     * Can be completed within the specific time frame
     * Can be produced using existing processes and technologies

[misskaraleah]

Also just to add to Transgression's post.

Make sure you utilise the study design. Its the most crucial aspect of teh Visual Communication course.

http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/VCE/studies/visualcomm/viscommsd04.pdf

Pages 35-36 are extremely important. Know them backwards and you're a shoe in for the exam.

 

[transgression]

Oh, I might just add that there is/can be a development stage. I wrote summaries based on Guthrie and I'm not too sure why they do not include it. (Our school had a development stage for the design process).
Usually we did:
development = exploring materials, methods, media
refining = any computer work/if you're building a model, then pictures would be included here

The first post is correct as well (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

So it's as follows:
- Design Brief
- Research
- Generating Ideas <- please don't leave ideas out
- Developing Ideas
- Refining (through ICT) <- it's best if you add refining through what process you're using
- Evaluation/Final Presentation <- evaluation can be before final presentation

[manniet]

thankyou so much for all these!

[le-cobaye]

cheers transgression and misskaraleah
your help is appreciated!

[becky]

Oh, I might just add that there is/can be a development stage. I wrote summaries based on Guthrie and I'm not too sure why they do not include it. (Our school had a development stage for the design process).
Usually we did:
development = exploring materials, methods, media
refining = any computer work/if you're building a model, then pictures would be included here

The first post is correct as well (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

So it's as follows:
- Design Brief
- Research
- Generating Ideas <- please don't leave ideas out
- Developing Ideas
- Refining (through ICT) <- it's best if you add refining through what process you're using
- Evaluation/Final Presentation <- evaluation can be before final presentation

this is the same as me,
Design brief
research
generation, developement and refinement of ideas
final presentation