The Design Method : A Philosophy and Process for Functional Visual Communication

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Karjaluoto, Eric, Author.

Series:

Voices That Matter

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 v.) : ill.

Edition:

1st edition

Other Title:

Design Method

Place of Publication:

[Place of publication not identified] Pearson Education 2013

Language Note:

English

System Details:

text file

Summary:

Feeling uninspired? That shouldn’t keep you from creating great design work. Design is not about luck, inspiration, or personal expression. Design is a disciplined pursuit aimed at producing sensible, functional work for clients. In¿ The Design Method, ¿you’ll learn how to create quality design work on a regular basis that consistently pleases your clients using the same method that Creative Director Eric Karjaluoto uses at his creative agency, smashLAB.¿ The Design Method ¿will teach you a proven, repeatable process for solving visual communication problems. In this book, you will learn: Ways to conduct research and gain insight into your clients’ situations A process for establishing strategies and plans for your projects How to develop a cohesive concept and visual direction for each client/job An iterative approach to prototype, test, refine, and produce effective design Techniques for presenting and documenting creative work Tips for making your design studio operate efficiently and consistently

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication Page

Praise for The Design Method

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1. Debunking the Creative Myths

Understanding the Myths

Myth: Design Is Art's Cousin

Myth: Originality Exists

Myth: Different Is Good

Myth: You Must Seek Inspiration

Myth: Brilliance Matters

Myth: Design Is a Lifestyle

Myth: Personal Voice Is Key

Myth: Designers Are Smarter than Their Clients

Myth: Designers Are the Audience

Myth: Awards Count

Myth: Creative People Needn't Play by the Rules

Myths Have a Price

Up Next

Chapter 2. Creating Purposeful Design

A Utilitarian Pursuit

Form Follows Function

Restrain Yourself

Look for Problems

Own the Role

Eschew Ambiguity

Create Order

Make Design that Works

Achieve Suitability

Uncover Possibility

Design Is Everywhere

Chapter 3. Achieving Order Through Systems

Thinking in Systems

Design Gets Messy

Reckless Decisions Come at a Price

Trends Are Your Enemy

Systems Inform Design

You Face Many Questions

Determining Relationships in a Design System

Learning from Interaction Design

Organizing Information

Thinking About Visuals in Systems

Liberate Yourself

Systems Lead to Good Design

Chapter 4. Introducing The Design Method

Presenting The Design Method

The Fundamental Stages of The Design Method

How The Design Method Came to Be

The Method as a Funnel

Only One Concept (or Design Direction)

The Design Method Works

Design Methodology in Increasingly Varied Settings

Chapter 5. Gaining Understanding: The Discovery Stage

Discovery is About Knowledge

Entering Foreign Territory

Assume You're Wrong

Start Asking Questions

Get a Handle on the Basics

Get Firsthand Knowledge.

Set Up Discussion Sessions with Clients and Stakeholders

Find Underlying Problems

Identify the Audience

Interview Customers and Users

Recognize the Discrepancy Between What People Say and Do

Survey the Competition

Examine Parallel Offerings

Audit the Current State

Batten Down the Details

Always Seek Out Opportunity

Keep Turning Over Rocks

Chapter 6. Determining Course: The Planning Stage

Design is a Plan

Creating a Sensible Plan

Establishing Goals and Objectives

Determining Strategy

Playing Hunches

Shaping Your Plan

Planning for Interaction

Developing Personas

Scenarios, User Stories, and Use Cases

Flowcharting Actions

Planning a Sitemap

Developing a Content Inventory

Building Wireframes

Determining Content Strategy

Recognizing the Traps of Shadow Planning

Challenging Approaches and Beliefs

Making Recommendations

Crafting the Creative Brief

Preparing Documentation

Keeping Your Design Project Moving

Chapter 7. Working with Ideas: The Creative Stage

"Oh Yes Indeed, It's Fun Time..."

The Creative Conundrum

Being a Methodical Designer

Some Key Principles for Developing Creative Work

Considering Tone

How to Generate Ideas

Generating Ideas and Breaking Creative Blocks

Editing Your Ideas

Documenting the Creative Concept

Creative Evaluation

Determining Design Direction with Style Boards

Fostering a Collaborative Process

Getting Buy-in from Your Client

Chapter 8. Making Design Real: The Application Stage

Applying Your Creative Direction

Iteration: A Process of Refinement

Building Prototypes

Getting Around Obstacles

Using Placeholder and Actual Content

Determining the DNA

Showing Prototypes to Your Client

Testing Your Approach and Prototypes

Analyzing Test Results.

Refining Your Work Continually

Producing Your Design

Keep an Eye on the Brief

Get Nervous about Pesky Logistics

Prepare Checklists and Track Issues

Catching Mistakes Before Going Live

Getting Ready to Ship

Chapter 9. Presenting Work to Clients

Managing Client Interaction for Success

Moving Beyond Name Calling

Your Client's Reality

Communicate Well (and Perhaps Excessively)

Involve the Decision Makers

Defining Roles

Edit for Your Clients

Preparing for Your Presentation

Skip the "Thrilling" Unveil

How to Lead a Presentation

Stemming Prejudgment of Creative Work

Presenting Creative Work to Large Organizations

Documenting Planning, Ideas, and Design

Chapter 10. Bringing Order to Your Practice

Are You a Professional or Hobbyist?

Find Order in All Aspects of Your Profession

Define Procedural Systems

Replicate Successful Procedures

Meetings and Huddles

Ball in Play Workflow

Essential Tools and Techniques

Keep "Shipping"

Achieving Mastery

Suggested Reading

Acknowledgments

Index

About the Author.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9780133438987

0133438988

9780133438949

0133438945

9780321928849

0321928849

OCLC:

858681799