Design Process: The Way To Go

This is Part Two of Karolina’s series on methods developed in our Creative Team. You can check out Part One here and and Part Three here

A good meal satisfies needs: it’s nutritive and pleasurable. To cook up a good result and avoid a mess you have to follow the recipe: prepare tools and ingredients, regard the subsequent steps, know the time limit and requirements not to overcook or burn it and, of course, know what the desired result is. Things are no different with a well designed product. To achieve a good result always track the procedure, exactly like in your kitchen.

For an educated designer, design process is not a revelation. Several design methodologies introduce different process approaches; they are widely known and constantly enhanced by professionals. Examples of this include User Centered Design, Design Thinking or Lean UX.

At Polidea we are constantly working out our fusion cuisine design process that derives from the best role models and will suit our project challenges accurately. While trying out and improving our design process we found it has many advantages.

A Business Development tool

A project’s subsequent design steps description and time estimation in the form of a proposal allows our clients to make a decision. This kind of description is a base to assess and evaluate. They simply know what to expect and avoid buying a pig in a poke. Design process pitches and sells our reliability and craftsmanship.

A defined process is a great Business Development Tool — A solid process helps you pitch

Estimated design allows to avoid losses on our side in case of contracted pricing, and on the client’s side while working in time and material mode.

A Relation of Trust

The client knows what to expect and understands the road we’re on. The design process described at the beginning of cooperation lets us easily explain the decisions made during work and their consequences.

A communication tool

When designers are aware of the steps of their planned work they can easily synchronise and plan cooperation with the team of developers and testers. They know exactly when to expect particular design outputs so they can match their colleagues work and avoid blocking them at the same time.

Process Artifacts — Process artifacts are a great communication tool

Early stages of the design process provide a strong basis for further work. Once you decide on something with the client or the team you can always come back to it later or iterate on it.

Design process is a professional’s tool

Design steps planned before the work kicks off give you control and protect you from unnecessary surprises. You can see the bigger picture and plan ahead. You can act prudently and professionally. But don’t feel constricted – when you know the boundaries, you can rearrange them or cross over them, just like in a recipe you know well.

Most of all, a solid design process is a guarantee for repeatable quality – you want your signature dish to be perfect every time.