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pin it mod7 Design Philosophy (Abbreviated Version)

What is process?

In the context of design, process is a system or set of activities that brings about a logical set of solutions to a given need or problem.

Two different camps in interactive design practice today:

Process

  • Focus is on research,
  • insight,
  • the journey (not what you make as much as how you make it),
  • tech agnostic.

Product

  • Stresses the medium,
  • effect,
  • the end result,
  • often tech-biased (influenced what the capabilities of the technology can provide)

The mod7 approach is a balance of the two approaches - it’s critical for a holistic design approach: A deep understanding of a variety of tools, technologies and relevant practical concepts is key in exploiting opportunities; this helps create the potential for the cross-pollination of ideas and cognitive processes; and fosters lateral thinking.

Process Attitudes and Work Ethic

  • Ask the right questions
    • We aren’t afraid to ask stupid questions if they’re the right questions
  • Strive for authenticity
    • In us as designers - The true test of any theory, philosophy or principle is how it well works in practice on a day to day basis -
    • this is basis of authenticity as a process-driven designer
    • But especially, and more importantly, authenticity for our clients and their message
  • Experts in Collaboration = Great Things
    • We strive for a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach (both internally and with our clients)
    • Throughout the process, we look to our clients for inspiration
    • Throughout the process, we want to inspire our clients
  • Work at the Edge of Comfort: technology, concept, craft
    • the appeal of rock and roll is the edge of chaos - that fine line between maintaining control and losing all control
    • sports world metaphor: combination of passion and discipline, plus teamwork
    • design - pushing the instruments of talent, skill and experience to the limit creates an energy and sense of freshness
    • it’s risky; it’s personally scary; it’s prone to failure. having a solid process mitigates the likelihood of fear and failure while still retaining that energy of chaos
  • Think Laterally
    • Apply lessons and thinking frameworks from one activity or discipline to another activity or discipline.
    • Most times this is not deliberate - it is often a side effect of a multidisciplinary approach.
    • (Isaac Asimov, Sucker Bait, 1954): Mark Annuncio, a human encyclopedia with the ability to remember and correlate apparently unrelated facts to provide unique solutions nobody else could find.
  • Empathize
    • Research and understand our audience’s desires and motives.
    • Stand outside the project and look in from the audience perspective.
    • Construct tools that help us to abstract our audience into relevant stereotypes, from one extreme to the other.
  • Think and work at multiple scales of detail and scope
    • “Zoom” in and out from the project (mentally and literally), finessing the details and shaping the strategy concurrently.
    • Promotes cohesion, perspective and meaning.
  • Fun
    • Humour deflates tension.
    • Humility builds trust.
    • Informality leads to efficiency and increased communication effectiveness.

mod7 Process

  • Research
  • Rapid Prototyping
  • Concept and Style
  • Iterations & Blueprinting (Specifications)
  • Production
  • Execution / Publishing
  • Wrap-Up / Analysis

These activities usually overlap and feed off each other. (Symbiotically)

At each of these stages, we are constantly employing the classic design cycle:

  • Discover
  • Prototype
  • Test

Characteristics of a good design process:

  • Constantly evaluates ideas and output.
  • Exhaustive and rigorous
  • Self-documenting -> the mechanisms and system of the process also serve to document and record
  • Flexible
  • Authentic -> it’s your own process, and it molds itself to the way you and your team naturally work