Physical Thinking:
Work with physical materials that will make designs build and look more interesting and sensible. Draw an initial plan or experiment with elements of design, build on this design using real/found materials that are 3-D or tangible, arrange them to create interesting patterns, textures and shapes. Look at your design through new eyes with the help of a camera, photograph it from different angles and experiment with what happens when you crop the design so it looks new and different. Add an concept and any other tweaks or materials that may be needed to communicate clearly then blend and refine the design.
Take the Matter Outside:
Break away from the digital world and see how your design holds up in a physical/outdoors environment. Think about how the physical properties will react to being exposed to the elements. Adapt your design to fair well in the climate that it will be displayed. Take it outside and make any revisions necessary.
Unconventional Tools:
Don't get too comfortable using pens, pencils and computers, experiment with other more creative options that could render unique results. Go through a simple concept phase where you determine what forms and elements will be needed for the design. Put down the pencil and stay away from the computer, break the habit. Gather your tools and then narrow them down to the ones that will work the best then use these tools to create and communicate.
Regurgitation:
Restore and recycle old materials to create new designs. Take a walk and take with you a plastic bag, camera and a sketchbook. Collect materials and date either by actually gathering them or capturing them with camera or drawing. Study the qualities and functions of these objects, ask questions. Transform the object and think about it's essence. Document the process and results. Edit what you have and use it to communicate or create an interesting design.
Reconstruction:
Take things apart and then put them back together in a unique way. Collect initial material the is interesting or has meaning to you. Take about your material. Observe and note any details that stand out to you in this process. Create a dictionary of elements. Configure the object in new ways.
Reading #6
Sprinting:
Coming up with new ideas quickly and in a set time frame. Set rules that create standards for the design such as certain typefaces. Start slow by doing quick research for five minutes. Time yourself for 30 minutes and just do it, create things. Look at all of your designs laid out next to each other and compare, critique, discard, or move forward with an idea.
Alternative Grids:
Break away from the standard grid and experiment with other options, this will push your designs and make them more unique. Be influenced by your surrounding to find alternative grids, sketch or photograph forms that you see and then replicate them then abstract a design using your new grid, arrange typography and elements using the new patterns created.
Kit of Parts:
Create dynamic designs. Develop elements for your design that are simple and functional, then determine a standard for using these elements.
Brand Language:
Creating the look, feel and values for a company that can be conveyed to an audience using a system of design elements. Define and research the audience, design verbal and visual elements that can be used consistently through vehicles for the company, create hierarchy, determine a set of rules for applying these designs, make sure to document these rules and elements so others can understand or use them.
Mock-ups:
A basic simulation of how a design should look physically. Plan a 2-D layout for the design, apply the design elements to this layout then print/create and put it together so it is tangible.
Coming up with new ideas quickly and in a set time frame. Set rules that create standards for the design such as certain typefaces. Start slow by doing quick research for five minutes. Time yourself for 30 minutes and just do it, create things. Look at all of your designs laid out next to each other and compare, critique, discard, or move forward with an idea.
Alternative Grids:
Break away from the standard grid and experiment with other options, this will push your designs and make them more unique. Be influenced by your surrounding to find alternative grids, sketch or photograph forms that you see and then replicate them then abstract a design using your new grid, arrange typography and elements using the new patterns created.
Kit of Parts:
Create dynamic designs. Develop elements for your design that are simple and functional, then determine a standard for using these elements.
Brand Language:
Creating the look, feel and values for a company that can be conveyed to an audience using a system of design elements. Define and research the audience, design verbal and visual elements that can be used consistently through vehicles for the company, create hierarchy, determine a set of rules for applying these designs, make sure to document these rules and elements so others can understand or use them.
Mock-ups:
A basic simulation of how a design should look physically. Plan a 2-D layout for the design, apply the design elements to this layout then print/create and put it together so it is tangible.
Reading #5
Icon, Index, Symbol:
Use of icons, graphic elements that create connections with images and ideas; an index, alternative associations with an icon, or symbols, representations of a thing, can be powerful tools used to generate understanding.
Collaboration:
Collaborating can yield valuable designs because each group member is bring their own set of skills to a project. To properly collaborate you must actually meet face to face, listen to what is being said and also give your own input, choose leaders to keep the project on track, don't worry about what an individual is doing only worry about the overall success of the project.
Co-design
Including the end user or the audience in the development of a design. Begin by seeking out your audience, come up with questions that will guide them through their part but don't have a predetermined out come, come prepared with engaging and helpful tools/supplies that will be used for the design, finally listen and learn from your audience directly.
Visual Diary
Create something simple everyday or as often as possible. Sketches and doodles are encouraged. Start by deciding how often you should make an entry and ask yourself if there should be a theme. Don't over think it and just dedicate 15 minutes to being creative. Continue creating or adding on to projects or media that interest you. Get your work seen. Don't quit. Use this exercise for other ideas in the future.
Lost in Translation
Designs can easily be misinterpreted when being introduced in other cultures, being aware of this is important and doing research and avoiding certain areas of communication can help to not lose or offend an audience. Make sure you know where and who will be seeing your design, if you only speak English then avoid slang and colloquial terms, don't just use a dictionary to translate words you should speak to someone who also speaks the language to get first hand knowledge, try to find words or symbols that translate well or are similar in the sounds of their translation.
Concept Presentation
Create presentations that will explain your design and also get people excited about it. Begin by choosing a program or format for displaying your presentation. Design your presentation using outlines and simple templates/layouts. Fill in the information then remember to be consistent and to the point with what you are saying and showing.
Use of icons, graphic elements that create connections with images and ideas; an index, alternative associations with an icon, or symbols, representations of a thing, can be powerful tools used to generate understanding.
Collaboration:
Collaborating can yield valuable designs because each group member is bring their own set of skills to a project. To properly collaborate you must actually meet face to face, listen to what is being said and also give your own input, choose leaders to keep the project on track, don't worry about what an individual is doing only worry about the overall success of the project.
Co-design
Including the end user or the audience in the development of a design. Begin by seeking out your audience, come up with questions that will guide them through their part but don't have a predetermined out come, come prepared with engaging and helpful tools/supplies that will be used for the design, finally listen and learn from your audience directly.
Visual Diary
Create something simple everyday or as often as possible. Sketches and doodles are encouraged. Start by deciding how often you should make an entry and ask yourself if there should be a theme. Don't over think it and just dedicate 15 minutes to being creative. Continue creating or adding on to projects or media that interest you. Get your work seen. Don't quit. Use this exercise for other ideas in the future.
Lost in Translation
Designs can easily be misinterpreted when being introduced in other cultures, being aware of this is important and doing research and avoiding certain areas of communication can help to not lose or offend an audience. Make sure you know where and who will be seeing your design, if you only speak English then avoid slang and colloquial terms, don't just use a dictionary to translate words you should speak to someone who also speaks the language to get first hand knowledge, try to find words or symbols that translate well or are similar in the sounds of their translation.
Concept Presentation
Create presentations that will explain your design and also get people excited about it. Begin by choosing a program or format for displaying your presentation. Design your presentation using outlines and simple templates/layouts. Fill in the information then remember to be consistent and to the point with what you are saying and showing.
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