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Design Process
Design Process
To create a final design requires following a process. This process begins with research (explained further on this page). If you want to see the overall design process, start with this video.
Research
Research
Research is one of the steps in the design process where you gather and analyse information in relation to your project. Without research, you can’t make informed design decisions or justify why your decision is a good one. By undertaking research from different angles, you can demonstrate the depth of understanding you have. Below are some recommendations for the research methods & techniques:
Mind map is one of the most commonly used components in a student’s folio. Although there’s an idea that there is a ‘correct’ way of mind mapping, I think there are so many ways to do so, in terms of the way you link ideas depending on what you want to get out of it.
Mood board or collage is a composition of images often used to represent the demographics of target audience. It is aimed to give you a better understanding of who you’re designing for.
Analyse existing works by other designers where you may be sourcing inspirations from. It’s not about showing pretty pictures of those works, but it’s about describing & analysing (you don’t need to have all of them for each).
What research do I need?
What research do I need?
Research is the process of gathering information to assist in the generation of ideas.
Research includes analysing and interpreting the information collected and it is more than cutting and pasting collected imagery into a visual diary with random annotations. As a designer, you need to analyse and interpret your research to determine and justify what is going to be useful as a means for inspiration and as starting point for your work.
Gathering Inspiration
Gathering Inspiration
When gathering ideas and inspiration you may:
observe objects and complete observational drawings to gain insight into the form and context of an object
complete a site analysis and take observations of the surroundings. For example, designing a tea package? Then visit T2 or the supermarket to study the current market.
investigate the work of an artist or designer
look through websites and follow blogs
subscribe to magazines, including online magazines
be inspired to take photographs of your surroundings or the environment suited to or appropriate to the brief
be influenced by your everyday life such as the street you live in or the local café you visit. Stop and look, as you might be inspired.
conduct interviews or complete an audience profile
look through books and literature relevant to the brief
visit galleries
use colour samples and swatches to create mood boards
look at ergonomics
look at colour psychology
Developing Ideas
Developing Ideas
The analysis of research may be focused on an idea or a concept. Inspiration may be found in a method such as a drawing style, the way a colour palette has been used, or a photographic technique that has been applied. In your research, your annotations should focus on future directions that you will take in developing your ideas. These can be small sketches that accompany existing imagery and annotations that will assist you in explaining your ideas. You might like to include a mood board or an audience profile as part of your research. These can help you to stay focused on your target audience. Another type of research that can assist you is to undertake observational drawing. Try to find an object that relates to your brief and complete both long and short observational drawings.
Websites to help your research:
Websites to help your research:
Boero, M. (n.d.) 'Nutricia Cereal Packaging' URL
Customer Profile
Customer Profile
A customer profile in relation to graphic design is a detailed description of a specific client or target audience for whom design services are provided. It includes information such as the client's demographics, industry, goals, preferences, and specific design needs. Creating a customer profile helps graphic designers tailor their designs to meet the client's expectations and effectively communicate with the intended audience.
4 The Creatives (2023) 'Packaging Design Process I How to Make a Packaging Design' URL
Make a Mood Board
Make a Mood Board
One of the ways that you can research for a design is to collect ideas from other places. A graphic design mood board is a visual compilation of images, colors, textures, and typography curated to evoke a specific aesthetic or emotional tone for a design project.
Chapman, C. (n.d) 'Use Your Inspiration – A Guide to Mood Boards' URL
Mood Board Instructions
Mood Board Instructions
1. Go to canva.com.
2. On the top right, select 'Create a Design' (purple tab) and click 'whiteboard' from the drop down menu.
3. You now have a page that will be as big or as small as you make it, depending on how many things you put in.
4. Start searching for your images on Google. Once you have opened an image, you can click and drag it in to your mood board.
5. As you are collecting images, please also create a Google Doc in your 'Mood Board' folder and collect the links to where your images are from. You will need to APA reference them. You should use at least ten images in your mood board.
6. Click 'Text' on the left side to add titles and / or descriptions for the images you are including.
7. You should create an APA reference list for your images. You can do this below your mood board on Canva or on a seperate Google doc.
8. When you are done, go to 'share' on the top right of the screen and download your Mood Board as a PNG. You should then put this in your portfolio as a part of your research and inspiration.
For Your Portfolio
Pick one of the three Design Briefs to use for your major assignment so that you are ready to begin research & mood board
Research (Minimum 2 pages)
Research (Minimum 2 pages)
You research can look like any of the things listed under 'Gathering Inspiration' on this page.
Suggested first page of research:
Create a customer profile. You can start with what you know about the particular target audience and extend your understanding through additional research
You can search online for extra information as well as conducting interviews if you know people in the demographic
Make sure to APA reference research
Suggested second page of research:
Find an example of a product that relates to the audience for your brief (e.g. an existing cereal package, a protein drink, a kids toy or game). Analyse it by listing or annotating what principles of design or elements of art they have used and how they have used them.
Explain the required elements for a cereal package and presenting this. It could be a mind map, annotation of an example, a list or written paragraphs.
Use these ideas to note what elements you will need to include in your design and how you might make them look
Use the information in your customer profile to inform your decisions as well
Tertiary students, you could extend your thoughts on these by including research on:
- colour psychology
-ethics in your layout
Mood Board
Mood Board
Create a Mood board to inspire you for your design.
This should show the general aesthetic choices you would use in your design to suit your target audience.
Find examples of typography, colours, design elements, logos, characters, ways of presenting ingredients and nutritional information etc...
Create an APA reference list for all examples used.
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