the Design Process

Design can be described as a noun or a verb. Design can be observed or it can be created. Design is a plan; it is a process. It doesn’t need to be anything recognizable because the point of designing is creating something new. Overall design is about the creative process and not the final product.

http://www.cs.princeton.edu/courses/archive/fall08/cos436/Verplank/InteractionDesign.gif
There are a few steps to the process of design. First, a designer needs inspiration to begin his/her creative process. However, where does that inspiration come from? There are two answers to this question; it either comes from within the designer or the designer finds inspiration outside of themselves.

Only a few designers find their inspiration for creating from within themselves; many designers find inspiration outside of themselves. They analyze the world around them. They look for things that would not only be something they enjoy or think is practical or good; they look for things that would inspire and please others around them. They view things with an open mind and then they begin their creative process. Part of this process also includes the designer being open to criticism. Therefore, the designer can take the feedback from criticism and create something even better next time.