Bonnie Cook – Design Musings

Revisiting the Graphic Design Definition

 

What about my perspective has changed so far?

Though I feel like my definition of graphic design as a profession is nearly the same as it was when I first posted, I have discovered that the way I perceive the graphic designing process is very different from what it was to me 5 weeks ago.

The practicality of graphic design from the 5 week perspective:

Graphic design is an art, a science,  and a life philosophy. It is researching and reading and writing and drawing. Graphic design is about people, places, conditions, and events. Within all of these lenses within the design interpretation is a valuable process.

Discovering design solutions is not entirely learned nor intuitive. I have come to realize that my design process was mechanized to some degree for me to be able to get through a project. Slowing down to document every possible resource, track out my thoughts into complex maps that show associations that I could not have possibly conceived without drawing outside of my own boundaries, and continuing to question myself along every step of the design process has enabled me to dissect my behavior as a designer. Before the course my process with a typical material design problem (such as creating a logo) looked something like this:

 

1) Meet with client (kick-off)

a) Take notes, ask open-ended questions

2) Produce contract

3) Send first rounds

4) Interpret first round feedback

5) Repeat 3 and 4 until final

6) Send final files

7) Get paid (hopefully)

 

Now it has changed a bit

 

1) Meet with client (kick-off)

2) Produce contract

3) Create mind map and base first rounds from associations drawn here

4) Send first rounds

5) Interpret first round feedback

6) Create second mind map that expands where client is giving feedback – continue to produce work that communicates this message well

7) Repeat 4 and 5 until final

6) Send final files

7) Get paid (hopefully)

 

Depending on the situation and the client, I prefer being able to do more than this. I think this realistically represents a basis of what I have done habitually on a daily basis up until January of this year and the process that I am trying to implement to better solve client needs.

If anything, my definition of design will need to be revisited every 5 weeks for the rest of my life!