Jane Dorn in her process book clearly explains the linear process that she follows in her project from input to final outcome. Her process moves from, as she puts it, chaos to clarity and along the way she has encounters with brainstorming, synthesis/actualisation/incubation with a linear narrative leading to her final outcome.

April Biss’ project for dogs on leash, followed a chain of process stages broadly going through observation, thought and finally ‘make’. Her documentation of her process was exhaustive and detailed. She mentioned conceptualisation/gathering information/looking at statistics/conducting interviews/word play/collaborative thinking/mind-mapping/ideating through thumbnails/brainstorming/re-visiting research/going over demographic survey and a complete circular return to thumbnails/ideation/prototype/final outcome.

Jamie Turpin’s project with typefaces mentioned immersion in content/schematic phases in her process. These included brainstorming/inspirational images relating to the design problem/thumbnails/design-looking at form/colour/flow/type-history/materials+textures/working out of ones’ comfort zone to come up with new ideas as she looked at different materials/final outcome.

All three projects followed process in different ways that suited each project individually, taking into account the chosen direction as well as personal journeys. As Jamie Turpin summed it up well in her presentation when she mentioned that essentially all processes have the same basic premises of input-analysis-synthesis-output. Its what one does in between these steps depending on the requirement of each unique individual project, that’s what adds to the richness of the final outcome. She also mentions how important it is to move away from one’s comfort zones to make new choices and new decisions so as to come up with a more fulfilling outcome that works in newer directions.

I can already sense a change in the way I have been approaching process in this semester. I am beginning to appreciate the detailed approach. My favourite way to do this has been to sketch as I love to sketch. I find that when I am on the starting blocks, my mind is a complete blank. However, as I gather information and use illustrated mind-mapping tool as a means to an end, I actually begin to see the order in the chaotic maze of words and images that conjure in my mind from the information gathered. I guess, when the process becomes second nature and one is not looking at specifics of what each stage is named, one can really and truly immerse oneself in the journey of discovery rather than concentrating on reaching the destination.