Design is a Process

*Image Prerna Dudani

We’ve all been there with our backs against the wall and the minutes ticking by before BOOM! I’m talking about the deadline. The specific date and time when it all culminates, no not the world even though it may seem like it, but the day an assignment, project, design, presentation etc. are due. What happens when the deadline is approaching and the idea for what to do is not? David A. Lauer offers us the solution in his Design Basics book. He suggests that the creative process can be stimulated in 3 simple ways: Thinking, Looking, and Doing (Chapter 1). He further clarifies that these steps are not sequential and can be utilized in any which way to begin any artists problem-solving process.

Lauer doesn’t claim to have discovered the holy grail of problem-solving nor does he credit himself for discovering these ways. In fact, all of these techniques are practiced by us every day to varying degrees he just provides us with a way in which we can apply these techniques to our work to achieve results.

Thinking involves asking yourself a variety of questions about the problem, the solution, the audience and even the content. The answers to these questions don’t have to be eloquent or even written. Lauer suggests that you start sketching out your answers. Many times when I can’t seem to find answers I just begin sketching. The sketches don’t even have to be related to the problem at hand just the process of clearing your thoughts will give you the answers you needed.

Looking is about visual training and retraining, as Lauer puts it. We look a variety of images all day, but do we actually see them? Sometimes yes and other times no. As designers we need to look at the past and present to find sources that we can draw from and point to in our own work. I believe looking and thinking should go hand in hand; there is not point of looking at something if you are not registering what you see. This is what commercials want you to do, look without realizing what you see. It’s a habit we need to break starting with me.

Lastly, Doing involves creating with our hands, and for me this step is when you all together. It is in this step that you try and succeed or you try and fail and have to go back to another step. This is where you will confront some problems, but if you just continue working on it you will find solutions. Sometimes all you have to do is turn the painting upside down or step away from it to understand what you are doing.

The creative process is called so because it has no wrong answers, so be afraid and try out some of these steps when you can’t seem to find the solution; I know I will.