The Design Process

We determine which element to use and how to

arrange them into patterns though the process of design.
Although presented as a linear sense of steps, the design process
is amore often a cyclic one in which a sequence of carful analysis,
synthesis and evaluation of a available information, insights and
possible solutions is repeated until a successful fit between what
exists and what is desired is achieved.
The design process can be divided into eight parts, namely:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Commit
State
Collect
Analyse
Ideate
Choose
Implement
Evaluate

Commit:

The first stage in any design

process is the commitment of the designer to the client that
he (the designer) is ready to take on the design project, as
per the mutually agreed terms.

State:

The designer then prepares a design

statement, also called the design brief, describing a
particular set circumstances, which creates a need. The brief
outlines the needs related to the design problem. As the
name suggests, a brief is simple a short statement of intent;
I.e. what the designer intend doing in order to solve the
problem.

Collect:

The next step is the collection of

information/data relating to the existing circumstances of the
project. It is very important for the designer to understand

the exact requirements of the client; therefore it is

imperative that all the available information regarding the
desired design outcomes are collected and studies carefully.
The design constraints such as the available time and
resources and budget are also taken into account.
The various methods of collecting data are:

Interviews
Observation
User questionnaires
Literature search
Client records
Activities
Relationships
Problem issues

Analysis
The ability to define and understand the nature of
the design problem adequately is an essential part of the
solution.
The design problem is first defined. This definition
should include a specification of how the design solution
should perform. Goals and objectives should be set.
An analysis of the problem requires that it be
broken down into parts, issues clarified, and values assigned
to the various aspects of the problem, analysis also involves
gathering relevant information that would help us to
understand the nature of the problem and develop
appropriate responses to the problem. Form the out set; it is
worthwhile to know what limitations will help shape the
design solution. Any givens-what can change and what
cannot be altered-should be determined. Any constraints-

financial, legal, or technical-which will impinge on the design

solution, should be noted.
As we cycle through the design process, a
cleared understanding of the problem should emerge. New
information may be uncovered or be required which could
alter our perception of the problem and its solution. The
analysis of a problem, therefore, often continues throughout
the design process.
There are various methods of analysing the data
collected, such as:
1) Organizational
Relationships:
Functional
Adjacencies
2) Matrices: Matrices help to identify spaces and/
or activities that should be located or performed
together.
3) Bubble Diagrams: Bubble diagrams; graphically
illustrate functional and spatial relationships.
Scale is not an issue at this step.
4) Identify needs
User needs
Physiological needs: Anthropometrics and
ergonomics.
1) Anthropometrics:
measuring
the
physical requirements of human being
as users.
2) Ergonomics:
Application
of
anthropometric
data
to
human/environment relationships.
Psychological and sociological needs:
polemics (theories of mans spatial
relationship)
Structural, Contextual, Economic Needs:
1) Structural: Determined in terms of
protection,
health,
safety,
and

welfare of occupants (e.g., means of

egress,
structural
soundness,
environmental
comfort,
systems
performance)
2) Contextual:
Cultural,
historical,
religious,
political
context;
relationships to external systems
such
as
power
sources,
communication,
water,
transportation
3) Economic: Relationship to clients
budget; life- cycle costs; quality and
quantity; expectations vs. reality

Synthesis
Design requires rational thought based on
knowledge and understanding gained though experience and
researched. Also playing equal roles are intuition and imagination,
which add the creative dimension to the rational design process.
From the analysis of the problem and its parts,
we can begin to formulate possible solutions. This requires
synthesizing- bringing together and integrating- responses to the
various issues and aspects of the problem into coherent solutions.
There are several approaches one can take to generate ideas and
synthesize possible solutions to a problem:
Isolate one or two issues which have value or importance
attached to them, and develop solutions around them.
Study analogous solutions and use as models for developing
possible solutions to the problem at hand.

Ideate
Once the data relating to the design problem has
been collected and analyzed, the designer can begin to formulate

the first idea of the design solution. There are a number of

techniques which can help a designer in this process like:
Role playing: In this process the design (s) can think from the
point of view of the client or the people who will be using
that space by putting himself/herself in the clients/ users
place.
Brainstorming: This is a very useful method s it allows the
designer to come up with diverse ideas for the design
solution.
Group Discussions: A number of good ideas are likely to
emerge during a group discussion, as each individual will put
forward his/her own solution and from these the most
suitable can be chosen.
Synaptic: In this technique the designer tries to unify of
reconcile different schools of thought to come up with the
solution which best suits the design problem.
There are various stages to the process of ideation of a
design solution.
Schematics: Preliminary sketches, plans are made to:
i) Indicate spatial and circulation relationship.
ii) The scale and shape of spaces become evident.
iii)Important features are delineated.
iv)Several schemes are quickly sketched for study.
Exploratory Sketches: These are quick sketches which are
made by the designer with the purpose of recording his/her
ideas for the design solution in a graphic format, to be
utilized as and when required.
Concept Statements: Verbalization of how to achieve project
objects. Establishes underlying principles, both aesthetic and
functional, that the physical designs will address. It discusses

methods which can be used to achieve results, not the

result.
Choose
After various solutions have been arrived at for a
particular design problem, the best solution has to be chosen.
There are again a number of methods which can be utilized for
this purpose:
Personal choice: This is one of the most common methods
where the personal preference of a client or the user dictates
the choice of the design solution.
Critical comparison: In this methods two or more design
solutions are compared on the basis f their inherent qualities
and out of these the one best suited is picked. In some cases
a combination of two or more solutions may be used.
Once the choice has been made the
process of making the preliminary drawings can begin. The
preliminary plans of a design solution will have:
Scaled proportions of spaces and elements.
Addition of internal architectural details.
Walls, windows and built-in items are shown.
Furniture might be indicated in some areas.

Implementation
Techniques include final design drawing, time
schedules, construction drawings, specifications.

Evaluation
Design requires a critical review of alternatives and
careful weighting of the strengths and weaknesses of each
proposal until the best possible fit between problem and solution
is achieved.

Given a range of possible solutions, each must be

evaluated according to the criteria set forth in the problem
statement and further clarified in the problem analysis.
Successive explorations of the problem and the
evaluation of alternative solutions should help narrow down the
choices for design development, while the initial stages of the
design process encourages divergent thinking about the problem,
this latter phase requires a convergent focus on a specific design
solution.
Once a final decision has been made, the design
proposal is developed, refined, and prepared for implementation.
This includes the production of working drawings and
specifications, and other services related to purchasing,
construction, and supervision.
No design process is complete until a design
solution which has been implemented is evaluated for its
effectiveness in solving a given problem. This critical appraisal of
a completed design can build up our knowledge base, sharpen
our intuition, and provide valuable lessons that may be applied in
future work.
One of the idiosyncrasies of the design processes is
that it dose not always lead simple and inevitably to a single
obvious, correct answer. In fact, there is often more than one valid
solution to a design problem. How then can we judge whether a
design is good or bad?
A design may be good, in the judgment of the
designer, the client, or the people who experience and use the
design, for any of several reasons:
A design may be good because it functions well- it works.
A design may be good because it is affordable- it is
economical, efficient, and durable.

 A design may be good because it looks good- it is

aesthetically pleasing.
At times we may judge a design to be good because we feel
it follows current design trends-it is in fashion- or because of
the impression it will make on other- it enhances our status.
As the foregoing suggests, there are several
kinds of meaning which can be conveyed by a design. Some
operate at a level generally understood and accepted by the
general public. Other are more readily discerned by specific
groups of people. Successful design usually operates at more than
one level of meaning and thus appeal to a wide range of people.
A good design, therefore, should be understandable.
Knowing why something was done helps to make a design
comprehensible. If a design does not express an ides,
communicate a meaning, or elicit a response. Either it will be
ignored or it will be a bad design.