the essence of design/er/ing
[ Overview ]
This project is my reflection on my first semester in the MA program, diving into what design truly is—what it means to be a designer and engaging in the world of design.
I crafted a calendar called 12 Framework for 2024, aiming to encapsulate various aspects of design and my insights from this semester.
[ Context ]
Goal
To embody what is the essence of design/er/ing to me, I set the the following three goals:
To recall the knowledge gained during this semester.
To intertwine my design philosophy, "frame."
To share a useful tool benefiting both designers and non-designers.
The Birth of the Calendar
After brainstorming, I settled on creating a calendar embodying my design approach to meet these objectives.
[ Design ]
Cover
I think when we begin a project or doing anything, it’s crucial to think what is in the end. What your goal is? This will be a beacon for you when you are lost in the process. So remember to start in the end.
January
I think when we begin a project or doing anything, it’s crucial to think what is in the end. What your goal is? This will be a beacon for you when you are lost in the process. So remember to start in the end.
February
Double Diamond is one of the most common frameworks when we are designing. It illustrate how we diverge and converge, leading to solutions.
March
Learned from Professor Jonathan Chapman, he taught us how to convey the idea clearly and concisely in three steps. It is important for designers to communicate our thoughts efficiently.
April
When collaborating within a design team, mastering the art of providing constructive feedback and embracing insights from fellow designers is crucial. While designing comes naturally to me, offering feedback on others' work can be challenging at times. These four steps serve as a guiding framework for designers, enabling them to confidently share suggestions and collectively enhance the quality of our work.
May
AEIOU developed by Mark Baskinger and Bruce Hanington is an interrelated framework that guides designers in thinking through a problem or scenario from a variety of perspectives: activities, environments, interactions, objects, and users.. When we tried to observe the problems in an environment, it is a good framework to help you start to analyze from different aspects. Also the name is cute and easy to remember!
June
5W plus 1H equals to 6. This is also one of the most common frameworks for designer to record the research results or build the interview questions.
July
Seven factors of UX—simple but pivotal in designing.
August
I learned this from the book “Sprint”. Sometimes when we are doing brainstorming, this super 8 method is super helpful. With time constraints and a piece of paper, we can follow this method to generate ideas efficiently.
September
Well is a little bit hard to find a framework related to number 9. So I illustrate the nine things that are important for every designers. (at least for me 😆)
October
In the 10th month, I combine two valuable frameworks.
A five-day sprint and a five-step imagination catalyst. Combing the two method can maybe help you find a brand new idea or get out from a bottleneck.
November
I was running out of inspiration again. I feel like 1:1 is an important session for us in the working place. It’s a time you can pause for a while, ask for help and check your progress. You can follow this structure when you are going to do a 1:1 with someone!
December
We reach the year's end. The 12 brand archetypes provide a framework to align with when establishing visual guidelines or defining brand personality.
My wish is that everyone found value in this calendar. Moreover, notice how these 12 archetypes come together to form a seamless circle, resembling a target. I hope each of you has hit your goals as planned at the year's outset!
[ Takeaway ]
Crafting this calendar felt like reliving the semester. Seeing the satisfaction on my friends' faces when they received it brought a deep sense of accomplishment.
So, what's the essence of design for me? It’s about creating captivating experiences, adding value to the ordinary, solving problems, and striving to make the world a better place.
By the way, I've got the digital version here. Feel free to download, use it, and share your thoughts with me!
