Great design solves the right problem and it’s critical to start off on the right track. Identifying the ‘right problem’ is often only achievable if the design process is engaged early enough with business development to matter. Design’s role is to ask questions, engage the key stakeholders and collect relevant data. It’s only then that design is empowered to create great solutions.
I was given an early copy of the book, The Think Big Manifesto, by Michael Port. I’m about half way through and it reminds me of two other books that I find myself referencing when I feel a little lost, overwhelmed or anxious about change: The Power of Now and The Four Agreements. All these books have something in common, which is basically… you are in charge of your happiness, satisfaction, career, life and you are your own worst critic.
Dieter Rams is most well known for his work as chief of design at Braun from 1961 – 1998. Many of his coffee makers, calculators, radios and consumer electronics have had a lasting impact on today’s product design including Jonathan Ive’s work at Apple. In the early 1980’s he published his design principles which then became known as the 10 Commandments of Design.
I recently found myself in a new and uncertain situation. For over a year I have been leading the design efforts for several new client and consumer interactive tools all under one parent brand. That position will end in a couple weeks, due to the parent brand deciding that design in not pertinent. Deep breath. I have unexpectedly been pushed from one set of “knowns” to a new set of “unknowns”. I immediately begin to reflect on a great talk I attended by Paul Saffo about effective forecasting and how to understand the cone of uncertainty.
