I’ve met quite a few designers and clients who think that the process of executing a design project typically goes like this: Receive the brief → brainstorm ideas → sketch them out → refine → deliver.
Sounds pretty reasonable, right? But if you’ve been in this field long enough, you’ll realize that design isn’t quite that straightforward. Each project often follows a different process, tailored to suit the team and the specific goals. However, there’s one foundational mindset that shapes any process: design thinking. So today, let’s talk about what design thinking really is.
First, we need to agree that design isn’t just about “making things beautiful.” In fact, the very concept of “making things beautiful” is already loaded with complexity. What is beautiful? Beautiful in what way? What’s beautiful to one person might be ugly to another, so what then? Even understanding it in such a simple way is no easy task.
Design, in its truest sense, is the process of seeking and creating solutions for one or more problems, whether they’re about aesthetics, user experience, behavior, or even how people interact with the world around them. There are many different design disciplines: graphic design, user experience design, interior design, fashion design, industrial design… all aim to address issues centered around people. If that sounds grand or hard to grasp, don’t worry, this entire post is here to break it down for you.
