We Can All Benefit from Design Thinking
While this is being discussed in the content of graphic design, Design Thinking permeates all aspects of work we put out. At the end of the day, it translates to taking your job seriously. It’s an understanding about the roles skill, creativity, taste, and professionalism all play in our jobs.
Remember when Quincy Jones ripped into new music? He was frustrated because he is not hearing any skill in what is being put out anymore. We’ve all been saying music from the past was better, but he was able to articulate why because he has studied the craft and he understands the science behind music.
In the same way, a trained designer (you can still be trained, even though you are self taught—I’ll get into that in a minute) can see where we’re going wrong with a lot of design today.
We Seem to Neglect This With Government Design
The Ghana Football Association and the Premier League Board have unveiled a new logo for the Ghana Premier League.
Designers and non-designers alike have complained that it’s cheapened this brand regardless of how much it cost. Ghanaians online have even been offering alternatives.
How Does it Work?
Design Thinking is the difference between a designer and someone who just knows how to use design tools. It’s not enough to download an app and put things together. What have you learned, or taught yourself, about color theory? About typography? About the math behind space and layout styles? About user/viewer experience? Being self-taught still requires learning from others. The internet is full of resources that explain the theories and processes behind design.
Design thinking is also the application of genuine concern for all aspects of work. From research to completion, you are asking yourself:
- What is this for?
- Does this fulfil that purpose?
- Who is this for?
- Will that person agree that this works for them?
- What will make this better?
Design Thinking involves craving opinions and critique from others. Because you want your creation to function well in its space, you scrutinize every line, every space, every color: Every detail matters, and you imagine every possible interaction with the final product. You come up with a solution for any issue that comes up in the process of critique and testing.
Because, as we all know, design is more than just putting text and image together. At its core, design is solving a problem. So give it thought and strive for more.
Originally published at Out Loud Studio.
