Design process

The problem/need/opportunity/context.

• Brief

• Challenge

• Situation

• Environment

What the student designer is required to do and the specifications that constrain them.

• Brief

• Portfolio

• Design

• Contract

Investigation and analysis of the problem, existing solutions, current practice and constraints. Inspiration and contexts, human factors

• Moodboard

• Visual diary

• Collaboration

• Research

Generating potential starting points by inspiration, reinterpretation, invention, and lateral thinking.

• Research

• Ideation

• Draft

• Investigation

Ideation starting points or thought of as potential ideas that might solve the problem.

• Design thinking

• Initial ideas

• Finalisation

• Inspiration

Exploration and refinement of ideas.

• Design development

• Investigation

• Research

• Ideation

Communication of the status of design thinking and decisions made. This can happen at multiple key milestone points as well as at the conclusion of the process.

• Idea summary

• Critique

• Decision making

• All the above

The solution is visually explained, including rendering, working drawings, 3D drawings, digital models, models, photography.

• Visual diary

• Research

• The brief

• Presentation

Student opinion against design considerations, expressed visually, orally (in discussion) and recorded in writing if required.

• Ongoing and final evaluation

• Design development

• Critique

• Decision making