The Value of Design ?
Obviously, as a designer myself, I find a great deal of inherent value in design. But where is the value of design, or rather how strong can design be? Well, this depends on the target audience. From my experience managing a boutique design studio, our clients are our first audience. If approval is not attained, there is no other audience.
With this context in mind, how strong is design?
First let me state, that I see myself in two parts — as a refiner of problems, and a designer of strategic and holistic solutions. I did believe for a long time that the strength of design is only as strong as my ability to defend the designed solution. In the past few years, I have come to realize the designed solution does not need “defending.” Especially, from the likes of a designer. Or rather, in design terms. The strength of the designed solution lies in my ability to articulate its value as a holistic solution in terms that address the business objectives of the initially refined problem.
Explain why the design solution works, not why its pretty.
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10. January 2009 at 13:33
hey…my baby bro. sure can use a lot of big words!
You wrote, “I did believe for a long time that the strength of design is only as strong as my ability to defend the designed solution. In the past few years, I have come to realize the designed solution does not “defending.””
First the editor in me (um, and critcism giver) assumes you meant to write need before your final word. Also just wondering if you think the educational system conditioned you to think what you previously thought. I think Rick would agree that that was his angst w/architecture school It didn’t really matter how well you designed but how well you explained it.
love you miss you– did you get my last email about the latter?
11. January 2009 at 19:33
Ahhh … Good catch sis !! I’ll update. Thanks.
And to answer your question of the educational system conditioning, I’d say yes … Because in design school, the great majority of the classroom critiques were geared toward aesthetic review of the design work being presented. Therefore, as a design student, much of my education resounded in my ability to defend and articulate aesthetic choices.
Many years later, out in the real world, none of my clients care to hear much of my opinion on aesthetic. And to be honest, I am not interested in hearing theirs. My concern is how the designed solution achieves a the business objective put forward by the client. Not what color someone likes on any given day!