In general I am passing along a list someone composed on the internet for others to see. I view this information two ways; it is a reminder of what I am for other people within a team. I believe in this list but there are differences I feel towards the list. As well as, what I wish to add on to the list. Secondly, this is a list to remind me and others unfamiliar to IDer ways….what to look for when hiring potentially great designers. Showing me flashy renderings will never get my vote…
1. Not understanding the design brief or composing it.
2. Fail to check the concepts meet the requirements of the given brief.
3. Not paying attention to improve sketching and communication skills.
4. Fail to understand Industrial design is multi facet, multi disciplinary field.
5. No plan to a 3D construction process before doing 3D modeling.
6. Avoiding documenting the work properly.
7. Obsessed with first design or initial sketches.
8. Not understanding the form- styling clues or inspirations incubated in the design are appropriate.
9. Failing to understand the brand philosophy of the company, which is not cited in the product.
10. Not sharing the knowledge and work with fellow designers, which fails to build a good relationship between them.
11. Avoiding critics, which are important to understand and improve the current design and other product features.
Add ons -
*12 – Never be narrow-minded within a brainstorm.
What I have notice is the type of brainstorming that happens in the real world vs. RISD world. At RISD we are to think of an idea and MOVE ON to a totally different idea that is no way connected to the first idea. Within our design firms and corporations we think of ideas in 10 minutes then those ideas are recycled for the last 4 hours in brainstorms! THAT IS NOT INNOVATION! THAT IS DEVELOPMENT!
Innovation is about the diversity and sharing of ideas. Once you get these ideas the following stage is the development of the idea’s insight to reality and ranging their potential as a successful product.
*13 – Great design is about great process.
What is a great process? This is another episode of my frustration within the real world. Everything is on a budget time. But innovation is not a “time-based” entity. Clients want to “see” success and never care for the “how” innovation occurs. Innovation happens at the oddest hours and during our weirdest moments. But to do this is to get away from powerpoints-outlook-AIM-computer-desk-cubical-office building. For RISD approach we innovate by “building” it is like sketch models but IDer’s idea of a sketch model is form development. What RISDers way are “thinking models” – (to be honest – it needs a better name give me some time to “think” on the matter)
RISD way of modeling is by making constant errors in their building and creating, which is documented along the way. When the project or series of products are done, we don’t care for our end result. In final presentations we rather tell our story of how we got to the idea-innovation that is the innovation secret, it is not about the end result. When people start to know “how we got there” it is like the express of “teach them how to fish, than giving them fish”.
We rather teach our clients what they need to notice or understand about innovation than giving them the results. Why? It helps them to better understand what we do and how we do it. This develops trust and support between people so they can understand the next round of products can be pushed further in exploration, risk taking and, more critical thinking to produce successful ideas.
*14 – being genuinely honest and passionate about your work.
I don’t need to go into details about this. in short answer you were up for two days straight working on an idea you have and still with no sleep you are full of energy about it… to other people that shows commitment towards development.
