Eames Design Diagram
Design has never been an ordered or overtly manipulated process.
The core of design, I think is the “concept”, and I believe rather passionately that the concept is the soul of the design. The concept grows outwards and the constraints, the function and the context are assimilated in it .
If I were to describe design as a mathematical model or problem per se, then
• the co-ordinates ( the mapping system within which you locate the design) i.e. the constraints of the context, the brief, all extraneous factors affecting the design;
• the concept would be the constant (as understood by the designer at the start, that would that would be the hypothesis, the basis and the argument.),
• the variables are the design decisions, that include self- expression, prioritization etc.
• Design would then be a function of the concept and constraints and the design decision would be the limiting variables, which would finally affect the specificity of design.
Design decisions i.e. the variables therefore are the characterizing factors of design, and they can change the design inspite of the constancy of the concept.
I could therefore build several different design solutions around the same concept.
It therefore is also amazing that I could possibly design in a million different ways, at least theoretically !! And each design solution would be as appropriate as the other. Which explains why it is so difficult sometimes to give up one idea for the other !!!!!
I think its absolutely necessary that design be driven by a vision, grand or modest, its like being a dream catcher and then expressing it tangibly, its of course structured, and is infilled and is a whole. Its an interpolation of thoughts, ideas, intents (user,designer, client) poetry, concepts, idealism, dreams, structure. The structure of course is very important it holds together the whole design, it makes the design comprehensible.
Also design is about constant refinement at every level, after the concept stage, you are involved in an additive process of adding information, and structure and then one is iinvolved in a stage of deduction, consolidation and then I suppose one starts on the reductive process. This reductive process so to speak would lessen the variables and make the design more accurate, so that it reaches a stage of refinement and synthesis. The stage when the design is well- synthesized so that all the parts are integrated into a whole, or conversely all parts stem form a whole, that would then be the stage when the design has reached a high degree of resolution.
Whenever I have involved myself in the design process, it seems to me that I could possibly continue to refine and perfect my design raised to the power infinity, and that I could possibly try so many different techniques of rendering it, however that does not affect the core(concept) and structure of the design unless of course it is at cross-purposes.
The possibilities therefore are endless, and a good design is one that allows these possibilities to be explored, rather than to make it closed end. It should therefore allow for multiple interpretations and explorations for the user ( at last the user has entered my discussion, and this has happened spontaneously!!!). The design therefore is richer if it allows the user to use his creativity as well, cause the user will anyways do so, and a good design will forsee this possibility and will make an allowance for it.
