My Unconventional Design Process: A Flight of Thoughts

In the realm of design, there are myriad processes one can adopt. The five-stage method—empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing—is widely recognized and respected. However, my personal design process is quite schizophrenic and almost undefinable to others. It is a flight of thoughts that evolves and changes on the fly, making it challenging yet effective for me.

The Five-Stage Design Process Its Foundation

The Stanford School of Design has outlined a five-step design process that serves as a foundation for most design procedures. While this method is well-defined and characterized by structured stages—empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing—it may not fully represent the free-flowing nature of my creative process.

My Creative Journey: From Sketch to Reality

Like many designers, my creative journey begins with the ideation phase, where new ideas and concepts emerge. However, my approach to ideation is unconventional. I often develop sketches and models to test out these ideas, but the process is highly visual and spontaneous. Once I am confident in my designs, I proceed to the prototyping stage, where I create a digital version of my concepts. Then, if everything goes well, the final stage is production, where the designs are brought to life and put into use.

Visual Thinking and Creative Manifestation

My design process is a flight of thoughts; it is highly visual and very personal. For example, when working on writing projects, I edit my work in colors. I highlight different parts of the story—dialogue, narration, scenery—in various colors to ensure a balance or highlight a particular aspect. This process often makes my friends cringe, but it works effectively for me. I once designed my wedding dress based on a dream in 1920s Argentine lace, complete with feathers dripping in beaded pearls, which was a hit with everyone.

I also have my romantic suspense novel to show for a similar process. Initially, it was a bet with friends, and I wrote it to see if I could do it. The editing process was difficult, especially since I am dyslexic. However, with the help of a dedicated editor, we managed to publish it successfully. The manuscript was highly visual and chaotic, but it worked, and the novel was well-received.

Wilful Chaos and Perfection Through Incremental Changes

While my initial ideas can be chaotic, the process involves multiple iterations and refinements. I work in spurts, observing and making changes to perfect the design over and over. This incremental approach allows me to fill in the missing parts and ensure that the design is cohesive and polished. My colleagues often find my process incomprehensible, but it is highly effective for me.

Challenges and Triumphs

My creative process is highly unpredictable, and it can be challenging to work within traditional frameworks. For instance, when writing papers in college, I never created an outline first because my mind didn't work that way. Instead, I wrote directly from the paper, and to my surprise, I consistently received top marks. The key to my success lies in my impulsive and unstructured approach, which, paradoxically, allows me to think outside the box.

However, my approach is not without its challenges. My dyslexia and disorganization have made writing and publishing a nonfiction book proposal a significant hurdle. When I was a teenager, I was convinced I would never be able to write a book. Today, I encourage young people to pursue their dreams, despite their unique challenges, and to direct themselves towards their goals. Despite my own struggles, I believe in the potential of others.

My writing and publishing journey is a testament to the power of visual thinking and the importance of personal creative methods. While my process may seem chaotic to others, it has led to products that have successfully sold in multiple projects. In essence, my design process is a reflection of my unique way of thinking, which, while unconventional, proves to be highly effective.