Much has been written, re-written and spoken about the ‘design
process’ and the interpretations, discussions and opinions about it are as diverse
as they are long-winded and non-conclusive. I think we as designers love that
intellectual grey-area, the space between two opposing poles that holds so much possibility and choice. It is the reason why nothing in our profession is
well-defined or written in stone. This induces everybody to be a part of the discourse
around the subject and feel significant in their own little ways, like me, when I'm writing this piece.
From the time I stepped into the design world as a student,
a good 7 years ago, I have been led to believe that everything that we do
should have streamlined process, each
step leading into the other, seamlessly integrating into a final solution which
is supported on an unyielding foundation of research, logic and precedent
studies.
My conditioning has been such that if something comes easily
to me, just popping into my head after I read a brief, I disregard it for I
know it’s lacking in any sort of rational reasoning thought or study. But
increasingly I have felt that some of the better things I have done, happened
by accident, or when I just decided to go with the flow. It’s the age old
conflict between intuition and rationale, between the left and right brain, or
whatever other polar opposites one can think of.
So is it a case of me being overtly critical of anything I
do, or design just isn't meant to be learnt at all? Considering that there is
no “right” way to do things, a system in place which one can fall back on, how
can experience ever be helpful? Every single time one is involved in a project,
it might take a course so radically dissimilar than the previous one, that you
have to learn and deliver on the go. Make mistakes each time, and not be afraid
of them. Be a student of the subject forever, open to thoughts, processes and
opinions that change and shift form like an amorphous multi-faceted being,
living and evolving continuously.
Ironical as it may sound., it is this shift in perspectives,
this constant questioning and analysis of what I do and why I do it that makes
me believe in the validity of my choice.
