Patience grasshopper

"Patience, young Grasshopper"

says Master Po to young Caine. Eager and impatient, Caine from the 1970s television series Kung Fu. Strikingly portraying two qualities of the eager mind. Run with it if you seek answers. But why do we refer to these today? Well these quotes certainly have transcended their time. More so through GIFs today. This expression very often comes to rescue when one is unaware of what the future unfolds. Like in most things we do. The human reflex to deal with reality is by laying out ‘a plan’ - to help us be accountable. Laying the structure for assessing and evaluating our choices. Although as we begin to execute the same, TIME factors in. Oh, the anxiousness to know the end goal. The planning is comparatively easier, the anticipation not so much.

The ‘Patience Grasshopper’ moment.

So while planning is problem solving, design is problem setting. When it comes down to DESIGN - design problems are known to test designers to a breaking point. But what if you were told that there is a path to reduce this anxiety. Methods which would ease out your journey toward becoming a designer. Yes, design processes can be applied in our daily to take us a step closer to the answers we seek.

"Choose wise, Grasshopper"

Master Po adds further along the way. To know and to be known. Decisions in Design Practice are on similar lines. Often, one pursues a design stream and while they are at it discover their interest and skills aligning to other branches of design parallels. For instance, one starts out as an architect and over the years figures out how the program helped them understand the nuances of the design field but their skill set is more adept for game, web, graphics or industrial design. It’s safe to say that it is a common phenomena. In retrospect a few tips on the know, would’ve guided toward a more suitable choice. An informed choice definitely gives you a heads up on the timeline.

Choices often made by aspiring designers rely on multiple sources of information. In most cases it includes a diverse pool including relatives, friends, design practitioners to design academics. And with as many opinions comes a spectrum of pathways through their individual paradigms based on their experiences. In that case, how does one arrive at the right choice for themselves? Dilemma is inevitable, I’d rather say it is obligatory to go through the process to know for sure. And I believe my paradigm could perhaps help to ease your process. To put things in perspective, last week I floated a poll.

This snippet is a small example in the array of how designers today identify themselves. Evidently, we see that it’s not easy for a designer to fit into a box of one discipline. The very nature of the designer comes with the characteristics of experimenting across boundaries. But while one is on the path of exploration here are a few guide rails which can help you assess what deems fit for your skill set. As well as planning for its effects on your journey in the long run.

"Design is intelligence made visible." - Alina Wheeler

While Thinking Design helps you explore pathways in design. That being just the tip of the iceberg. It is very likely that you have chosen a course which brings out your skills efficiently and aligns with the envisioned professional version of yourself. Although if you are hopping across disciplines or do intend to make a transition. Here are a few things you definitely need to know. Not only is it integral to know what kind of a designer you are but more importantly what is your differentiator.

Difference between Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Design

(If each colour denotes one design discipline)

Figure (Recreation): Post, Ger & Keestra, Machiel & Rutting, Lucas. (2016). An introduction to interdisciplinary research. 10.1515/9789048531615.

Using ‘The DESIGN Process’ to make a choice

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." - Maya Angelou

Let’s use the design process as a tool to understand this. The process of arriving at a solution can briefly be divided into five steps. This approach is often resorted to in design schools to confront large scale problems, when one is unaware of what the problem might withhold. Largely based on the empathetic nature of humans, this process demands one to tap into their inherent skills and use them to their potential.

Figure: The Design Process

Step 1 - Discover

The problem - Find out more about it, know what you are signing up for beforehand

Step 2 - Think

Brief and Precise - Describe it in one sentence, put it down in simple words

Step 3 - Approach

Here is where we brainstorm for potential solutions

(A list of proven methods can be used for this stage. Some shall be addressed in the @illustri Design Thinking Workshop)

Step 4 - Experiment

It’s time to test a few solutions to find the right fit

Step 5 - Advance

Now that you have been through the process, you have a better grasp of the potential solution and are ready to advance.

To sum it up, here’s a few things we need to remember.

Identify your differentiators. You are the designer of your journey. It is vital to know your intent and be confident about your abilities. Unlearning is the first step and the next not to fear the unknown. Unknowns are opportunities undercover. Waiting for you to unfold!

"It's through mistakes that you actually can grow. You have to get bad in order to get good." - Paula Scher

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