Mainly, the design process starts with 2 disguised points, namely, Innovation & Requirement.
Innovation – A designer starts thinking, on its own, and conceptualizes entirely new product / service for the society based on visualised need. Since it is absolute and new, every input is arranged by the designer and the results are fully dependent on experience, exposure and expertise of the designer.
Unfortunately, such innovations are not seen often.
Requirement – When a designer starts a process, after giving a requirement (problem) by his organisation / customer / society, and conceptualizes a solution by referring to different parallel or similar solutions available; it falls under this point. Inputs are available from various sources and feedback.
This is very common in real life situations.
So, in both the cases, understanding the need is the first step in the designing process.
The next step is conceptualisation of the solution. There may be more than one option available for review and research. Research is a very important aspect of designing. Designers must be research oriented and customer-centric. Research is an extension of concept and its validation. It gives necessary data, for making base models of solutions, like standards, compliances, regulations, restrictions, parallel solutions, equivalents etc.
Modelling is done, after conceptualisation, to generate different alternatives. Evaluation done, thereafter, for selecting the most appropriate alternative solution for a given problem / dream.
Now, actual designing starts with engineering detailing and fixing different specifications and measurements. Functionality, Durability, Dependability, Operation-ability and Aesthetics are the main considerations in designing. Quality, Reliability and Product Life are the outcome of the design.
Detailing done for workable drawings for development of the product. Tools / Process detailing has to be completed here to ensure produce-ability of the product. Once the process of detailing is completed, it is released for Prototype / Sample manufacturing.
Prototype / sample is for having the first view of the product designed. It is the step where we judge the product for the solution provided by it. If a problem given / dreamt is not solved by the product prototype, a critical analysis has to be done. Modification / alteration / addition are to be synthesized and implemented.
After testing and validation of 2nd or 3rd prototype / sample, design / detailing is updated and released for commercial production.
Designing is a continual process, once a product is commercially launched, feedbacks and market response are guiding the designer for improving the product by incorporating them.
Designing process ends only after complete satisfaction of the customer or problem must be fully solved or dreamt solution is given to society with perfection.
