Design Approaches in the Field
A designer’s goals and intent are often apparent when we carefully inspect how and why a product, service, or system was made and who was involved in its creation.
Learn about various design approaches.
This tool serves as a quick reference for a range of design approaches.
Design u003cemu003eforu003c/emu003e people.rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eUsersu003c/strongu003e: People who use the design have no say in the process and are an afterthought.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eDesignersu003c/strongu003e: The client or the designer knows best.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernWhat about the product, service, or system you observe makes you believe that this outcome was made solely to meet the designer/client’s goals?
Design that considers people.rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eUsersu003c/strongu003e: People who use the design were in the designer’s mind and maybe filled out a survey or did a focus group.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eDesignersu003c/strongu003e: The designer or client should probably ask users what they think should be designed.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernWhat about the product, service, or system you observe makes you believe that this outcome’s design considered people’s feedback and involvement?
Designing with people.rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eUsersu003c/strongu003e: People who use the design are experts about their lives and actively participate in creating the design.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eDesignersu003c/strongu003e: The designer is an expert at the design process and creation and acts as a partner with users.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernWhat about the product, service, or system you observe makes you believe that this outcome’s design was actively shaped by the people who use it in a partnership with designers?
Design by people.rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eUsersu003c/strongu003e: People who use the design made it entirely.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eDesignersu003c/strongu003e: Are also users!u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernWhat about the product, service, or system you observe makes you believe that this outcome’s design was formatted entirely by the people who use it?
Design to provoke a response.rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eUsersu003c/strongu003e: People who use the design engage with it on various levels (viewing, touching, writing inside, cranking, following its rules) and are made to think and consider often challenging content.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eDesignersu003c/strongu003e: The designer creates outcomes to stir an emotional response in the people who use them.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernWhat about the product, service, or system you observe makes you believe this outcome was designed to spark a response?
Design used to accomplish unexpected goals.rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eUsersu003c/strongu003e: People have an unmet need and co-opt a product, service, or system to accomplish that need even though the design was never intended to do this.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eDesignersu003c/strongu003e: The designer has no idea people are using the outcome this way.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernWhat about the product, service, or system you observe makes you believe it’s being used for a totally different purpose than was intended?