SYSTEM WORKFLOW

PROJECT PROPOSAL: document system

This is a representation of a systematic assembly of various design processes and of a conceptual structure of a reminiscence of the designer, built during the designer’s working process. It is a documentation of designer’s life-long procedure of establishing insights and experiences.

 The system will modify and reorganize resources that were documented during the designer’s working process in systematic fashion; Collected and systematized resources will be visually presented to designers as a designed artifact. The system does not merely refer to documentation itself, but a representation of a procedure of observation and reflection on one’s ongoing and completed design process and past practices. 

As the designer interacts with this system, he/she will observe and examine the collected data, than analysis them. During this stage, the designer will become conscious of his/her own design approach of the past. In the reflection and evaluation stage, the designer will contemplate and appreciate the shown product of the documentation. After the incubation of thoughts, the designer will explore their workflows to discover and define patterns out of them and recycle their own thoughts.

 Through this self-reflective and self-learning process, the designer will be inspired by documentation of his/her own work path. The designer will make a decision whether he/she should preserve the previous conception and the way of treatment on his/her project, or leave them behind and take other directions before they take a next step for their desired goals; the previous perception of the designer will be reinforced or reconstructed at this stages. The designer will deal with problems and constraints by choosing right direction.

 This repetitive process, will affect not only the outcome of the specific design but also the entire thinking method and working process.Through the system, designer will monitor a collected chain of working processes at a glance. The processes are dependent; they are influencing each other.

Like the present is built upon the past, knowledge is built upon pre-existing knowledge. Sharing knowledge of working processes, thinking methods and idea is a pivotal act for the construction of today’s design and its further development. This system can be a communication tool. After the designer decides to publish certain section of the documentation, it will transfer it to the public as a bridge between the outside world and the designer.

Some artists define their idea and beliefs by holding exhibitions, sharing their refined works and reflect on their own artistic path.  Like this, to designers, publishing and sharing selected documentation of work and outcomes will define the intention of the designer and his/her professional pursuit. 

affordance list_rough_version

designer’s practice: bird’s eye view

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documentation-analysis-adaptation

OBSERVATION – DOCUMENTATION – ANALYSIS – REFLECTION-EVALUATION - ADAPTATION

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list of affordances (Hyun)

process of making in physical form

Diagram: design process

The diagram shown above maps the collaboration process among designers. It starts with the brainstorming stage where each designer or group exchanges thoughts and identify the best or most relevant plan for the given project. Read the rest of this entry »

Meaning of Creative Process

We also have discussed about the system of designing process. It is begins with a designer’s hand and tools then assembled with contents and concluded as a format as a final outcome. Contents are divided into two groups. Some contents such as ink, code, sound, light, etc. are raw and unrefined resources. (I would rather use term resources rather than materials because designers utilize non-material resources such as information or light to shape their ideas). Texts, video or audio are pre-formed contents. The outcome of design process is format. The designer’s idea is finally embodied as format, which can be expressed through texture, shape, temporality, behavior and so on. Some designers even create contents for themselves; In this case the outcome will have more distinctive characteristics comparing to others.

Personally, the most interesting topic from the last discussion was about the meaning of creative process. I think most designers not only design their outcome but also design their own creative process by facing their work. I’m definitely not a very creative person, but I often get inspired by my brainstorming sketches and storyboards that I created during my creative process; they suggest alternatives and even answers. The history of creative process of an artist is critical based on whether the outcome turns out good or bad. Most of all creative works are produced through at least several months of enduring period of trial and error. During that period, each designer cumulates his or her own experience of history of making process; it contains precious information of histories built through the beginning to the end of their creative process. For example, when we see a photo of Ray Eams work desk, we clearly notice that there is some kind of “organized mass” is developed in that photo. It might looks disorganized at a first glance, however those numerous piles of files, photos and magazine clippings are systematically organized by the designer who is sitting in front of that desk, brain storming and crafting for several hours almost everyday. This systemized chaos contains and remembers a history of the designer’s creative process because they were built and developed by the designer from the beginning when she started to work at that particular desk and it is naturally organized according to her working habits and routines through several years. Yet, later on it is providing collected information to the designer whenever she need. The interaction between artists and the revaluation of their creative process keeps nourishing the overall process of making, because those records of history can be utilized for the future projects as a guideline or inspiration.

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