Design Process

In design we often talk about co-design. But purely sharing thought process can also be valuable. Here I share some key takeaways from an architectural exhibit I attended this morning. I hope it provides inspiration into new ways of thinking and ways to problem solve.

Revitalizing a town is not just about making a town be more convenient to live and work in, but it also needs to draw people in with a deeper reason, a charm that generates identity, pride, and affiliation. See how architects ran co-design projects with children to explore future aspirations for a rural island in Japan.

Design is about problem solving. Here are examples of how designers approach problems to come up with innovative solutions. The cases and techniques are from Kees Dorst’s book ‘Designing for the Common Good’.

Many of us have observed Japanese service from a customer’s point of view. I was happy to find this book which is like the handbook to hospitality training at Isetan (a giant Japanese departmental store chain). I was impressed by their thoughtfulness and approach and would like to share a few of these points with you.

Think ‘sustainability’ and words like recycling and renewable materials usually pop up. Yoshiyuki Matsuoka, a Design Professor at Keio University encourages an additional way - by getting people to use products for longer, fall back in love with things, and design for the changes in scenarios people go through in life with the product. He focuses on reducing waste by improving value and desirability over time.

Urban design can radically transform the perception of cities and behaviors of its residents. Here we’ll take a look at the revitalization of a seedy neighborhood in Yokohama and examine the opportunities in health clinic frontage design.

The intersection between design and science is important - but there are a few terms floating around which can be confusing - I’d like to clarify the difference between ‘Design Science’ and ‘Design as a Science’.

Psychologically, humans seek logic, certainty, control, direction, and aim to save face. But these tendencies restrict creativity. The Double Diamond separates these processes and the Design Thinking Framework has some genius ground rules to help us embrace ambiguity and beat the unbearable feeling of uncertainty.

What’s the relationship between posture and design? This article showcases how posture changes physiology, psychology, behaviour, interactions, and ultimately cultures (micro and macro). With a greater awareness of how posture influences the products, services, and spaces we design, we can be more intentional to use it to foster the type of society we want to live in.