Blank canvas
Guest Contribution
Whether it is to start a design project, write a story, cooking something new or in an exam trying to answer a question you have not fully prepared. Simple question pops to everyone’s mind is “where to start?”
If we have not asked this question to others, then I am pretty sure we do have asked to ourselves many times. This is legitimate question we all have being human, and with practice and experience some have over-come to these in an specific area.
I will focus on designing and blank canvas fear mainly, but there will be similarities to other situation too.
As a designer we all have been through to this question of ‘where to start?’, some people has this question almost at every new project. One common mistake most of the designer does is to rush to prove then can work on a tool and prior to digest the requirements they nod the head in affirmation but later get stuck and blank out. Most of us have created an imaginary shell around us that often stop us admitting our faults and this illusion is one of the greatest barriers to learn new things or even ask legitimate questions.
Just like in an examination room when you don’t prepare something well and start pulling hairs out as to think where to start, pretty much same rules applies when we start designing or doing something from scratch without preparation or prior knowledge.
It is simply embarking a journey to unknown and sometimes journey could be painful. Once we identify clear target we know which direction we should head-off, what tools will we need and estimate correctly about delivery. This applies to majority of new things we will try out first time.
In designing or working in a project teams it is a lot different. Prior to draw/design or rushing to produce something it is vital to have a clear direction and defined problem you are trying to solve. These are your key ingredients before engaging to produce solution.
I will not go in the methodology and approach one should use and whether to do a user research, HCD, budget or time etc. Yes, you do need these research methodologies and other details, without these your confidence level will not increase as well as solution would deviate to original requirements, these are integral part of preparation.
Once you are well prepared then decide tool(s) of your choice to produce outcome. Sometimes you only need a dot on a paper nothing more, and if you try to fill the canvas with un-necessary elements it will only add confusion.
I read somewhere and the best design is not the one which only looks pretty, best design is the one that works well.
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