Talk about lessons learned from the design of combat failure cases

Today this article is not long, but very worthy of the first into the design of the classmate reading, if you often complain that party A does not understand the design, each change is indignant unceasingly, it is more necessary to learn, from a designer's failure case summary, with hands-on experience to tell you why good designers rarely mention the vision, but the solution to the mouth.

To practise skill is a grind of temper, and design is no exception. After the proposal how to change all the indignation, not as calm to see it, will find that this is actually a rare learning opportunity. Again the vulgar feedback, delve into it, there will be income. Design is not pure art, since high should not be our pursuit. Design is a way to solve the problem, the difference is that it uses the eyes to speak.

Although the term "solution" has been said to be rotten in recent years, I do not have the words, reasoning, and still have not found a more novel version, it does correctly describe the meaning of the design. We are too customer feedback to change things ugly, the reason for this change, perhaps can be suddenly enlightened. Who says that a happy solution is not an art?

Say no to practice fake handles. So, let's use an example to explore the rich nutrition in the program of premature death.

This is a project to design a T-shirt pattern for the developer assembly.

　　Customer Requirements

The client wrote in the email:

　　Creative One: Pony boxer

Because the meeting will be held in Australia, the idea comes from the famous Australian flag "boxing Kangaroo", which has been widely used in various sports activities.

The pony pattern is referred to as follows (the foal is the mascot of the Organization):

The two references given are copyrighted, so they cannot be copied or overly similar. Hope that these two themes/styles as a reference, design a cartoon pony appearance of the image of the kangaroo.

　　Creative Two: Matilda

The meeting will be held in Brisbane, Australia, where the 1982 Commonwealth Games were held, when the mascot was called Matilda:

Of course, the idea of the Kangaroo "pony".

　　Creative Third: Brisbane is the venue for the 1988 World Expo

The logo and mascot of the Expo were not well known, but they still represented Brisbane:

　　Idea four: Birthday party

This is the 10 anniversary of Django's birthday. So imagine you're preparing a birthday cake for a 10-year-old boy who happens to like ponies very much.

Of course, as long as you can convey "Django in Australia" or "Django in Brisbane" information, welcome other better ideas.

Last year's design:

In fact, when the client's subjective opinion is already clear, those who "welcome a better idea" are mostly courtesy. They know what they want, and they have established standards in their minds. Of course, it is not entirely unacceptable to accept new ideas, but if they are to be accepted, they must argue and have clear ideas.

Since it was a failure case, then I was naturally not so thoughtful. Only feel that they already understand the idea of the customer, the mind has been roughly embryonic, and immediately began to design the blood boiling.

In the first scheme, I will boxing Kangaroo "pony", and avoid with two references have similar place. The third is the 10 birthday of the pony theme, in addition, the pixel style echoed the technical sense of the developer theme. The other two are happy to "otherwise" express Pony's close ties with Australia.

At that time to meet the requirements of customers, perhaps free to play the money can also be favored. Reality will always poke you with a bone, the feedback received is: A few are not very satisfied with the requirements. Although the first is the closest, but the "boxing kangaroo" relationship is still not close enough. Because the pattern is really famous, so I hope "more than a few minutes kangaroo, less a little Pony", so that anyone can think of a casual look at that side of the famous banner.

Chest tightness is not ... In fact, before embarking on a design, ask a few more questions, this situation can be avoided. For example, should you keep the action of the boxing kangaroo completely, or a bit similar? Why did you choose that pony as a style reference? What are the features/elements that are worth referring to? What are the elements that should be avoided? and so on. See so many ideas, kangaroo is what customers really want.

However, at that time apparently did not be poked awake, thought understood, uphold a way to go to black.

The horse's head is not in the right direction, the legs are rough, the face style is like an adult horse, not a foal, not cute enough.

This is close to the appearance of a small foal kangaroo, but the connection between the parts feel strange ...

Early communication is insufficient, causes the final estrangement to be difficult to remedy, the designer can fall into the passive situation. With the young couple to get along with the same way, there are wood ~ However, the designer should assume the dominant role, to explore the real reason behind customer feedback is the right path, rather than say, change.

Depressed must have, but we can not be in vain depressed, to let the failure to play the effectiveness of failure. Instead of complaining about it, it's better to think about it--to understand the customer's ideas and find solutions for customers should be the work of the designer. We can not put the customer said zoom in, left shift to the right to change the requirements of the whole collection, they are so required there must be behind the reasons, we have to dig it out, if not reasonable, it should be argued. This is not emotional or face problems, is a good heart for the project. The design is not to make the entrusted people think good-looking things, but to the project and brand services, to the audience feel that the right is really good.

It should be our job to excavate the reason behind the feedback and judge whether it is reasonable or not. Self-motivated status is earned on your own. Is the designer or art on this show.

　　Said many are the tears, finally makes the summary:

Can not be opinionated, not arbitrary understanding. A silly question, too, is worth asking. Because the customer's answer is likely to lead to better questions.

Beauty and ugliness are subjective, and suitability or not is the standard of success in design.

Communication and communication, to explore the root causes of each customer's ideas. Of course, in the process of communication, you can also find that is not the customer you should receive.