Design Processes and Problem Solving
Design as a directed process
Design questions test whether you can move from a brief to a resolved outcome through a documented process. The examiner looks for a clear problem statement, investigation, generation of alternatives, selection with reasons, development, and evaluation against the brief.
Concepts a candidate must understand
- The brief and constraints: audience, purpose, budget, materials, size, deadline, legal or ethical limits.
- Research and analysis: gathering relevant information and drawing conclusions from it rather than listing it.
- Ideation: annotated thumbnail sketches, mind maps, mood boards, and deliberate variation of one variable at a time.
- Development: refining a chosen idea through scale, colour, typography or ergonomics testing.
- Communication: layout, hierarchy, legibility, and suitability for the intended user.
- Evaluation: judging the outcome against the original brief, not against personal taste.
Traps in questions
- Jumping straight to a finished design with no evidence of alternatives.
- Presenting many sketches that are near-identical, which shows no real exploration.
- Forgetting the user: a design that pleases the maker but ignores function or audience.
- Evaluating with vague praise instead of measurable criteria from the brief.
- Confusing decoration with problem solving.
Worked example: packaging a small product
State the brief in one sentence, including user and shelf context. Produce at least six annotated thumbnails varying one factor each (shape, opening, colour, typography). Select two and test them at full size for hand fit and print legibility. Record the reason for the final choice, then evaluate: does it protect, inform and attract the stated user?
Rule of thumb
Every design decision on the page should answer "why this?" with reference to the brief.