Stage 4 - Exploration/Refinement

"Drawing is a language.  Your drawings are a personal method of communication that you can develop to be effective and clear." - Karl Aspelund, The Design Process


Stage four of The Design Process by Aspelund focuses on refining the tools used to create a specific result.  The best way to reach a good result is by expanding the possibilities and going back to them for refinement.  Aspelund mentions not to rush when continuing your ideas because it can cause you to potentially miss more interesting ones.

The process of EXPLORation involves the examination of the ideas that were outlined throughout the development of the concept and how they interact and affect the environment.  You can start by testing different mediums and materials, such as, pen, pencil, markers, or computer renderings.  By sketching down these ideas, you can begin to explore and communicate them more effective.  Aspelund gets technical with a list of Do' and Don'ts.  I think it's important to share the list he has provided because it points out some techniques that everyone could incorporate in their process of exploration/refinement.  Here is the list taken from the chapter:

Do's

• Sketch quickly and repeatedly.
• Sketch constantly.
• Sketch large and small.
• Avoid limitation; use different media.
• Consider the purpose of your sketching.
• Practice.

Don'ts

• Edit yourself.
• Keep your sketches to yourself.

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is another technique that can be used to create and explore ideas.  If your sketches involve ideas that can be easily created by using a computer, then it would probably be more effective to utilize it.  Sometimes traditional mediums are not always the best method depending on your idea/design.  Aspelund touches on two key terms that should not be overlooked when exploring ideas.  The first is dialogue.  Discussing your ideas helps generate great feedback, especially if it's people who aren't in the field of design because they are the general public.  Reflection is the second.  He describes reflection as a tool that is often neglected in design.  By reflecting on the work you have created, you can actively seek new solutions or solve some problems that may arise.

I think exploring your ideas with sketches is vital to creating a well-thought out design.  Most designers don't just come up with a great design overnight.  It's a process, and it involves patience.