PROPOSAL and Design Brief // The team is to collectively:

 

Make a clear written proposal which spells out exactly what you plan on doing. This proposal should act as a guide for you to remain organized, on track, and on schedule. Towards making this proposal you should brainstorm with your peers on the theme you would like to explore.. .what do you think you want to say?

Next, you should do research to establish a design brief.

*In this proposal the team identifies:

  1. exactly what you aim to create and explain why;
  2. ways in which you can investigate and/or execute your project;
  3. primary and collaborative functions for each team member;
  4. a theme for your project and a refined design question (a kin to a thesis statement). This should state what functions the design needs to serve;
  5. tools (software) you plan to use and the teams' proficiency to use these tools. What materials will you need and how do you plan on acquiring them?
  6. the knowledge, skills, and values they hope to gain and/or exemplify through this project;
  7. a clear schedule and plan of what each of you plan to accomplish by the deadline. Go to Horton Calendar
  8. the research you will need to do to establish credibility. Without credibility you have no authority!
  9. who or what factors describe your target audience? Finances, culture, religion, age, sex, race, sexual orientation, politics, etc..
  10. how do you plan to Brand your design?

*Also, include a title and subtitles to organize your ideas.


 

Here is a Design process for major projects:

Before you begin you must understand that a design's form follows its function. This means that a way a design looks should directly result from what it needs to do. For example, a chair intended for a market of school students may look very different than one targeted at an elegant clothing store. In this example, though the chair is designed for an average adult to sit on, its style must also be appealing to the desired customer, it must function aesthetically, conceptually, and physically.

  1. What functions does your design need to serve (e.g. a school that needs to control the movement people and place them in smaller rooms for classes or meetings, have galleries, etc.. OR an ad that needs to target teens while not alienating their parents… OR design of an adjustable lounge chair build on only two shapes)? List them then organize/ prioritize them.
  2. Address each function individually and consider the possibilities of how you might address each one.
  3. Pull together your ideas of how you might meet these functions into a more coherent solution. Is there one solution that can address multiple functions (.e.g. multipurpose spaces). As a single tree can have hundreds of branches, Is there a theme you could use to unify your design?
  4. Create a range of possible solutions in drawings and written rationales.
  5. Decide on the materials, tools, or resources you will require to meet your objective.
  6. Build a prototype of your best and most cohesive idea(s) (up to three) and test them on an audience.
  7. Review your designs, refine them, and develop the best one!