Balancing practice and theory in design
“Reason and the ability to use it are two separate skills.”
— Franz Grillparzer
An idea is simply speculation until proven to work. The initial stages of design entail brainstorming, which transpires to problem-solving. Brainstorming and problem solving are on different ends of the design process, and research is one of the main components filling that gap.
Developing a unique perspective results in better designs. Being able to imagine yourself in other people’s shoes (as easy as it sounds) is a skill that requires practice. However, it also requires knowledge on how to do so. This is where theory and practice lean on each other.
Let me share a story with you showcasing the importance of both theoretical and practical knowledge.
Theoretically, I knew everything about baking a cake. Except, I had never done it before. Long story short, I ended up with a very dense, and slightly burnt cake. Simply because I failed to realise every oven is different, my lack of practice failed my sense of theoretical understanding.
Without knowledge (theory), answers might lack accuracy, and without experience (practicality) answers might lack the level of execution they require.
Research: the paramount of the design process
An indispensable part of the design process is research. Research may sound like something on the back burner; however, it is the foundation of every design. Without research, the usability and user experience will suffer. The knowledge you gather before designing is the underground structure supporting the strategy. Without it, the design will crumble.
User research helps designers understand user expectations, behaviours, needs, and motivations. Sometimes, the best research is spending time with your user or target audience. The insights gathered from this research ensure all design decisions benefit the user.
You are not the user, so avoid making decisions based on personal preference.
Designing requires constant decision-making. Putting your taste aside can be challenging, but designers should not make decisions based on their opinions. The designer isn’t the target audience be the target audience, and hence, they should use research to support their creative choices.
Let’s take a closer look at the two distinct approaches to research and knowledge.
Design Theory
Design Theory explains how and why a design works. It gives you the knowledge and ability to combine form (the design principles) and function (the design purpose), which, according to the Bauhaus, is the basis of any successful design.
Since design is not about personal preference, designers look towards the design principles and elements to help decision-making.
Design theory is asking and answering the question “Why am I designing it this way?” If you can’t answer that question at every stage of the design process, you probably need to do a bit more thinking.
Design theory requires knowledge of the design elements, so let’s take a look.
Design elements come from the key design principles of aesthetics and function.
- Elements related to physical nature include movement, pattern, rhythm, proportion, balance, harmony, contrast, style, texture, and colour.
- Elements related to functional nature include strength and durability, safety, stability, efficiency, reliability, user-friendliness, ergonomic fit, texture, viscosity, consistency, structure, nutritional value, and taste.
Designers use these principles to make creative choices that benefit the user.
Design Practice
Design practice combines and prioritizes the design elements and principles to develop initial ideas into physical or digital products. Designers use elements to convey a particular message to their target audience.
Without the execution of these products, they remain an idea and consequently have little impact. Prototyping and mockups are essential to transform an idea into a product that meets the brief. It also allows designers to test their product and ensure it is ergonomic and user-friendly.
Prototyping is the foremost stage (along with others) where designers go back and tweak their designs based on the valuable information they receive when testing. Thus, it is quintessential to make prototypes and mockups before launch.
A match made in heaven
Design theory and practice make great user-centred products. The reasoning behind the questions designers asks themselves help develop a well-rounded product.
As a stand-alone, design theory and practice are essential, yet together, they aid in problem-solving and can do wonders for making life easier and more efficient.
With the critical thinking and thought-provoking questions in design theory, design practice helps verify if those decisions were correct.
Strong Design Practice
Now that you understand the components that go into research, let’s discern what a strong design practice entails.
- A clear product vision and strategy recognizing how the product will fit into the users' lives.
- An extended effort of gathering knowledge on the problem through second-hand research and interacting with users.
- Accepting and acknowledging feedback to push the product to best benefit the users.
The users’ positive experience is always the goal, thus research and interactions with your users are crucial, after all, it is them you are designing for.
Engage in both design theory and practice to succeed
As a designer, you may have heard design theory and practice several times, and more often than not, these terms are used together. That is because they complement each other well.
To succeed in any product development, designers need to consider both approaches to knowledge. It gives insight into your designs and only enhances the benefits.
As these two approaches intertwine, they create a strong product foundation that helps launch your product successfully and smoothly.
An important thing to remember is the user research is just as important as product development.
The Canvs Editorial team comprises of: Editorial Writer and Researcher- Paridhi Agrawal and Anjali Baliga, the Editor’s Desk- Aalhad Joshi and Debprotim Roy, and Content Operations- Abin Rajan
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