8600 Graphic Design Thinking and Research: Reflective Essay

This essay, written for the Graphic Design Thinking and Research course at the University of Canberra, explores the value of design thinking in the context of graphic design. The author introduces design thinking as a process involving both theory and practice, emphasizing its role in providing creative solutions to design problems. The essay discusses the dynamic and systematic framework of design thinking, differentiating it from the design process itself, which involves the implementation of pre-set strategies. The author reflects on their first-hand experiences, highlighting the importance of design thinking in structuring a good graphic design, and the cognitive process of accumulating creative ideas. They discuss the stages of the design process, including defining, researching, ideating, prototyping, selecting, implementing, and learning. The essay concludes with the author's understanding of design thinking as a broad approach that plays a major role in the execution of the design process. The author also acknowledges that they now understand the importance of the stages of the design process to become a better designer.

Value of Design Thinking
Student name and student ID
Short essay: Graphic design thinking
8600 Graphic design thinking and research
Faculty of Arts and Design
University of Canberra
Date

Value of Design Thinking
Name of Author
1. Introduction
The idea of design thinking can be stated as a concept that is meant to
serve both the theory and the practice (Johansson‐Sköldberg, Woodilla &
Çetinkaya, 2013). Simplifying it, the concept can be further illustrated as a
technique through which the designers are able to implement a set of
strategies that aim to provide a creative and feasible solution to the problems
during the course of designing. To me, designing is a cumulative process that
is developed from the post implementation phase of design thinking.
2. Discussion
As mentioned earlier Design thinking can be considered as a spontaneous
process that is developed with time and creative abilities. The viability of the
process is also taken into account in the case of design thinking (Dalsgaard,
2014). According to my perception and understandings, I feel that it is a
dynamic systematic framework that is aimed at the implementation of new
techniques required for the betterment of a particular design. It is more of a
pre plan for the implementation of the designing process. On the other hand,
design, I consider the design process as the implementation of the specific
pre-set strategies that are framed beforehand. It is the stipulated execution of
the design ideas that are put forward to deliver a masterpiece in the form of
design that may not work in creating a unique artefact. Designing is all about
serving a complex situation with sheer artisanship and possibility of the best
outcomes that will be profitable for the situation with the availability of the
resources (Kolko, 2015).
From the course of my first week, I came to know that to structure a good
graphics design one has to be very specific and emphasise on the process of
design thinking that is a cognitive process of accumulation of creative ideas
rather than concentrating only on the actions to be taken for the development
of the graphics design.
In the course of the second week, I came to know about design, designer
and designing. The traditional concept of designing consisted of direct
implementation without any prior planning of the design process (Szalapaj,
2014). However, with the evolution of the relative concept, there has been a
serious urge for developing a design thinking before designing to be served
with the best results of the design. A designer’s objective is to build a concept,
deliver a proposal about the effective contribution of the concept and finally

deliver the intended artefact (Mor, Craft & Hernández-Leo, 2013). From what I
have learnt from the textbooks, I found that the design process consists of
stages of designing which are not to be misunderstood as the design formulas.
To begin the design process, first, there should be a preparation process. The
whole design process is composed of defining, researching, ideating,
prototyping, selecting, implementing and learning.
In the course of my third week, I came to know about the first step of the
design process that is defining. In this step, I found that the formulation of a
design problem is needed. A design problem is ill defined and the designer
needs to serve the problem with the best solutions (Brown & Chandrasekaran,
2014). According to my opinion, I feel that to deliver a suitable solution to a
design problem it is very much required for the problem space and the
problem solution space to be interwoven with each other or else it may lead to
newer problems that may be unaddressed. As there is no dedicated method in
providing the perfect solution for the design problems, I feel that framing and
reframing according to the needs may be the only option available. Framing
and reframing are the trials and errors for providing with the best outcome.
During my experiences in the past of carrying on with the graphics
projects, there are a few steps that I could recognise from the textbook
chapter. These steps had helped me a lot in delivering my intended design.
However, the process of design thinking was not substantially covered during
the course of the project for which I had to face few difficulties at the time of
my project delivery. I had not formulated the design problem for which the
ultimate outcome was not exactly according to my expectation as there was
no scope of reframing the design. I was somewhat disheartened with the
result, but now with the knowledge of all the steps, I am confident that I will
be able to meet my expectations henceforth.
3. Conclusion
From the above sections of this reflective essay, I conclude that Design
Thinking is an broad approach and plays a major role in the execution of the
design process. I also feel that these steps with sub stages are only to be
considered as a reference and not regarded as the stipulated formulas. After
gaining knowledge from the course, I still feel that there are further steps like
the researching and ideating to get closer towards becoming a good designer.

4. References
Brown, D. C., & Chandrasekaran, B. (2014). Design problem solving:
knowledge structures and control strategies. Morgan Kaufmann.
Dalsgaard, P. (2014). Pragmatism and Design Thinking. International Journal of
design, 8(1).
Johansson‐Sköldberg, U., Woodilla, J., & Çetinkaya, M. (2013). Design thinking:
past, present and possible futures. Creativity and innovation
management, 22(2), 121-146.
Kolko, J. (2015). Design thinking comes of age.
Mor, Y., Craft, B., & Hernández-Leo, D. (2013). The art and science of learning
design: Editoral. Research in Learning Technology, 21.
Szalapaj, P. (2014). Contemporary architecture and the digital design process.
Routledge.