The first draft - Janice

Question/Title

How does design process changes from a design student to a professional designer?

Abstract

The report is focusing on design process between a design student and designer who is working in the industry and exploring the design process changes from the 2 different stages. The outcome will be used as a guideline or direction for new graphic design graduates to get prepared for the industry

There are a few methods to approach the question:

1. Interviewing current design students and professional designers. They will be surveyed with a same set of questions. Questions like why do they want to be a graphic designer, what does Design Process mean to them, how do they preserve their creativity in their work etc. The result will be compared and contrasted at the end of the report.
2. Case study: Evolution

Following a graphic design student who will be graduating soon for 6 months. It will be about how a student works in university and work placement. It will also investigate into different perspectives, feedback on student’s performance will be collected from university tutors and placement coworkers. The aim of it is to discover the process of a graphic design student evolves into a professional designer.

3. Case study: How does graphic designer at different stages work?

Following graphic projects done by graphic designers at different stages: A first year student, a final year student, a student who is working in a placement, a full time graphic designer.

Following their project design processes and interviewing them with a same set of questions in different period of their design process, from the beginning, the middle to the end. The result will be compared and contrasted after that.

Chapter(It varies on which method is chosen to begin. This is the example for method one)

1. The definition of Design Process by both design student and designer
2. From the design student point of view
3. From the professional designer point of view
4. Compare and contrast
5. Result

Action plan(It varies on which method is chosen to begin. This is the example for method one)

1. Researching in design process – Resources: Books, journals, internet and lectures.
2. It will be used as a general background and back-up to support the interviews and surveys etc.
3. Creating a list of questions/surveys based on the research
4. Interviewing graphic design students from UAL or other colleges, especially student who has started working placement in the industry.
5. Interviewing Designers who are working in the industry. Possible interviewing methods – face-to-face interview, phone interview and email questionnaire.
6. Gathering and analyzing the information.

Bibliography

How do Designers Think

How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul

Designers are Wankers

Design as Art

Creative Review

The 100 habits of successful graphic designers

http://www.ilovedesign.com/uk/live/