Designing for a real person

Designers don't start with a solution. They start with a person and a problem. That's called human-focused design.

Needs, not solutions

'I need a better bag' is a solution. 'I need to carry my lunch, books and sports gear without my shoulder hurting' is a need. A need leaves room for many solutions.

Brief and specification

A brief says who the design is for, what it must do and what limits (constraints) it must work within: materials, time, cost, size. A specification turns that into things you can test: 'must hold 5 kg', 'must fit in a locker'.

Prototypes

A prototype is a quick version made to test an idea. The first one should be fast and cheap, because its job is to teach you something. Test it with the real user and watch what they do.

Trade-offs

Every design gives something up. Stronger might mean heavier. Cheaper might mean less durable. Good designers say what they traded off, and why.

Sustainability

Think about the whole life of the design: where the materials come from, how long it lasts, and what happens to it afterwards.