Behind the Scenes of Our Creative Process: The Art of Design2Repeat
Ever heard the saying, “Great minds think alike”? Well, in our world of surface pattern design, it’s more like “Great minds think on the same page.” We’ve learned that a compelling idea is just the beginning. The real magic happens when we transform that spark into a seamless, repeating pattern. It’s a journey filled with unexpected twists, happy accidents, and sometimes, a fair bit of head-scratching. We also have our fair-share of challenges. One main disadvantage is we live in different continents and time zones…
But that doesn’t stop us! We found ways to coordinate our efforts to be able to work efficiently. We are happy to share with you some of our “Tips and Tricks” as we’re pulling back the curtain on our creative process.
Table of Contents
Defining Our Conceptual Design
What is conceptual design?
Conceptual design is the process of creating a strong idea at the core of a design, which is essential for effective visual communication. We’ve found that good design isn’t just about pretty pictures – it’s a form of visual communication that speaks volumes.
Did you know that the human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text? That’s why nailing our conceptual design is crucial. We start by brainstorming new ideas, scribbling like mad in our sketchbooks. Sometimes, the best concepts come from the most unexpected places. While prepping dinner, I cut open a red cabbage. All the different layers and patterns it was so inspirational, and the best thing was that it was unexpected.
Importance of conceptual design in the design process
As difficult as it may seem to get started at first, it’s the foundation and framework for an idea before actualizing it as a design. Spending time on this first step will reduce wasted time and your nerves. Conceptual design is the bedrock of any design project, and it’s essential to get it right. How does this happen; we talk everyday, video-conference and collaborate where and when we can.
Let’s talk about those first sketches. They’re like the foundation of a house – if they’re wonky, the whole thing might come tumbling down. We’ve learned (the hard way) that rushing through this stage is a recipe for disaster.
Inspiration can strike anywhere, anytime. We get ideas all the time. We share so much content back and forth that this part seems to be very organic for us now. The key is to capture these sparks before they fizzle out. That’s why we always keep our sketchbooks handy. Sometimes it’s easier to take and share pictures. You never know when creativity will come knocking.
The conceptual design phase is pivotal because it’s where truly original, creative ideas emerge, so embrace it!
The Conceptual Design Process
We define the problem or service required
At Design2Repeat, we’ve learned that conceptual design creates the roadmap for our entire project and knowing what problem it intends to address. It’s like planning a road trip – you gotta know where you’re going before you start driving, right?
Fun fact: Did you know that 32% of creative professionals say that a lack of clear direction is their biggest challenge? That’s why we always start by nailing down our project’s purpose. We spent weeks on a design, only to realize it didn’t fit the needs at all. Now, we make sure everyone’s on the same page from the get-go. It saves time, headaches, and a whole lot of coffee.
We suggest starting by creating a problem statement — a brief description of the issue you want to address.
Conducting Research and Analysis
Let’s be real – diving into research isn’t always the most exciting part of the process. But trust us, it’s a game-changer. We’ve learned that understanding our target audience is like having a secret weapon in our design arsenal.
One time, we skipped the research phase and ended up creating a pattern that bombed spectacularly. Turns out, what we thought was trendy was actually so last season. Oops! Now, we never skimp on our homework. We dig into color trends, industry reports, and even social media to get the full picture. It’s amazing how much you can learn from a good Instagram deep-dive, right?
Research might not be glamorous, but it’s the backbone of successful design. It helps us create patterns that don’t just look pretty, but actually resonate with our audience, their desires, needs and the value they will receive. And that, folks, is the sweet spot we’re always aiming for.
Ideation and Brainstorming
Alright, now we’re getting to the fun part! Ideation is where we let our imaginations run wild and dream big. It’s like a mental playground where no idea is too crazy. We’ve had some of our best concepts come from the most off-the-wall suggestions.
Mind mapping is our go-to technique for this stage. We grab a big sheet of paper, scribble our main theme in the center, and let the ideas flow. It’s messy, it’s chaotic, and it’s absolutely brilliant. We once filled an entire wall with sticky notes during a particularly intense brainstorming session. I’m sure Melike can agree that our offices can look like paper tornados ripped thorough it!
But here’s the thing – not every idea is a winner. We’ve learned to embrace the duds along with the gems. Sometimes, a “bad” idea can spark something amazing. I strongly agree with this. Not all mistakes are a waste of time or effort. We have both gone through the process of creating a pattern for it to be a complete flop but then once we re-do it turns out so much better. It’s all part of the creative process, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Verbal ideation involves defining the concept verbally and generating a list of potential solutions. It can be as straightforward as stating the problem and then enumerating its potential solutions on a list while keeping them aligned with the brand and its audience.
Visual Ideation and Sketching
Time to put pencil to paper! This is where our ideas start taking shape – literally. We grab our sketchbooks and just let loose. Some days, the ideas flow like a river. Other times, it’s more like squeezing water from a rock. We both have our moments where we feel everything we create is so boring and uninspiring. A blank page can be intimidating but this step in the process helps to iron out all the details and make abstract thoughts turn into something more substantial.
Developing and Refining the Conceptual Design
Designing and sketching concept drafts
Turning a mere idea into a full-fledged design is where the real work begins. For us, it’s real collaboration to bring it to a tangible product. We dive deep making sure every element aligns perfectly. There’s no such thing as “good enough” in our book. We tweak, adjust, and sometimes start over completely. It can be frustrating, but the end result is always worth it.
Developing and refining the prototype
Once you’ve created rough sketches that you’re happy with, it’s time to create a more detailed representation of your design.
This is where we sweat the fine details. We’re talking pixel-perfect precision here, folks. Our first attempts aren’t always pretty – we once spent a whole day trying to get a single curve just right. But that’s the beauty of prototyping. It’s all about trial and error, tweaking and adjusting until everything clicks into place. We both come from very analytical backgrounds, so when we say all-day on one curve we mean it!
We’ve learned that patience is key in this stage. Sometimes, what looks great on paper doesn’t quite translate to digital. We’ve had our fair share of “back to the drawing board” moments. But each iteration brings us closer to the final design. It’s like solving a puzzle, where each piece reveals a bit more of the big picture. Trust the process!
And let’s not forget about the technical aspects. Making sure our patterns repeat seamlessly can be a real head-scratcher. But when it all comes together? That’s when the magic happens. Oh and don’t forget the great sense of accomplishment also!
Overcoming Challenges
Navigating Hurdles: Common Obstacles in Surface Pattern Design
At Design2Repeat, we’ve been through the wringer when it comes to surface pattern design. Let’s face it, the creative process can be a real rollercoaster. We’ve had our fair share of days where inspiration just wouldn’t show up, no matter how much coffee we drank. This is where I feel lucky to have my partener-in-design, Melike. We boost each other’s confidence and push each other out of the “stuck” parts.
Creative block is like that annoying relative who overstays their welcome. It’s frustrating, and sometimes we’ve found ourselves staring at blank screens for hours. But here’s the thing – we’ve learned that pushing through isn’t always the answer. Sometimes, you gotta step away and shake things up.
We’ve found that mood boarding can be a lifesaver. We’ll grab magazines, fabric swatches, or even random objects and start piecing them together. It’s like giving your brain a visual buffet to feast on. And don’t get us started on the power of Pinterest – that site’s a rabbit hole of inspiration.
Sometimes, the obstacle isn’t lack of ideas, but too many. We’ve had projects where we were overwhelmed with possibilities. In those cases, we’ve learned to take a step back and remember the brief. What’s the core of what we’re trying to achieve? It helps to narrow things down.
What’s been your experience with creative blocks? Got any weird sources of inspiration you’d like to share? We’re always eager to learn new tricks of the trade!
Strategies for Overcoming them
We’ve stumbled and fumbled our way through plenty of design challenges at Design2Repeat. But hey, that’s how you learn, right? Over time, we’ve cobbled together some strategies that actually work for us and hopefully for you too..
We play the "what if" game
What if this pattern was upside down? What if we used only triangles? It’s amazing how asking silly questions can lead to serious breakthroughs. A boring floral into a bestseller just by imagining it in a different way.
15-minute sprint
Another trick we swear by is the “15-minute sprint.” When motivation’s low, we set a timer and just create whatever comes to mind for 15 minutes. Creative writing can get the ideas rolling. No judgment, no pressure. Half the time, we end up working way past the timer because we’ve stumbled onto something good.
Collaboration
Collaboration’s been a game-changer for us too. We used to think asking for help was a sign of weakness. Now? We know it’s a superpower. Bouncing ideas off each other often leads to those “aha!” moments we couldn’t reach alone.
Setting the mood
And let’s not forget about setting the mood. We’ve found that creating the right environment can make a world of difference. Some days that means a tidy workspace, other days it’s working from a noisy café. We even have a “inspiration playlist” that gets us in the zone.
Embrace imperfection
Lastly, we’ve learned to embrace imperfection. Some of our best designs started as “mistakes.” Remember, perfection is the enemy of done. Sometimes you gotta roll with the happy accidents. We try not to be so serious and have fun that’s what it’s all about!
What about you? Got any quirky strategies that help you overcome design obstacles? We’re always looking to add new tools to our creative toolkit!
Conclusion
Recap of the importance and benefits of conceptual design in the creative process
- Conceptual design is the beating heart of a design project.
- It helps to establish the foundation for the design process.
- It helps to produce the initial concepts in the form of studies and outline specifications for technical evaluation.
Behind The Scenes of Our Final Vintage Christmas Collection Hero Design in Adobe Illustrator
Final thoughts on the art of conceptual design
- Conceptual design is a crucial phase in the creative process that shapes the foundation of successful projects.
- It involves transforming an initial idea into a tangible product through a meticulous process.
- The conceptual design phase is pivotal because it’s where truly original, creative ideas emerge.
