Design Process Innovation: A Surprising Workflow Analysis of Designers at Fortune 500 Companies

Summary

This content demonstrates that design begins in the mind. Through a fascinating case study of app development, it provides an in-depth analysis of the actual design processes employed by designers collaborating with Fortune 500 companies. Rather than a simple tool list, it presents strategies and efficient tool usage for each stage, from idea concretization to high-resolution model creation, even revealing surprisingly reasonable hardware choices. Readers will gain practical insights to innovate their design workflows and maximize productivity.

Key Points

• Design Starts with Thought: A step-by-step approach, progressing from initial idea sketches to high-resolution designs.
• Strategic Utilization of Diverse Tools: Efficient and purposeful use of various tools including Sketch, Procreate, Sketch, Midjourney, Spline, Hype, Rive, Final Cut Pro, and Rotato.
• Maximum Efficiency with Minimal Hardware: A strategy maximizing efficiency by selecting cost-effective equipment instead of high-end devices.
• Pragmatic Design Philosophy: A design philosophy and real-world examples focusing on problem-solving rather than tool obsession.
• AI Utilization Outlook: Plans for future improvements in the development process using AI-based coding tools.

Details

This content goes beyond a simple design tutorial; it's a valuable resource offering a glimpse into the thought processes and workflows of experienced designers. Through the development of an app visually representing a designer's learning data, it details strategies and efficient tool usage throughout the entire design process.

Stage 1: Idea Concretization (Brainstorming and Sketching)

Design begins in the mind. The designer concretizes ideas by sketching the app's core functions and design direction on a notepad with a pen. The pen is used to eliminate the eraser function, allowing for objective evaluation of ideas and recording the trial-and-error process. Digital sketching then proceeds using an iPad mini and the Procreate app, followed by transfer to a MacBook for the next stage.

Stage 2: Digital Design and Prototyping (Sketch, Midjourney, Spline)

On the MacBook, high-resolution designs are created using Sketch (the preference for Sketch over Figma stems from the advantages of a native app and the convenience of its image drag-and-drop functionality). Midjourney is used for rapid creation of planetary models, and Spline is used to preview 3D animation effects. This stage involves creating various design versions to select the optimal design (e.g., creating both dark and light modes).

Stage 3: Animation and Motion Design (Hype, Rive, Final Cut Pro)

App interface animations are created using Hype (an HTML5-based animation editor). Other animation tools like Rive can be utilized as needed. 3D animation is produced through external collaboration, and Final Cut Pro integrates all animation elements to produce the final video.

Stage 4: 3D Model Creation and Final Review (Rotato)

The produced video is applied to the 3D model using Rotato for final design review. This stage simulates how the app functions on actual devices to optimize user experience.

Stage 5: Hardware and Software Selection

This content showcases a strategy of maximizing efficiency by selecting cost-effective equipment rather than high-end devices. The tools used include a low-cost notepad, iPad mini, M1 Pro MacBook Pro, Studio Display, Logitech MX Vertical mouse, and Keychron K3 Pro keyboard. The selection criteria prioritize work efficiency and convenience.

Implications

This content goes beyond simply showcasing a specific app development process; it provides profound insights into the entire design process. The strategic use of various tools, reasonable hardware selection, and problem-solving-focused design philosophy are valuable lessons applicable to all designers. In particular, the outlook on utilizing AI-based coding tools offers significant implications for predicting future design trends. This content allows designers to analyze and improve their design workflows, enhancing productivity and enabling more efficient and creative design work. Furthermore, cost-effectiveness is improved through reasonable equipment selection, and user-centric design is realized through a problem-solving-oriented design philosophy.