How Do You Design?

[Qbee]

Something I've been wondering about.. how do other people start designing?

Do you take a piece of paper and let the pencil fly over it, creating something amazing or do you launch a graphics program right away.. Or maybe you just take notepad and start typing html or whatever..

As for me, I start by drawing the idea on paper, then in a program.. usually there's loads of difference between those versions already. And the last bit is slicing and notepad of course!

[Neupix]

Interesting question.

I personally like to open up Photoshop or Flash and just go with it. Basically I do what you do with the paper and pencil, and create a rough copy of the layout/logo. I then open a new document and work around my rough copy, creating the final product.

I am not big on wasting paper - but I do on occassion draw things out before hand.

[KillianWorld]

hey,
i sit in my chair. thinking, thinking thinking, etc. Then when i have worked our what links i need ill make a site structure. Then illmove on to the design which i use sticky note paper for so i can move stuff around. This hit the pc!

Killian

[Crazy Bat]

Here's my usual order of how things go.

1. The crazy idea pops in my head.

2. I grab my schetchbook and draw out my idea. (FYI: I've found that If I draw it out first, I can tell from this point whether my idea will work or not. If not, then I don't bother going to the computer at all. I used to start my ideas out on the computer, but not anymore. Saves me more time, I feel.)

3a). For animation, scan my drawings. Bring into Flash and either trace bitmap or redraw it. Depends on the look I want. Either even looking lines or messy lines.

3b). For websites or graphics, I'll open up Flash, Photoshop and Illustrator. Flash to draw freehand. (FYI: I've tried using Freehand. Don't like it. Flash is more 'free' for my tastes) Photoshop for any kind of photo manipulation and Illustrator to pull it all together.

4. For XHTML coding, Dreamweaver.

In a nutshell, that's about it!

[AMPlified]

It depends on the type of project, but after I get a mental picture of what I want to do. . .

For static graphics (ie. logos, digital art, photo editting, etc.) I just start up the program (usually Illustrator or PhotoShop) and draft right in the program. For me it's quicker than sketching with paper first -- my brain's enough of a sketch pad Although, sometimes I will use a white board to sketch out an individual element which I'm having trouble with. But that's still after I've started up my graphics application(s) and begun the drafting process.

For web sites or interactive Flash, I'll sketch out the interface first -- often on my trusty white board. But usually it's just the information flow part of the interface (sometimes the layout) -- not the graphics part.

For 3D work: If it's just an object then I'll usually try and get right to it. But sometimes I need to sketch it out (or look at a picture) to help understand how the "pieces" fit together. For whole scenes I usually like to draw out a map first, with measurements in most cases. And then take it object by object.

With animations, it depend on how complex the storyline is. If it's just a short scene I'll figure it out in the program, but if it's more complex I'll storyboard first.

[MILI]

first start thinking about the idea

then sketch on a paper

then use illustrator or photoshop to recreate whats on the sketch

and if its a simple design, well then just dont sketch it

Now start learning illustrator or photoshop as soon as you can if you wanna design

cuz thats the key cUz ! ; )

peace

[prophet]

I use to just start in illustrator or photoshop but i have noticed that if i draw a general idea of what i want on a peace of paper i have a much easyer time working in the program.

[simplistik]

sketch, scan... design... for the most part anyway. since I have a wacom I can just sketch in PS for quickness, then import into w/e and touch/clean it up.

[prophet]

aha pretty much i need to hook up my scanner

[pureda]

If I'm working at home, I'll put my pjs on and get comfy on the couch and put a movie on and sit there with a pad of paper and do my thumbnails and then go on to the computer end of it.

It also depends on what kind of job it is, if it is a brochure or website, I just play with it in illustrator and go from there.

[KillianWorld]

For web sites or interactive Flash, I'll sketch out the interface first -- often on my trusty white board. But usually it's just the information flow part of the interface (sometimes the layout) -- not the graphics part.

hey,
thanks for the idea of using a White Board, i went out and got one, saved having a messy piece of paper!

killian

[Daywalker]

::: ...think.... ::: ...start.the.program... ::: ...draw.a.little... ::: ...voila!... :::

[prophet]

i dont know if anyone has tryed this (im sure im not telling you any new news) but if you select for the scanner to only scan in B&W its much easyer to trace the image in a program.

[g_wulfwud]

depends on the job..

i mainly do some brainstorming with a pad and a pencil...with me, working on a computer immediately without any idea at all would just be wasting my time..i usually do brainstorming outside the house..gets the creativity juices flowing! try it..its nice..

[brochris]

Unless I just have a very clear picture in my head (or very clear instructions from a client), I always sketch many possible designs on paper first, usually about 2x2 inches per design. If one strikes me as a good layout for the job, I'll either sketch it bigger to add detail, or load up photoshop to work on it there.

From there, I'll crop and save as needed, and then do the rest of the coding work in Jext.

[Hybrid Media]

Hello,

Below is how I come up with my designs.

1. Open up Photoshop right away and start thinking.

2. It's weird but I get inspiration from stock photos alot, so I will sometimes sit and look at a bunch of stock photos.

3. Begin to get a basic outline the website and draw it up.

4. Implement all colors and design aspects and slice it and code it and Im done.

That's all of it in a nutshell for you, basically a simplified version because dont feel like typing.

Thanks,
Taylor Leach

[exogen]

First I try to abstract the idea -- what am I trying to make? I try to think of physical objects that may share some of the 'features' for inspiration.

Then I start sketching with a pencil. Usually I get an idea pretty quickly of where the design is going to go and then I usually fire up Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop.

Quite often I'll run into a few quirks I may have overlooked and go back to pencil & paper to polish up the design.

[bigyou]

Well I found out that lately, I jumped on my keyboard and mouse too quickly. And the results are not getting better. I need to start drawing more. So the way it works for me is :

Take a pencil ( very important, not a pen ), and don't think. I'm not trying to get that wow-it-has-to-be-this-one idea right out of the first skecth. I keep going throwing everything down. Then I take a step back, look at everything ( try putting stuff on a wall to be able to see everything at the same time ) and make a decision. I finally on the computer.

All this with, of course, some great music playing.

[3SixtyG]

What I do is turn on some Really loud gangster music, from early nineties or recent. I
proceed to have a few beers occassionally *unless im at work* I open the tutorial that I might have interest in and go go go!

[vidiotscreative]

I used to storyboard and sketch, but I found it to be a gross misuse of my time and resources.

Now I open up Fireworks and just start screwing around with layouts until I find something I like...I export into Photoshop, then begin working with graphics and content; once that is all nailed down, I then use the PNG and tighten any loose ends up and then optimize and cut up my design and have fun piecing it back together.

God I love designing...