Have you had the experience of describing a product or solution to a designer and receiving a design that does not resemble what you pictured in your mind?
You're not alone.
In this post I'll cover why this happens and how you can clearly communicate to designers so they understand what you need?
Understanding The Designer's Mindset:
- A designer is unique because they are trained to see potential and possibility in everything. This is a strength and weakness because it can lead to misinterpretation.
Their ability is essential to transition a business's idea from its potential into something tangible. Designers create all the variations of that potential so a business can identify and refine the best solution for their users and brand.
Designers are also trained to look for underlying problems that create new opportunities. Problem statements are not taken at face value. If these new opportunities provide a better solution they will pursue that instead.
When a literal interpretation is required, clearly communicate that to your designer.
My experience has taught me to give the client literally what they've asked for in addition to solutions that I believe do a better job. People can't see the flaws until an idea is represented and visualized.
Limits of Non-visual Communication for Visual Output:
- Do this test next time you're with a friend, family, or coworker. Ask them to describe something to you that they saw recently. Take a minute to sketch it out. Now show them. Was it 100% accurate. I'm willing to bet it wasn't and that the quality of the image was not the problem.
The gap between verbal and visual is massive. The amount of words needed to specifically describe everything about an object is impossible. The nuance, details involved, and the elimination of any other interpretation would need to be included. Since it is impossible for someone to know all the interpretations of something, this gap cannot be overcome with words.
A List of Additional Information You Should Provide:
- Refer to existing examples of aesthetics, interactions, & market position.
- Who are the typical users and what are their expectations?
- What is the environment when being used or stored?
- What type of experience are you offering the user?
- Is this a standalone product or does it fit within a system? How does the product and system interact with each other?
The Benefit of a Low Fidelity Visual within 24 Hours:
- Request a quick sketch or mockup be delivered within 24 hours. This will ensure that you and your designer are in alignment. If not, it's early enough to correct without causing delays.
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