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For someone who's never built anything before, the ability to take a billet of aluminum or slab of rough cut lumber and turn it into something useful can seem like a magical power only a select few possess. The ability to take abstract ideas and turn them into a unified plan for a physical or even intangible invention (in other words, designing) must seem even more terrifying. But designing shouldn’t have to be such a scary endeavor. As complicated as the skill may seem, even the best designers are using a simple process that anyone can learn. This is the same secret** process used by big design companies to create unique solutions to all sorts of problems. The first step is to not worry that you don’t know the final answer. Instead stay focused on what you need to do next. With a bit of patience you’ll eventually find yourself somewhere new and exciting!
I mostly build instruments [You can see some of the instruments I build at www.ventworkshop.com] so I’m going to use one of my more ambitious projects, a portable practice violin, to illustrate some of the steps. This process is most often used by companies developing new or improved products for sale to consumers or other businesses. Some of the steps may not pertain to an individual maker creating for his or herself. Still, it’s a versatile process that can help anybody create a unique solution to almost any problem.
*I added the almost for those of you who want to make a teleporter or time machine. It’s a great place to start for any project, but won’t help you break the laws of physics.
**Ok, it isn’t actually a secret. In fact one of the largest design companies revealed their process in a news segment a number of years back. This process is loosely based on the design process used by many of the top professional design firms and is often taught in top design colleges.
I mostly build instruments [You can see some of the instruments I build at www.ventworkshop.com] so I’m going to use one of my more ambitious projects, a portable practice violin, to illustrate some of the steps. This process is most often used by companies developing new or improved products for sale to consumers or other businesses. Some of the steps may not pertain to an individual maker creating for his or herself. Still, it’s a versatile process that can help anybody create a unique solution to almost any problem.
*I added the almost for those of you who want to make a teleporter or time machine. It’s a great place to start for any project, but won’t help you break the laws of physics.
**Ok, it isn’t actually a secret. In fact one of the largest design companies revealed their process in a news segment a number of years back. This process is loosely based on the design process used by many of the top professional design firms and is often taught in top design colleges.
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Signing UpStep 1Planning
For small projects it is best to keep planning simple and open ended. It isn’t too hard to burden yourself with more work planning the project than planning would ever save you. I usually prefer to work without a set schedule save for an end date if necessary. It’s best to stay nimble and let the project take you where it wants to go. You’re likely to end up with more interesting ideas and be happier with the end result this way.
A simple step I would recommend for anyone is to write out a short list of goals for the project and the problems you want it to solve. This should not be a rigid list: Hopefully it will change as you learn more about the problem you’re trying to solve. But, it is a good way to keep focused on what you’re trying to accomplish. You should come back to it occasionally to add new discoveries and make sure you haven’t drifted to far from your original goals.
Making anything tends to be a very different process when working with even a few other people. It means many more ideas but adds the challenge of managing people’s differing goals and expectations. Designing for a paying client adds yet more individuals whose opinions you have to take into account. Where planning may be trivial or unnecessary for a small, personal project, coordinating with other people can make good planning absolutely critical. A detailed Gantt chart can help keep everyone on the same page as far as due dates. Sadly, there isn’t a chart that would make managing other people’s differing interests and goals any easier.
A simple step I would recommend for anyone is to write out a short list of goals for the project and the problems you want it to solve. This should not be a rigid list: Hopefully it will change as you learn more about the problem you’re trying to solve. But, it is a good way to keep focused on what you’re trying to accomplish. You should come back to it occasionally to add new discoveries and make sure you haven’t drifted to far from your original goals.
Making anything tends to be a very different process when working with even a few other people. It means many more ideas but adds the challenge of managing people’s differing goals and expectations. Designing for a paying client adds yet more individuals whose opinions you have to take into account. Where planning may be trivial or unnecessary for a small, personal project, coordinating with other people can make good planning absolutely critical. A detailed Gantt chart can help keep everyone on the same page as far as due dates. Sadly, there isn’t a chart that would make managing other people’s differing interests and goals any easier.
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Your designs are very interesting. And beautiful.
Then, when they started talking about Internet, I heard several people say "I have already tired of hearing of Internet". I replied, "Well, you better be getting habituated"