2. You’re
trying
to
solve
a
problem
and
your
concept
will
lead
the
way
and
give
you
direc8on
for
your
design
decisions.
• How
do
you
form
a
concept?
• What
ques8ons
do
you
need
to
ask
in
order
to
develop
one?
• How
does
your
concept
become
the
roadmap
for
your
design?
A
good
design
begins
with
a
good
design
concept.
3.
concept
(n)
–
a
general
idea
used
to
formulate
a
plan
A
design
concept
is
the
idea
behind
a
design.
It’s
how
you
plan
on
solving
the
design
problem
in
front
of
you.
It’s
the
underlying
logic,
thinking,
and
reasoning
for
how
you’ll
design
a
website.
Your
concept
will
lead
to
your
choices
in
color
and
type.
It’ll
choose
your
aesthe8c
and
determine
floor
plan
layout.
Every
design
decision
you
make
will
fall
back
on
your
concept
for
direc8on.
Your
design
concept
becomes
the
framework
for
all
your
design
decisions.
What
is
a
Design
Concept?
4.
Verbal
–
the
verbal
parts
of
your
concept
might
be
words
you
use
to
describe
the
site.
For
example
your
design
concept
might
be
one
of
sophis8cated
elegance.
Verbal
concepts
tend
toward
the
abstract.
They’re
focused
on
the
message
your
design
is
to
communicate.
Visual
–
the
visual
parts
of
your
concept
might
be
a
specific
image
or
color
scheme.
It
might
be
an
idea
to
use
circles
prominently.
Visual
concepts
tend
to
be
a
liMle
more
concrete.
They
should
come
from
the
verbal
part
of
your
concept.
Visual
concepts
are
focused
more
on
the
how
of
conveying
your
message.
We
can
think
of
design
concepts
in
two
ways…
5. What
to
do
Before
Crea8ng
a
Design
Concept
Developing
a
design
concept
is
something
of
an
individual
process.
There’s
no
one
right
way
to
generate
an
idea
and
what
works
for
one
won’t
necessarily
work
for
another.
However
there
are
parts
to
the
process
that
everyone
should
go
through.
Defining
the
problem
–
You
can’t
solve
a
problem
without
knowing
what
that
problem
is.
Before
developing
a
concept
for
a
site
you
need
to
talk
to
your
client
and
ask
ques8ons
about
the
client
and
their
goals
for
the
site.
Research
–
Your
client
won’t
be
able
to
tell
you
everything
you
want
to
know.
You’ll
have
to
do
your
own
research…
Both
of
the
above
should
get
you
thinking
and
begin
the
idea
genera8on
process.
6. Genera8ng
Ideas
Collec8ng
inspira8on
is
one
thing.
Genera8ng
ideas
from
inspira8on
or
from
within
is
another.
There
are
a
few
ways
you
can
generate
ideas….
Brainstorming
Sketching
Mind
Mapping
7. Genera8ng
Ideas…
Brainstorming
Brainstorming
–
When
brainstorming
write
down
any
idea
that
comes
to
you
as
a
word
or
phrase.
The
goal
is
to
jot
down
as
many
things
as
possible
without
spending
much
8me
thinking
about
any
of
them
except
to
let
them
lead
to
new
ideas.
The
idea
is
to
generate
as
many
design
solu8ons
as
possible.
A
bubble
diagram
can
help
you
to
see
the
ideas
grow
and
even
become
interrelated.
The
basic
rules
of
brainstorming
are:
a)
Quan8ty
counts
at
this
stage,
not
quality.
b)
Wild
and
exaggerated
ideas
are
encouraged.
c)
Every
idea
has
equal
worth
and
should
be
wriMen
down.
d)
Build
on
ideas
put
forward.
e)
Postpone
judgement
or
analysis.
Working
on
a
large
piece
of
paper
is
the
tradi8onal
method,
however,
if
working
alone,
then
a
Visual
Diary
is
a
good
place
to
record
your
ideas.
Begin
by
defining
the
design
problem.
For
the
interior
designer,
this
may
require
the
isola8on
of
a
few
key
descriptors
such
as
“beachy”,
“relaxed”,
“and
welcoming”.
Use
word
associa8on
to
extend
the
concept.
Beachy
-‐
sand,
water,
open
spaces,
dunes,
breeze,
blue,
aqua,
shells,
dri[wood,
fishing
etc.
8. Sketching
–
Some8mes
words
alone
aren’t
enough
and
sketching
is
a
beMer
way
to
generate
ideas.
You
have
an
idea
that
feels
right.
This
is
the
beginning.
Sketch
it
out!
It
only
takes
a
few
seconds,
and
it
gets
the
idea
out
of
your
head.
Now
sketch
some
more
ideas.
You
won’t
know
whether
your
first
idea
is
the
best
un8l
you
explore
others.
Learn
to
embrace
your
pen
and
paper,
and
you’ll
be
thrilled
at
your
speed
of
ideas.
You’ll
wonder
why
you
ever
fought
it.
By
giving
yourself
the
freedom
to
scrawl
out
rough
ideas,
you’ll
get
to
crea8ve
places
you
could
never
have
imagined
Genera8ng
Ideas…
Sketching
9. Mind
Mapping
–
is
a
way
to
brainstorm
in
a
more
visual
way
by
showing
connec8ons
between
similar
and
dissimilar
ideas.
It
is
a
great
way
to
see
how
different
ideas
are
connected
to
each
other.
Click
here
to
go
to
a
video
that
provides
a
rapid
(99
second)
overview
of
how
to
Mind
Map.
Genera8ng
Ideas…
Mind
Mapping
10. Mood
Board/
Concept
Board
The
concept
board
is
a
visual
presenta8on
of
style,
mood
and
colour
of
the
future
space.
A
client
looking
at
a
concept
board
must
be
able
to
understand
the
overall
feel
and
look
of
the
room.
Though,
it
doesn’t
show
the
concrete
furniture,
finishes
or
accessories
yet,
so
the
designer
has
the
freedom
when
working
further
on
the
project.
Design
Statement
Design
Statement
introducing
the
“Big
Picture”
of
the
concept.
A
strong
design
statement
is
specific
and
discusses
the
ac8ons
the
designer
will
take
to
meet
the
client’s
needs.
Your
statement
should
include
both
your
inten8ons
or
goals
for
the
space
and
the
specific
strategies
you’ll
use
to
accomplish
them.
11. Ideas
need
to
be
developed
for….
• Furniture
selec8on
• Space
planning
• Colour
scheme
• Window
treatments
if
required
• So[
furnishings
• Accessories
• Ligh8ng
• Cabinetry
• Wall,
ceiling
and
floor
coverings
• Materials
&
Finishes
• etc….
At
this
stage
of
the
design
process,
design
solu8ons
are
refined,
clarified
and
determined
to
become
func8onal
and
individual.
12. Refining
ideas…
Space
Planning
While
an
architect
or
building
designer
is
responsible
for
the
main
structural
design
of
a
building,
the
interior
designer
can
have
input
into
the
use
of
space
within
the
structure.
The
easiest
way
to
develop
changes
is
by
laying
tracing
paper
over
the
original
plans
and
drawing
up
the
new
concept.
Once
the
designer
is
sa8sfied
with
a
proposal,
he
or
she
should
dra[
up
the
plans
as
professionally
as
possible
for
client
comment.
13. Traffic
Flow
and
Furniture
Placement
Analysis
Copies
of
the
plans
should
then
be
used
to
conduct
traffic
flow
and
furniture
placement
analysis.
This
is
the
most
important
step
as
it
confirms
the
func8onality
of
the
design
proposal.
Refining
ideas…
14. Refining
ideas…
The
best
designs
start
with
a
great
concept.
It’s
your
idea
for
how
you’ll
solve
the
problem
of
communica8ng
your
client’s
message.
Your
concept
will
show
you
where
to
go
with
specific
design
decisions.
It’s
the
roadmap
you
come
back
to
again
and
again
through
the
design
process.
If
something
isn’t
working
it’s
probably
because
it
doesn’t
fit
the
concept.
If
nothing
is
working
you
might
want
to
explore
a
different
concept.
15. Concept
Report…
This
document
outlines
in
great
detail
the
concept
design
proposal
for
the
client.
It
is
impera8ve
that
it
is
presented
professionally.
This
means
that
it
should
not
only
look
impressive,
aMen8on
to
detail
must
also
be
clear
and
accurate.
It
should
reflect
the
designer’s
ability
to
gather
a
brief
and
produce
design
concepts
that
meet
and
exceed
a
client’s
expecta8ons.