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[W1] Introduction to Design

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[ENG]
W1 | Summary
Welcome to our first week of classes at the 'User Experience Design' course. Based on our syllabus, we're gonna discuss three general themes around the Design field - specializations, commom practices/tools and digital design.
 
W1 | Design definition and specializations
There are many definitions of design and philosophies according to different perspectives, but most of them tend to take as a reference Herbert Simon's definition: "Everyone designs who devises courses of action aimed at changing existing situations into preferred ones" [1].
 
This is a very broad definition, so the challenge would be to shape our own definition across this course. In another attempt, Alan Cooper proposes a more detailed definition of human-oriented design activities:
- Understanding users’ desires, needs, motivations, and contexts.
- Understanding business, technical, and domain opportunities, requirements, and constraints.
- Using this knowledge as a foundation for plans to create products/services whose form,
content, and behavior is useful, usable, and desirable, as well as economically viable and technically feasible. [2]
 
Design is for people. The success of it is determined by how much we empower people. It’s essential to create, evaluate, and compare many alternatives.
Another term to take into account in the definition of design is "complexity". We can´t avoid it, reality is complex. As designers, we can transform complexity into possibilities of clearness. But the final objectives are not those products or services per se; the aim of a designer is people and to transform efficiently (and humanly) that complex reality into a transparent, desirable and feasible fantasy. [3]
 
Design must be understandable by people, but a good design is that one which doesn't need explanation. The pleasure of understanding, is in part not to perceive that we understand. In many cases, the better the design, the less you see it. We sit in a chair, consult a map, look at the time without consciously perceiving the design of these objects, except when we find something badly designed. Poor design tires. As designers we must provide a design that is understandable, and -why not- make it enjoyable!
 
The designer's job is not only about solving problems, but also detecting them. Designers must learn how to observe and how to listen. Peter Lawrence says that "designers are not artists solving their own problems; designers are experts solving everybody else's problems".
 
At last, but not least, we would like to offer you the definition of the argentinian designer Ronald Shakespear [4]:
"Design is an intellectual methodology to produce solutions to a certain need, a mental plan. Design describes a process for the generation of ideas aimed at solving problems. And it is not spontaneous; it arises from people's knowledge, analysis and study of the context and its possibilities. Finally, it comes from the hard work of learning."
 
So, even if professionals can't agree on a single definition of design, we can perhaps still gain some insights into its nature and practice along this course.
 
W1 | Some historic facts
The Design field has specially stablished itself as a recognized profession with the rise of the Industrial Revolution [5][6][7]. It's deeply related to the visual arts, as most designers in the past tended to be illustrators or painters. As the industry established itself as an intrinsic part of society, these illustrators became known as industrial artists - they started, effectively, designing for the bourgeoisie and the masses [8]. Cost reduction, raw material administration, line of production (and with it parts to be assembled, packages to protect, labels and illustrations to identify)... All of these common activities today were important to define the profession of the Industrial Designer.

With the evolution of technology and Marketing (specially on those markets usually run by engineers alone) the term expanded to more specializations, as:
 
- Software Design (directly related to the Information Technology field [9]);
- Instructional Design (development of educational content [10]); 
- Graphic Design (came with Industrial Design, and has several sub-specializations as Packaging, Communication, Web, etc);
- Interface Design (came with the development of graphical user interfaces - GUI, being the Xerox Star the first to use the Desktop metaphor [11]);
- Interaction Design (closely related to Interface Design but can be theoretically applied to any area [12]);
- And last but not least, User Experience Design - the term is a derivation from Interaction Design and the cognitive sciences. It was made famous by the American cognitive scientist Donald Norman [13]. There are some general discussions about the definition still going on with professionals and enthusiasts [14].

It's also important to notice that these definitions are global but worldwide markets may have their own visions and applications for these professionals, both with different applications as with nomenclatures. 
 
W1 | Commom practices and tools
Can you see what similarities all of the specializations above have, when analyzing their praxis [15]? They're projectual, methodological and creative fields. Which means they follow common development and tracking tools to facilitate creation, innovation or improvements to new or existing artifacts [16]. These are some common tools and methodologies:
 
- Iteration (also known as alternatives generation);
- Brainstorming;
- Semantic analysis;
- Briefing sessions;
- User/Consumer research;
- Manual and software Render;
- Mock-up/sketching;
- Prototype;
- Reference research;
- Modeling;
- Mind-mapping.
 
W1 | Digital design
Having read the topics above, can you share with all of us the answer to this question: what is Digital design?

W1 | Activity
Please post your answers till February 2nd. Thanks!
1) If you're interested about Design history, we highly recommend you to read the Links presented during the text. 
2) Research about the 'Commom practices and tools' presented in this lessons, identifying cases of use, their history, where they can be applied and your personal views on them. You can choose as many you want to comment or even complement someone else's vision of the theme.
3) Tell us: what is Digital design to you?



W1 | References
[1] SIMON, Herbert Alexander. The sciences of the artificial. USA. MIT Press, 1996.
[2] COOPER, Alan; REIMANN, Robert; CRONIN, Dave. About face 3: the essentials of interaction design. USA. Wiley Pub., 2007.
[3] FRASCARA, Jorge. Diseño gráfico y comunicación. Argentina. Ediciones Infinito, 1988.
[4] SHAKESPEAR, Ronald. Señal de diseño, memoria de la práctica. Argentina. Editorial Paidos. I.S.B.N: 9789501227307. 2009.
[5] http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm
[6] http://science.jrank.org/pages/1073/Building-Design-Architecture-Industr...
[7] http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1032864/graphic-design
[8] http://www.techitoutuk.com/knowledge/designhistory/historyods.html
[9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_software_engineering
[10] http://www.capella.edu/idol/HistoryofIDTPartI.pdf
[11] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Star#User_interface
[12] http://www.slideshare.net/dmalouf/history-of-interaction-design
[13] http://uxdesign.com/about-user-experience-design/article/what-is-ux/4
[14] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_experience
[15] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praxis_%28process%29
[16] http://johnnyholland.org/2011/01/11/design-research-and-innovation-an-interview-with-don-norman/
João Menezes's picture
João Menezes
Thu, 2011-01-27 00:56

[PT]
W1 | Resumo
Bem-vindo(a) a nossa primeira semana de aulas no curso "Design de Experiência de Usuário". Com base na nossa ementa, iremos discutir três temas gerais ao redor do campo do Design - especializações, práticas/ferramentas comuns e Design digital.

W1 | Especializações do Design
Definição de Design
Há muitas definições e filosofias a respeito do Design, com diferentes perspectivas. Mas a maioria tende a fazer referência a algo semelhante a opinião de Hebert Simon:
"Todos praticam o design ao desenvolverem ações em cadeia, com o objetivo de transformar situações existentes em situações melhores"
Esta é uma definição bastante ampla, então o desafio é moldar nossa própria conclusão durante o curso. Em outra tentativa, Alan Cooper propôs uma definição mais detalhada de atividades de design humanísticas:
* Entender os desejos, necessidades, motivações e contextos dos usuários
* Entender negócios, oportunidades técnicas e de domínio, requisitos e restrições.
* Usar este conhecimento como base para a criação de produtos/serviços dos quais forma, conteúdo e comportamento são úteis, usáveis e desejáveis, assim como viáveis economicamente e tecnicamente possíveis. [1]

Design é feito para as pessoas. O sucesso é determinado por quanto poder damos às pessoas. É essencial criar, avaliar e comparar muitas alternativas.
Outro termo que deve ser considerado nessa definição é "complexidade". Não podemos evitá-la, pois a realidade em si é complexa. Como designers, podemos transformar a complexidade em possibilidades de elucidação. Mas os objetivos finais não são os produtos ou serviços por si só; o objetivo é atender as necessidades das pessoas e transformar a complexidade do dia-a-dia eficientemente (e humanamente) em algo transparente, desejável. [2]

O design deve seer compreensível pelas pessoas, mas um bom design é aquele que não precisa de explicações. O prazer de entender, é em partes, não perceber que entendemos. Em muitos casos, quanto melhor um artefato de design, menos você o verá. Sentamos, consultamos mapas, checamos que horas são sem conscientemente perceber que o design destes objetos existe. Só nos incomodamos quando um design é mal resolvido. Design pobre cansa. Como designers precisamos prover designs compreensíveis (ainda que invisíveis) e - porquê não - apreciáveis!

O trabalho do designer não é apenas resolver problemas, mas também detectá-los. Os designers devem aprender como observar e como ouvir. Peter Lawrence diz que "designers não são artistas resolvendo seus problemas; são especialistas resolvendo os problemas dos outros".
Por último, gostaríamos de oferecer a definição de um designer argentino, Ronald Shakespear:
"Design é uma metodologia intelectual para produzir soluções para um certa necessidade, um plano mental. Design descreve um processo para uma geração de idéias focada em resolver problemas. E isso não é espontâneo; isso surge do conhecimento das pessoas, de suas análises e estudos do contexto e suas possibilidades. Finalmente, o design vem de um árduo trabalho de aprendizagem".
Ou seja, até mesmo profissionais podem discutir sobre estas definições, assim como nós faremos no decorrer do curso.

Alguns fatos históricos
O campo do design se estabeleceu especialmente como um profissão reconhecida com o desenvolvimento da Revolução Industrial. Está diretamente ligado ao campo das artes visuais, pois a maioria dos designers no passado eram ilustradores ou pintores. Na medida em que a indústria se estabeleceu como uma parte inerente à sociedade, estes ilustradores tornaram-se conhecidos pelo nome de "artistas industriais" - eles começaram, efetivamente, a praticar o design para a burguesia e para as massas. Redução de custo, administração de matéria-prima, linha de produção (e com ela partes para serem encaixadas, embalagens de proteção, rótulos e ilustrações de identificação)… Todas essas atividades comuns hoje foram importantes para definir a profissão do Designer industrial.

Com a evolução da tecnologia e do marketing (especialmente em mercados administrados somente por engenheiros), o termo expandiu-se para mais especializações como [Ref. 4-16]:
- Design de software (ligado a TI)
- Design instructional (desenvolvimento de conteúdo educacional)
- Design gráfico (chegou junto do design industrial, possui várias sub-especializações como embalagem, comunicação, web, etc)
- Design de interfaces (ligado ao desenvolvimento de interfaces gráficas de usuário - GUI, sendo o Xerox Star a primeira interface que utilizou a metáfora da Área de trabalho)
- Design de interação (relacionado com Design de interfaces mas pode ser aplicado a virtualmente qualquer área)
- E por último mas não menos importante, Design de Experiência de Usuário. O termo é uma derivação do Design de interação e das ciências cognitivas. Tornou-se famoso pelo trabalho do cientista de cognição Donald Norman. Há várias discussões sobre o termo entre profissionais.

É importante perceber que estas definições são globais, mas cada mercado doméstico pode possuir suas derivações e peculiaridades.

W1 | Práticas e ferramentas comuns
Consegues perceber as semelhanças entre todas as especializações, quando analisa-se a sua praxes? Estes são campos projetuais, metodológicos e criativos. O que significa que eles seguem preceitos comuns e ferramentas de gestão para facilitar o processo criativo, a inovação e melhorias para novos artefatos.

Aqui estão algumas ferramentas e metodologias:
- Iteração (geração de alternativas);
- Brainstorming;
- Painéis semânticos;
- Sessões de briefing;
- Pesquisa de consumidor/usuário;
- Rendering manual e digital;
- Mockup/sketch;
- Prototipagem;
- Pesquisa de referências;
- Modelagem;
- Mapa mental.

W1 | Design digital
Com base nos tópicos acima, compartilhe conosco sua opinião: o que é design digital?

W1 | Atividades
1) Se tens interesse em história do Design, recomendamos que leia os Links apresentados no decorrer do texto.
2) Pesquise a respeito das práticas e ferramentas comuns apresentadas nessa lição. Escolha quantas e quais quiser, e complemente a opinião de seus colegas.
3) Para você, o que é design digital?

W2 | Referências
W1 | References
[1] SIMON, Herbert Alexander. The sciences of the artificial. USA. MIT Press, 1996.
[2] COOPER, Alan; REIMANN, Robert; CRONIN, Dave. About face 3: the essentials of interaction design. USA. Wiley Pub., 2007.
[3] FRASCARA, Jorge. Diseño gráfico y comunicación. Argentina. Ediciones Infinito, 1988.
[4] SHAKESPEAR, Ronald. Señal de diseño, memoria de la práctica. Argentina. Editorial Paidos. I.S.B.N: 9789501227307. 2009.
[5] http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm
[6] http://science.jrank.org/pages/1073/Building-Design-Architecture-Industr...
[7] http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1032864/graphic-design
[8] http://www.techitoutuk.com/knowledge/designhistory/historyods.html
[9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_software_engineering
[10] http://www.capella.edu/idol/HistoryofIDTPartI.pdf
[11] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Star#User_interface
[12] http://www.slideshare.net/dmalouf/history-of-interaction-design
[13] http://uxdesign.com/about-user-experience-design/article/what-is-ux/4
[14] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_experience
[15] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praxis_%28process%29
[16] http://johnnyholland.org/2011/01/11/design-research-and-innovation-an-in...

Brad Pollack's picture
Brad Pollack
Mon, 2011-01-31 02:05

The Term Digital design could be interpreted in many ways. It’s not a phrase I use. I feel more comfortable with terms that are a more specific. For example, visual design or user experience design.

If Digital design means designing the visual components of a web experience or application, I would tend to think of it as the early phases of the software development lifecycle. These include, gathering requirements, defining requirements, mockups, creating wireframes, information architecture and visual design as well as usability testing before finalizing the “digital design”.

João Menezes's picture
João Menezes
Thu, 2011-01-27 00:56

[ES]
W1 | Resumen
Bienvenido/a a nuestra primera semana de clases del curso de "Diseño de Experiencia de Usuario". Basados en nuestro programa, discutiremos tres temas generales acerca del campo de diseño: definiciones y especializaciones, prácticas/herramientas comunes y diseño digital.

W1 | Definiciones de diseño y especializaciones
Existen muchas definiciones de diseño y filosofías acordes a diferentes perspectivas, de entre todas, muchas de ellas toman como referencia la definición de Herbert Simon [1]:
"Diseña todo aquel que idea medidas de acción dirigidas a cambiar situaciones existentes por situaciones preferibles"
Ésta es aún una definición muy amplia, de esta manera, el desafío será construir nuestra propia definición a lo largo de este curso. En otro intento, Alan Cooper propone una definición más detallada de las actividades de diseño orientado a humanos:
* Entender los deseos de los usuarios, sus necesidades, motivaciones y contextos.
* Entender las oportunidades de negocios, técnicas y de dominio, requerimientos, y limitaciones.
* Usar ese conocimiento como base para los planes de creación de productos/servicios cuya forma, contenido, y comportamiento sean útiles, usables, y deseables, tanto como económicamente viables y técnicamente posibles. [2]

El diseño es para la gente. Su éxito se determina por cuánto potenciamos a las personas. Es esencial crear, evaluar, y comprar diferentes alternativas.
Otro concepto que debemos tener en cuenta en una definición de diseño es el de "complejidad". No podemos evadirla, la realidad es compleja. Como diseñadores, podemos transformar la complejidad en posibilidades de claridad. Pero el objetivo final no son esos productos o servicios en sí; el objetivo de un diseñador es la gente y su tarea es transformar, huamana y eficientemente, esa realidad compleja en una transparente, deseada y realizable fantasía.[3]
El diseño debe ser entendido por la gente, pero un buen diseño es aquel que no necesita explicación. El placer de entender, es en parte, no notar que uno entiende. En muchos casos, cuanto mejor el diseño, menos se lo ve. Nos sentamos en una silla, consultamos un mapa, miramos la hora sin percibir conscientemente el diseño de esos objetos, excepto cuando nos encontramos con algo mal diseñado. El mal diseño cansa. Como diseñadores, debemos proveer un diseño que sea entendido, y -por qué no- hacerlo agradable!.
El trabajo del diseñador no se trata sólo de resolver problemas, sino también de saber detectarlos. Los diseñadores deben aprender a observar y a escuchar. Peter Lawrence sostiene que "los diseñadores no son artistas tratando de resolver sus propios problemas; los diseñadores son expertos resolviendo los problemas de los demás".

Para finalizar con las distintas definiciones, queremos ofrecerles aquella del diseñador argentino Ronald Shakespear [4]:
"El diseño es, por el contrario, una metodología intelectiva para producir soluciones ante una necesidad cierta, un Plan Mental. El diseño describe el proceso para la generación de ideas tendientes a resolver problemas humanos. Y no surge de forma espontánea; surge de la voluntad, del conocimiento de la gente y del análisis y estudio del contexto y sus posibilidades. Finalmente, surge del duro trabajo del aprendizaje."
De esta manera, aún sin que los profesionales puedan coincidir en una definición de diseño, podemos quizás beneficiarnos de algunas perspectivas acerca de su naturaleza y práctica a lo largo de este curso.

Algunos hechos históricos
El campo del diseño se estableció especialmente como una profesión reconocida con el desarrollo de la Revolución Industrial [5][6][7]. Está íntimamente relacionado con las artes visuales, ya que muchos diseñadores en el pasado tendían a ser ilustradores o pintores. Al establecerse la industria como una parte intrínseca de la sociedad, estos ilustradores se volvieron conocidos como artistas industriales - comenzaron, efectivamente, diseñando para la burguesía y para las masas. [8] La reducción de costos, la administración en bruto de los materiales, líneas de producción (con partes a ser ensambladas, paquetes para proteger, etiquetas e ilustraciones para identificar los productos)... todo estas actividades comunes hoy, fueron importantes para definir la profesión del Diseñador Industrial.
Con la evolución de la tecnología y el marketing (especialmente en aquellos mercados generalmente llevados a cabo por ingenieros) el término se expandió hacia más especializaciones, como:
- Diseño de Software (relacionado con el campo de la Tecnología de la Información) [9]
- Diseño Instructivo (desarrollo de contenido educacional) [10]
- Diseño Gráfico (surgió con el Diseño Industrial, y tiene muchas sub-especializaciones como Empaquetamiento, Comunicación, Web, etc.)
- Diseño de Interfaces (surgió con el desarrollo de las interfaces de usuarios gráficas - GUI, siendo Xerox Star la primera compañía en usar la metáfora del 'escritorio' [11])
- Diseño de Interacción (íntimamente relacionado con el Diseño de Interfaces pero puede aplicarse teóricamente a cualquier área) [12]
- Por último, el Diseño de Experiencia de Usuario - el término es una derivación del Diseño de Interacción y las Ciencias Cognitivas. Fue creado por el americano Donald Norman [13]. Existen aún discusiones generales acerca de la definición entre profesionales y entusiastas [14]
Es también importante resaltar que estas definiciones son globales, pero los mercados mundiales pueden tener sus propias visiones y aplicaciones, incluso con diferentes nomenclaturas.

W1| Prácticas y herramientas comunes
¿Puedes notar las similitudes en todas las especializaciones antes mencionadas al analizar sus prácticas? Son campos proyectuales, metodológicos y creativos. Eso significa que siguen un proceso de desarrollo común y herramientas para facilitar la creación, innovación o mejoras de nuevos artefactos o ya existentes.
Estas son algunas de las herramientas y metodologías en común:
- Iteración (también conocido como generación de alterativas);
- Tormenta de ideas (Brainstorming);
- Análisis semántico;
- Sesiones de información (Briefing sessions);
- Investigación de usuarios/consumidores;
- Renderización manual y con software;
- Esquemas/Dibujos;
- Prototipos;
- Investigación de referencias;
- Modelado;
- Mapeo Mental.

W1 | Diseño Digital
Una vez leída toda la información anterior, puedes compartir con nosotros la respuesta a esta pregunta: ¿Qué es el Diseño Digital?

W1 | Actividad
1) Si te interesa la historia del Diseño, te recomendamos leer los links presentados como referencias a lo largo del texto.
2) Investiga acerca de las "Prácticas comunes y herramientas" presentadas en esta clase, identifica casos de uso, su historia, dónde pueden aplicarse y tu visión personal de ellas. Puedes elegir las que desees para comentar o complementar la visión de otro compañero.
3) Comenta: Qué es el Diseño Digital para tí?

W1 | Referencias
W1 | References
[1] SIMON, Herbert Alexander. The sciences of the artificial. USA. MIT Press, 1996.
[2] COOPER, Alan; REIMANN, Robert; CRONIN, Dave. About face 3: the essentials of interaction design. USA. Wiley Pub., 2007.
[3] FRASCARA, Jorge. Diseño gráfico y comunicación. Argentina. Ediciones Infinito, 1988.
[4] SHAKESPEAR, Ronald. Señal de diseño, memoria de la práctica. Argentina. Editorial Paidos. I.S.B.N: 9789501227307. 2009.
[5] http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm
[6] http://science.jrank.org/pages/1073/Building-Design-Architecture-Industr...
[7] http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1032864/graphic-design
[8] http://www.techitoutuk.com/knowledge/designhistory/historyods.html
[9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_software_engineering
[10] http://www.capella.edu/idol/HistoryofIDTPartI.pdf
[11] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Star#User_interface
[12] http://www.slideshare.net/dmalouf/history-of-interaction-design
[13] http://uxdesign.com/about-user-experience-design/article/what-is-ux/4
[14] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_experience
[15] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praxis_%28process%29
[16] http://johnnyholland.org/2011/01/11/design-research-and-innovation-an-in...

David Palomar's picture
David Palomar
Thu, 2011-01-27 13:34

What's digital design? I think that digital design is everything that is builded on top of something digital stuff and always in consideration with user interactions.

Iteration: Useful for medium and large projects, where the complete process is break in substeps plain of funcionality.

Brainstorming: Useful for bring ideas up and concrete the ideas. Usually in early stages of project.

Briefing Sessions: Speed sessions for communicate the requirements and project vision. Also to review the process of project with the team.

User/consumer research: Useful for early stages of project or future revision of the product. It maybe good to catch new requirements, or future trends of the market.

Mockup/Sketch: Useful to transmit the concept to the final client and to the project team also. It allow to discover fails, or better solutions and shows the real perspective to draw the client requirements.

Prototypes: Semi-constructed application that allow to the project team work on a solid base, to be completed by an iterative and incremental project.

Mind mapping: A technique to define and explain concepts and develop ideas. Is based on a central idea and several branches around.

Didier Fallas's picture
Didier Fallas
Thu, 2011-01-27 17:27

Hola a todos y a disfrutar de esta aventura.

Voy a comentar lo que en este momento se me ocurre que es el diseño digital.

Entiendo diseño como ese proceso creativo, imaginativo, innovador, ingenieril... de como se concibe y se define algo, previo a su construcción, para uso de alguien o de algo. Y entiendo digital, lo relacionado con la tecnología y medios modernos.

Por lo que resumiría, diseño digital como la concepción creativa de un proyecto relacionado con cualquier área de la tecnología para uso de alguien o de algo.

Euge Ortiz's picture
Euge Ortiz
Fri, 2011-01-28 17:22

Gracias por comentar Didier.
Quién más opina de esta manera? (o diferente?) :)

Victoria Estevez's picture
Victoria Estevez
Wed, 2011-02-02 19:09

I must say Digital Design is both the practical use of digital tools to create both digital and non digital products and the process of creating interaction between a person and their perceived world. After reading Mela S and Mr. Butler's comments I have to say that this is the most compelling description of Digital Design. Also, I would say that the Mac App stores new free app Mind Node, which is a terribly simple mind mapping tool has become invaluable in my process as a digital producer.
General investigation is always of use and Wireframes and Mocks are essential, I have learned the hardway that going into a conversation about webpage building without a solid wireframe leads to endless hours of discussion where as with a wireframe you Literally "frame" the discussion.

Pauline Dizon's picture
Pauline Dizon
Thu, 2011-01-27 07:53

- Modeling
I like Bhuvan Unhelkar's definition that "models distill reality"[1]. Just as distillation gets the essence of a material, "elements that are not significant in understanding the reality are dropped" during modeling. Since "the model is not a complete representation of the reality", there is a "possibility of the model's being subjected to different interpretations". As such, "the user of the model should be aware of the notations and language used to express the model".
According to Unhelkar, there are three purposes for creating a model: "to understand a problem, to provide a solution to the problem, or to influence both of these purposes from the background, based on organizational constraints."

- Prototype
Wilbert Galitz provides several insights into what a protoype is. It is "a simple, incomplete model." [2]. It is a "simulation of an actual system." It "may be a rough approximation", or it "may be interactive". A prototype's purpose is "to obtain user input in design, and to provide feedback to designers. Its major function is the communicative role it plays, not accuracy or thoroughness."
Woojong Suh identifies two kinds of prototypes: the "throwaway prototype" and the "evolutionary prototype".[3] The first kind "is used solely to understand user’s requirements"and is discarded afterwards. On the other hand, any remaining work on the evolutionary prototype is completed, and it gets released as the final product.

- What is digital design?
One definition of the word "digital" is "involving or relating to the use of computer technology"[4]. So I think we can look at digital design both from the context of Tools and End Product.
For example, architects or interior designers may use CAD software to find out how to construct or furnish a room. Though the End Product (the room) may not necessarily be electronic or technological, since computer technology (CAD software) was used to as the Tool arrive at the solution, I think I can say that the person designing underwent digital design to make the product.
How about a creative director who sketches his ideas for a new app or computer game on a piece of paper? Since the End Product(app/game) is intended for use on computers/gadgets, even if the Tool is just pen and paper, the digital design process is already in motion, even before the ideas become diagrams and documents which get passed on to developers who eventually make the app/game.
So in my point of view, as long as there is some use of computer technology in either designing or consuming the product, then that is digital design.

- References
[1] Unhelkar, Bhuvan. Verification and Validation for Quality of UML 2.0 Models. Wiley, 2005.
[2] Galitz, Wilbert O. Essential Guide to User Interface Design : An Introduction to GUI Design Principles and Techniques, 3rd ed. Wiley, 2007.
[3] Suh, Woojong. Web Engineering : Principles and Techniques. Pa Idea Group Publishing, 2005
[4] http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_us1240324#m_en_us1240324

Keith Leslie's picture
Keith Leslie
Thu, 2011-01-27 20:23

I've always operated under the premise that "perception is reality". If you perceive my design as confusing or difficult, it IS confusing or difficult to you. However perception is subjective. How you perceive someting and how I perceive something my be entirely different. Digitial design is the process by where the designer neutralizes subjectivity in presenting their vision. This is likely going to be a mulit-faceted approach in that you may have more than one audience for your material. Since the focus of these courses is on web design, you may be designing a site or online asset that may need to appeal to people with a broad range of intelligence, interests, and ideas. I believe digital design is the process of developing an electronic asset that appeals to all of its intended audiences.

Sarah Fox's picture
Sarah Fox
Fri, 2011-01-28 03:39

Digital design is the communication of information, experiences, and/or ideas through the use of computer technology. This could or could not mean that the designed end product lives digitally. So for instance, though an landscape architect may use a CAD to develop a design for a client, the result of the design does not live on a computer or on the internet - it is the new physical landscape - the trees, the rocks, the bushes all in meticulous arrangement.

Digital design of course also includes items and assets that are created with and for computer programs, the internet, mobile devices,and many more digital devices and systems.

Brock Butler's picture
Brock Butler
Fri, 2011-01-28 03:59

For those of you who might like to see all the References for this week's activity bundled together in one URL, I've put together a Week 1 Fogozine at http://www.fogozine.com/s/1q (I enjoyed going through all the content this way).

I cut out some of the content that is copyrighted, but you can follow the links to view original content in popover window. Hoping this is useful to at least one or two of you (if so, I can continue in future).

5 people liked this
João Menezes's picture
João Menezes
Fri, 2011-01-28 12:27

That was really cool!

Victoria Estevez's picture
Victoria Estevez
Wed, 2011-02-02 18:58

Really awesome thanks for putting this together

Euge Ortiz's picture
Euge Ortiz
Fri, 2011-01-28 13:29

Nice! Thanks for sharing! :-)

Rafael França's picture
Rafael França
Fri, 2011-01-28 16:52

Gostei muito da primeira aula..

Bom, o que eu entendo de Design Digital é que.. Seria o design criado digitalmente, usando computador, tablets, dentre outros, podendo ser focado em midia digital ou não..

João Menezes's picture
João Menezes
Fri, 2011-01-28 17:05

Oi Rafa, obrigado!

-
Rafael's vision is that Digital design is the use of digital tools to create digital or tangible artifacts. Anyone else agrees?

Luis Cabrera's picture
Luis Cabrera
Mon, 2011-01-31 04:25

I agree with Rafael and Sarah Fox.
To me it sounds like Digital Design is more about the process than the product. The process which employees digital tools at any given point in the development of.
However, if it's not a Digital Design then what is it? An Analog Design? Is a chair made by the Amish who don't use computers, a analog design?

Lucica Ibanescu's picture
Lucica Ibanescu
Fri, 2011-01-28 19:43

Hi, what's the difference between Interface Design, Interaction Design and User Experience Design?

Could you guys also explain what exactly is the semantic analysis, since I'm coming from the programming world and this rings a different bell in my head?

Rodolfo Noguera's picture
Rodolfo Noguera
Fri, 2011-01-28 23:18

A mi manera de ver el diseño digital forma parte integral de todos los proyectos que se llevan a cabo hoy dia
ya sean desde construccion de un edificio a una publicidad web.
cada ves se estan usando mas herramientas (software) que nos permiten diseñar desde la manera de trabajar (Scrum por poner un ejemplo) hasta como vamos a realizar el trabajo (Dreamweaver, photoshop, Autocad por nombrar solo algunos que e usado).

Bianca Zanardi's picture
Bianca Zanardi
Sat, 2011-01-29 03:55

Digital Design: I'd say design that was made using computer technology. Pretty much everything we do today.

I'd like to add wireframes as a common tool - along with mock-up and sketching. I remember that the first time I saw the word 'wireframe', I got scared of it. Now I use them a lot!

I've particularly enjoyed the last two pages of the article "What is UX?" [link #13]. Mostly the third page [http://uxdesign.com/ux-defined-2] where we can visualize the work process.

Definitions may vary, what matters is that we do a good job!

Arunoda Susiripala's picture
Arunoda Susiripala
Sat, 2011-01-29 07:29

Digital Design:

Designing Digital Products with thinking about End Users and hide complexity behind digital devices and technologies. Make an interaction with the End User that doesn't need an extra documentation of how to interact with those digital tech/devices

A great paper on HCI : http://worrydream.com/MagicInk/

1 person liked this
Sonu Rai's picture
Sonu Rai
Sat, 2011-01-29 11:57

This should really be available as a download, or on a website. I had to use http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability/ to improve readability.

João Menezes's picture
João Menezes
Sat, 2011-01-29 15:17

That's a nice application.

Euge Ortiz's picture
Euge Ortiz
Sat, 2011-01-29 16:55

Agree on the format of the material, we can think on something like that for next classes. Thanks for sharing the tool! :)

João Menezes's picture
João Menezes
Sat, 2011-01-29 15:29

Bianca has posted some very interesting links, I recommend reading them. I'll try to help giving some basic topics of difference:

- Interface Design is related to Graphical User Interfaces (GUI), which is, creating graphical metaphors that represent a workspace. As commented in the text, Xerox Star introduced the 'Desktop' metaphor to GUIs. So, if you now use folders, documents, a desktop on your PC (which are directly related to a real office workspace) - that's because the Interface Designers there at Xerox invented this standard.

- Interaction Design is much broader, it goes far beyond computers and softwares. Interaction is based on input/output processes. Let's say, if your fridge has a rotating button to set the temperature, that's because someone thought of the user interacting with this piece of the system, and that an output would come from this interaction (lowering the temperature, f. instance)

- User Experience Design is related to the subjective aspects of interaction. It studies emotions, ethnic aspects, perception, pleasure and irritation - cognitive characteristics of human-beings and tries to simulate this experiences in a system (which may or may not be digital).

frontman's picture
frontman
Sat, 2011-01-29 17:11

My definitions of design is that you start design giving alterable objects your personal touch. That might apply for User Experience Design in the way that you shape the interaction between human and machines up to that point as your personal knowledge and experience in the field goes. That means that the more you learn and teach yourself determines the way you come up with a User Experience Design and designs in general.

Euge Ortiz's picture
Euge Ortiz
Sun, 2011-01-30 17:14

Thanks Philip, take in mind that you can design more than just objects ;)

Vanessa Gennarelli's picture
Vanessa Gennarelli
Sun, 2011-01-30 19:40

I would say "good" digital design allows the user to seamlessly acquire and engage new information. I often consider useability in evaluating design--precise and succinct labeling, legibility, user orientation.

Thanks for those definitions, Joao. And for bundling those links together, Brock!

Euge Ortiz's picture
Euge Ortiz
Sun, 2011-01-30 20:03

If you want to know more about another "design" specialization or approach, you may find this article interesting (I do), about "Service Design" http://www.servicedesign.lu/what-is-service-design/ :)

Roger Davis's picture
Roger Davis
Mon, 2011-01-31 01:57

Just as we agree that User Experience Design is essentially
the design of a User's experience while using a particular
artifact, whether digital or physical, I would define
Digital Design as the design of any electronic artifact that exists in the digital, non-physical realm. This could be a website, a graphical user interface, an animated film, a three dimential model, a computer game, and things of that nature.

I was thinking of including things like the instructions given to an electronic device to carry out certain actions, for example in programming as well. This could be using lower level programming techniques such as using bits (ones and zeroes) to accomplish a specified task or using higher level languages such as Java to do similar things. Isn't this designing within a digital space/reality? Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

I agree with David's and Pauline's comments on the common practices and tools.

Victoria Estevez's picture
Victoria Estevez
Wed, 2011-02-02 19:01

This is a really good point there are so many things that are "digital" but not necessarily web or computer software, I shoot digital film all the time.

Anthony Garritano's picture
Anthony Garritano
Fri, 2011-02-04 03:36

On a very primitive level, that would be technically correct, but I used to be a video production artist (ie. I shot and edited video) and I didn't like it when people would say I 'designed' a video. I just feel like it's the wrong verb. I edited a video, I didn't design it. Design intones that you made it from scratch, the way you would make bread from flour and yeast and bake it yourself. When you go on a video shoot, you are recording material that already exists. When you edit it, you are assembling already existing footage together. Even when you apply effects or transitions, you are only manipulating what already exists.

Do notice that this has nothing to do with creativity. Both professions are creative, but their natures are very different.

Bradley Harkrader's picture
Bradley Harkrader
Mon, 2011-01-31 03:01

I would say digital design is the use of electronic artifacts to create other electronic or physical artifacts for a purpose.

Bradley Harkrader's picture
Bradley Harkrader
Mon, 2011-01-31 03:01

I would say digital design is the use of electronic artifacts to create other electronic or physical artifacts for a purpose.

Stoney Noell's picture
Stoney Noell
Mon, 2011-01-31 05:58

Digital design is the product of Creativity with the use of electronic artifacts in hopes to communicate message.

Willie Northway's picture
Willie Northway
Mon, 2011-01-31 06:29

The word digital implies the use of a computer as opposed to a paper, analog electronic or verbal based system. Why do people use computers?They're used to gather, organize, analyze or find information. Otheruses are to communicate, educate, or entertain. Primarily, they're used for automation.

We use computers to extend our capabilities, to achieve some sort of goal, reach a destination or convey a message. The use of design whenconstructing these extensions can give the user an understanding of an abstraction, to stay on course, and to be sure that the desired goal is achieved.

Our brains are incredible devices, we can store tons of memories, but it's been demonstrated that our memories are imperfect and each time we read them, they're overwritten by our renewed perception. So theability to store information in a reliable form which can be copied an infinite number of times perfectly each time is superior to what humans can do. Automating tasks allows work to be done beyond our attention span, beyond our biological capability, and to do it rapidly.

Through proper design, users can understand how to properly interface with a computer, to execute software routines as nimbly as a chef would handle a cooking utensil from their kitchen drawer.

Proper design should guide the user through their usage, offering them feedback when an operation is executing, and a choice of actions when appropriate, cultivating their choices to prevent them from doing the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Arunan Skanthan's picture
Arunan Skanthan
Mon, 2011-01-31 07:41

Digital Design to an artist is using the computer as a canvas to paint their works of art, to a sculptor it would be a virtual representation of a statue, etc. To web developers digital design is the manifestation of their creative ideas into a beautiful/elegant and functional software that interacts in a manner pleasing to the user.
Digital Design is just like traditional design, creating order from chaos(this is subject to each person viewing the product, but here I mean order from the creator's point of view), but created in pixels rather than from paint or clay or similar materials.

Mela S.'s picture
Mela S.
Mon, 2011-01-31 12:02

"What is digital design?"
I've been thinking about this question for a while, and I can't come up with a satisfactory answer for myself. Design, for me, consists of both the process and the corresponding artifacts resulting from said process (including, but not limited to, the end-product.) It would be easy to say that "digital design" is just the digital version of conventional design processes and artifacts, but the more I think about it, the more questions pop up.

From the artifact point of view, one can claim that digital design refers to areas wherein a digital product is the end-result of digital activity. For example, graphic design. However:
- if these designs are printed out, is it still considered digital design? (Hence, the tool of creation becomes the establishing factor?)
- if these designs were not solely created by computer software, would it still be considered digital design -- for example, a manipulated photo? (So, even mere enhancement by a computer renders a non-digital design, digital.)

From a process point of view:
- since the difference between paper prototyping and digital prototyping is clear, can the same be said for other methods? Ex. face to face user research versus digital user research?
- If there is, is there a need to differentiate between digital design methods versus conventional (and by this, I mean non-digital) design methods? Personally, when doing design work I do some things with the help of computers and some things without. To what extent can we claim that something was done digitally? If I do a mindmap using an online mindmapping tool versus drawing it by hand, is this enough to say that I am engaging in "digital design," and is this distinction really relevant in this scenario?

So I basically have two answers running around my head.

The first is that digital design refers to the creation of a digital product in light of design principles, using digital tools.
- but what about tangible products that were designed using digital tools? Would you still argue that it is a digital design?
- also, what about digital objects that were NOT created with primarily digital tools? For example, prior to actual creation, all the other steps were done using paper. Is the fact that the end-product is digital enough to say that it is a digital design?

The second is that digital design refers to design steps that have moved to digital methods. For example, paper prototyping vs. digital prototyping. Or, paper mind-mapping versus digital mind-mapping. But the question is, how important is it to differentiate between the two? If I conducted surveys face to face, and in another situation sent out links to online forms, can I argue that I am into digital user research? How "digital" is "digital?"

I think that while nearly everything has a touch of digital design in it, it also has a big chunk of non-digital in it. I remember first using the design process for an HCI project; while our end-product was digital, many process and artifacts of our process were not. It's hard to pin the definition on items with digital end-products, because the steps used to get there may not have all been digital. It's equally hard to pin the definition based on the processes the design went through, because the end product is not always digital. And there are a gazillion scenarios in between.

1 person liked this
Mela S.'s picture
Mela S.
Tue, 2011-02-01 13:12

I forgot to add my research bit:

PROTOTYPING
Prototyping "is the process of building a model of a system." [1] The term "model" is loosely applied to any artifacts that somehow represent the end-product in some shape or form. Some prototypes may be as low-level as sketches of a graphical user interface, or it may be as high-level as being nearly of production quality except for some minor differences in size, material, functionality, etc.

Prototypes can be used for anything. They're usually created for items with some complexity to them. I found a great link from WIRED showing some examples of prototypes:
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/08/ff_prototypes/all/1

Most of my prototyping experiences involve paper prototyping and revolve around user interface and interaction design. My prototyping is closely tied in with user feedback. I usually create prototypes for the purpose of testing with a user group.

This activity is important for me because:
1) not everything works out as it does in my head. You know how sometimes, we say things that sound REALLY COOL in our heads, but when it we actually do say it, it comes across as really dumb? This is like that, except with interfaces. Putting a prototype together makes me realize that some bits don't fit, or there feels like there's something missing, etc.

2) I am not an average user. (And you're not, either!) As a designer, I'm too involved in the project already. Some design elements may appear intuitive to me because I've spent so much time on the project, but the target user group just gets lost. Hence, it's important to test prototypes with the user group to ensure that things flow nicely for the end users.

3) it saves a lot of hard work later on. Seeing what works and what doesn't early on allows me to make changes right away. It is definitely a lot easier to just cross out a bit from a sketch, versus having to rewrite a huge chunk of code at a later stage.

One of the advice I received about (low-level) prototypes is to start with something that doesn't look too polished. End users then feel that the project is at the VERY early stages and let 'er rip with the comments. With more polished-looking prototypes, users feel that it's more or less done and are more cautious with their comments. (Obviously, the later in the design process you are, the more refined your prototype will be -- so this advice is for your first few prototypes.)

[1] http://www.umsl.edu/~sauterv/analysis/prototyping/proto.html

Euge Ortiz's picture
Euge Ortiz
Thu, 2011-02-03 03:17

Thanks for sharing your experience with prototypes Mela! I agree. About point number 2, I always say that you have to repeat: "You are not your user, you are not your user!!" :D
About high and low fidelity prototypes, sometimes with hi-fi (high fidelity) prototypes the user may get distracted with graphic (surface) details and predispose their experience based on colors, fonts, etc. and not really about the task that they are performing.
Again, thanks for your opinion.

Brock Butler's picture
Brock Butler
Mon, 2011-01-31 16:26

I thought I was converging on a definition of digital design until I read the post from Mela S. I realize that I often use digital tools to design non-digital products, and I also use non-digital tools to design digital products. So is digital design the use of digital tools in the design process, or designing for a digital product (regardless of whether digital or non-digital tools are used), or both/neither?

For now, I'll go with digital design as the use of digital tools in the design process, because I utilize so many of the following tools in the digital domain:

- Iteration (also known as alternatives generation): I recently started using my iPad + UI Sketcher App (http://uisketcher.com/) to help iterate through design alternatives. Because all my team is remote, I can quickly generate alternatives and send to team for feedback. Being in the digital domain provides the advantage of faster iteration (in my opinion). Also, this app is quite cheap and the iPad is quite small, making it a very convenient option.
- Brainstorming: Again, with my team being remote, we do a lot of brainstorming over the phone and through video chat sessions. Online (digital) tools like Google Docs, Skype, and [insert any number of online collaboration apps] help us document our brainstorming sessions as they are underway.
- Mock-up/sketching: Lots of great digital mock-up software out there. We like Balsamiq (http://balsamiq.com/), as it is a great tool for communicating ideas with our entire team.
- Prototype: Digital products (especially software) require digital prototypes. I personally love prototyping because it can be done quickly without much regard for long-term maintainability, it facilitate early user feedback, and it allows you to play with new technology that might be too risky to include in a commercial product.
- Mind-mapping: A great way to organize and play with a bunch of ideas or information. Putting everything in a digital mind map is particularly useful because it is so easy to move nodes and branches around. This allows for quickly experiments with different groupings and flow, ultimately allowing you to find the best organization for all information in the mind map. I like to use mind maps for designing presentation and reports so that I can work out the optimal flow before digging in to do the work.

Jackie  Smith's picture
Jackie Smith
Mon, 2011-01-31 16:44

The easy way to answer this question is to break down the two words and define them separately, digital and design. I think in our modern society we all have a basic understanding of what each word means. It is easy to say that the word digital refers to the online realm that we know as the Internet and design is the collaboration of shapes, colors and typefaces that create a graphically pleasing piece to the human eye.

But we all know digital design is not that cut and dry and there is not one definition. To me, I see digital design as an opportunity. It’s the chance we have as artists to create a place where the interaction between man and the digital realm is unlimited. It’s not all about the way it appears or a “layout” of a webpage, that is only a small, small part. Design for the digital space is about the user interface. It’s about planning the architecture behind an interface (i.e. websites) that enables it’s functionally to be practical and interactive to the user based on the digital tool in use. With technologies as iPads, smartphones and desktop apps, my whole outlook on digital design is much more vague now because the possibilities are unlimited. As developers and designers, we can only plan and create based on each device and design to maximize the user experience.

Digital design is how we create an interactive experience and push the boundaries of traditional design.

Dario Espina's picture
Dario Espina
Mon, 2011-01-31 16:46

ESP:
Que es diseño digital?

Para mi el Diseño Digital es crear un entornos digitales funcionales que produzcan placer al ser usado, a partir de ideas o conceptos determinados.

Como comentas, "el diseño es para los humanos", asi que el resultado debe ser algo intuitivo, y que genere placer al ser utilizado.

ENG:
What's Digital Design?

To me, Digital Design it's create functional digital ambients, pleasent to use, based on ideas and concepts.

As you said, "design it's for humans", the result of designing should be intuitive, easy to use and pleasant to the user.

Sergio Banguero's picture
Sergio Banguero
Mon, 2011-01-31 16:49

What's digital design?

As Joao described it at the top. Design is for people and consists of a series of methodologies and processes aimed to build "products" that can be used without much thought.

Based on this general description, digital design for me refers to the design techniques, methodologies and processes adapted to products contained on digital systems (such as digital interfaces, etc) and the use of digital tools (software) to complete these products.

Some examples of tools & methodologies are:

+ Mock-up / Sketch: As noted above by Brad and Bianca Wireframes for web design can be part of a digital design process even though it can be created without digital tools. They basically define the layout for the web page.

+ Prototype: Also on web design, some popular tools for prototyping are photoshop & illustrator. Tools that allow the creation of quick prototypes with ease and high level of detail.

Roger Davis's picture
Roger Davis
Mon, 2011-01-31 19:46

Hey folks! Here's another interesting article on Design: http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2010/07/design-is-a-process-not-a-m...

Bill Ferris's picture
Bill Ferris
Mon, 2011-01-31 20:02

To me, Digital Design is creating an electronic artifact for the purpose of accomplishing a specific goal. Where the architect works in blueprints, brick and mortar, the digital designer deals in pixels, code, and graphics.

I feel that the "digital" aspect means that the end product exists in a digital format, whether as software, a website, etc. I do not feel that design can be designated as "digital design" simply because it uses digital tools. in today's society we use digital tools for just about everything. You'd be hard pressed to find a car or a piece of furniture or a water bottle for which digital tools weren't used somewhere in the design process. If that's your definition, then everything is digital design -- in which case, why even designate it as digital? Just call it design.

Brainstorming:
The classic, throw-stuff-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks method, this stage of the design process is a judgment-free idea free-for-all. Like Saran Wrap, it's best feature is its worst--There are no barriers to ideas, so people needn't worry that someone's going to make fun of their out-of-the-box idea. Of course, brainstorming also leads to a lot of idea clutter, and you have to spend some time sifting through suggestions to find something useful.

Rosa Torguet's picture
Rosa Torguet
Mon, 2011-01-31 21:34

Hi!
ok after reading everybody's opinion I'll try to write down my believing on this topic.
I absolutely agree with Roger Davis and Bill Ferris, and Mela's comment really made me think about the design project and whether it involves digital processes or not.

It is always a hard task to define what a designer does, and what exactly design means. From my point of view design is something personal, that each designer feels in a different way.
For me it probably is the process of finding user’s needs and translating them into a product, service, web-site… so they can use it in the most natural way posible. I would say that the designer’s task is to generally make things easier for users.

More accurately to define digital design, applies the same as before, but digital narrows the ‘thing’ that is being designed, which in this case is anything published online or offline but needs of other support system such as a computer, screen… to be used and interact with it. It isn’t a product as it isn’t physical, it can be a web-site, a database, a multimedia presentation, moodle enviroment…

I loved reading Don Norman's interview!

Pierre GIRAUD's picture
Pierre GIRAUD
Tue, 2011-02-01 00:40

I read with much attention all the documents or links we were pointed to for this first week. Now, I have to digest this all.
As far as I understand, the big deal is to give titles to people's jobs. It's all about terminology.

I have no (real) experience in design, so the subject is mostly new for me. Well, actually, it’s already been a while since I started to have the user experience in mind when writing code for applications’ user interface.
Though, I had no clue that there were so many different disciplines around what I used to call "ergonomy". Well this term is probably a faux-ami and it probably means a completely different thing in french. The proposed readings helped me discover one part of this complex field.

First, I would like to thank Amarjeet for the "readability" bookmarklet, I will use it in future for sure. I would also like to thank Brock for the Fogozine thing.

I think the article I prefered is the one Bianca gave us a link for, which was written by Kimmy Paluch. In my opinion, it's interesting because it clearly explains how the different disciplines intersect with each other.

About “User Experience”, Roger Davis (in this thread) said (correct me if I’m wrong) that it refers to any kind of artifact, either physical or digital. By reading Kimmy Paluch’s article, it feels to me like as soon as we’re using the word “user”, it automatically refers to a human “using” a digital object ``We refer to a person as a user particularly in the case where he/she is operating a computer or similar device``.
He also gives the example of a child playing with a toy. We can’t consider him as a user.

Digital design :
As some of us, I’m a bit ill-at-ease to give a definition. I tried to google a bit on the subject but I didn’t find anything really exciting except one article. See below.
Once again, correct me if I’m wrong, but these words don’t appear in any of the reference articles.
I think I agree with what was previously written in this thread.
To me, Digital Design may be seperated into two different aspects :
- On one hand, it would refer to the usage of digital tools (mainly computers and softwares) to design things, either physical or virtual. I recently used google ketchup to design an apartment interior or furniture. It helped me a lot. But, Bill Ferris is right, I must agree. Considering this definition, almost everything is designed using a computer. Every manufactured products are digitally designed.
- On the other hand, it would be the design of digital artifacts or products. It goes from web sites, to softwares. Anything a human can interact with. But as opposite to what some of us wrote earlier, I don’t think we necessarily need a digital tool to design digital stuff. I often use a piece of paper or a white board to draw web interfaces or widgets.

A definition can also be found in an article titled “What is Digital Design” [1]. In author’s opinion, digital design relates to images creation. It is used in many different domains from car companies to food distributors.

Iteration:
A simple to divide a project into different phases. Each iteration represents a coherent bunch of features or functionalities. At the end of each iteration, the project team should have something to show the client.

Brainstorming:
Brainstorming is a kind of meeting where the team meets and shares ideas about an issue to fix. It’s the place where anybody can make its voice heard. No idea is bad at this point. Any point of view is good to hear.

Mock-up/sketching:
Write or draw down in a quick way how a user interface will look like. It helps a lot to highlight obvious issues and present different options for a single functionality. The aesthetics doesn’t matter. The important thing is that it shouldn’t take much time. I often use balsamiq at work but I also like to use a piece of paper.

Prototype:
As a developer, I think prototyping means writing code bound to fake data. In many cases, it helps validating the sketching phase. In an ideal world, it shouldn’t take much time either and the written code shouldn’t be used as is in a production application.

[1] http://www.soyouwanna.com/digital-design-1063.html

1 person liked this
Felipe Saldanha's picture
Felipe Saldanha
Tue, 2011-02-01 01:03

Nice thread!

For me, digital design isn’t just another specialization that joins the list of João's text, but a definition that describes any of that specializations run FOR or IN the digital environment. Web and software designers are digital designers, but not just them. For example: a designer who develops a fitment using a computer program such as AutoCAD is doing digital design (physical product, digital creative process), as well as a designer who makes a sketch of a web site in a paper (digital product, physical creative process).

I think my opinion is near Pauline’s one [1]. I’ve liked Mela’s comment too [2]. It seems there’s an argue between concept based only in process and concept based in process and product.

Maybe we should ask ourselves: what’s NOT digital design? I believe non-digital design is an endangered species, once there are nowadays very few designs that don’t use digital tools or don’t focus digital products at all.

PS: sorry for my English errors! :)

[1] http://www.p2pu.org/webcraft/node/14686/forums/25092#comment-8451
[2] http://www.p2pu.org/webcraft/node/14686/forums/25092#comment-9389

ciprian amaritei's picture
ciprian amaritei
Tue, 2011-02-01 02:01

Hi all,
Reading different materials about design provided and going through all the comments of this thread I will give a try to a definition for Digital design.
Definition of the term "digital": "Digital describes electronic technology that generates, stores, and processes data in terms of two states: positive = 1 and non-positive=0."
Starting from the above definition, I believe digital design is anything designed using computer technology (software 2D or 3D, languages like svg etc.) but not necessarily for visualization using computer screens or other media devices. I will call a printed artwork also a digital design.
The definition may be a bit incomplete that`s why I`m looking forward to hearing a more complete one to enlighten us all.

Ciprian.

1 person liked this
Daniel Rios's picture
Daniel Rios
Tue, 2011-02-01 02:20

Hola a todos,

Para mí el Diseño Digital seria la comprensión de las necesidades del usuario y los objetivos del sistema para su uso en la planificación y el desarrollo viable, práctico, estético, creativo y técnico de interfaces y herramientas que permitan una clara e intuitiva interacción entre usuarios y sistemas; minimizando el tiempo y esfuerzo de la persona, y maximizando el cumplimiento de los objetivos de captura, procesamiento y entrega de datos del sistema, en pasos y ciclos que permitan mantener la vigencia, oportunidad y usabilidad de los datos proporcionados por el usuario al sistema.

Además creo que hay factores particulares que debe considerar en Diseño Digital específicamente en nuestros días, pero estos factores son parte del contexto histórico actual y varían con las coyunturas históricas y técnicas. Por ejemplo:

1) Factores Psico-Sociales como:
a) La renuencia e incluso el estrés que sufren algunos usuarios al entregar información personal.
b) La relación contextual con los datos mostrados o requeridos en un momento determinado.
c) Los atributos sicológicos conferidos al solicitante u oferente de la información.
d) El contexto en el cual se interactúa (privacidad, cantidad de transacciones, dispositivo de ingreso).
Entre otros.

2) Factores Técnicos como:
a) Disponibilidad de acceso al sistema.
b) Anchos de banda.
c) Métodos de seguridad de transmisión.
d) Tecnología existente.
Entre otros.

Euge Ortiz's picture
Euge Ortiz
Thu, 2011-02-03 02:39

Muchas gracias por compartir tu punto de vista Daniel! En algunas opiniones de los participantes en inglés, se planteó el uso del 'diseño digital' no sólo para crear sistemas informáticos sino otros "productos" como música, arte,etc., compartes eso?

Wei-Ching Shyu's picture
Wei-Ching Shyu
Tue, 2011-02-01 06:47

I think I confused myself half way through...

To me, design is the bare bones of things we use. Digital design is just another form of design. Since design is in things humans produce and use, categories of design increase for different new platforms and devices. I check Wiktionary for the definitions of digital.

1. Having to do with digits (fingers or toes); performed with a finger.
2. Property of representing values as discrete numbers rather than a continuous spectrum.
3. Of or relating to computers or the Computer Age.

Digital means mostly things about computers and machines to me. After I read the first definition of digital, I think it truly reflects the digital life we live in. We use computers, text on cell phones, push bottoms on screens to perform tasks, and so on, mostly done with fingers. The purpose of digital invention is to make things easier and help people to save time, while we can do only using fingers. This is also the purpose of design, to help people and solve their problems. Because digital proves to be helpful, people start to design and use more of it. This is why now we live in the digital age. Just because now we use things designed by digital devices and for digital use, we are not using digital but design. Digital is a medium for design and we are always using design.

Garrett Polifka's picture
Garrett Polifka
Tue, 2011-02-01 06:52

To me, digital design is the creation of an interface for an end user to interact with. As we move forward in technology, digital design has expanded beyond the traditional desk top computer screen. Today, screens are popping up in places we would never have dreamed during the early creation of computers. A digital designer will be building interfaces for alarm clocks, refrigerators and even home monitoring systems. In each of these instances, we as designers will need to focus on how the implementations can share characteristics, like viewing or input, but that each serves a different purpose to an end user. Design no longer has the restrictions of the print world. It has moved into a new realm where websites, operating systems and interfaces all use digital design to create the users experience. 

Brainstorming; - 
In my opinion, brainstorming starts with a blank slate. As the developer or designer the possibilities are only restricted to the brief and client's desires. There is no wrong answer in brainstorm. 
The use of brainstorming can be found in many different disciplines from creatives in the advertising industry to lawyers planning the presentation of their case. In it's simplest form, brainstorming can be defined as a launching pad for an idea or plan.

"In its modern format, the technique of brainstorming can be traced to extensive efforts initiated in the 1940s by advertising executive Alex Osborn."
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1468-2370.00006/abstract

You can read Alex Osborn's original approach in his book "Applied Imagination".
http://www.amazon.com/Imagination-Principles-Procedures-Creative-Problem...

Briefing sessions; -
This stage may be the most important part of any creative process. Without a proper brief, the designer or developer will never truly be able to meet or exceed a clients expectations. A briefing session allows the creative team to review the needs of a project while at the same time allowing them to ask questions and retrieve information that the client or account team may not have thought to include. What good is a final product, that the designer may love, if the client is not satisfied?  
 
User/Consumer research; - 
In the end, any interface will ultimately be used by the consumer. Whether that customer is a stay at home mom or a tech blogger, they will all have particular tendencies. Knowing the tendencies of your end user before you begin gives you better assurances that the end product will meet their needs. 

Mock-up/sketching; -
This may be the most exciting part of the development process. Time invested in research and planning finally becomes something tangible. at this stage, the final product begins to take shape. It is often debated whether this stage should be done on a computer or by hand. For me life has become so digital, I do not need to hand draw mockups and sketchings. I have become a big fan of using a stylus and Adobe Ideas app on my iPad. It allows me to sketch mockups that are easy to then bring into my design apps and get started. 

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/09/01/35-excellent-wireframing-reso...

Mind-mapping- 
Mind-mapping helps me to create a solid flow for the projects logic development. While it is difficult to anticipate every possible sceniero our user may create when interacting with the end product, taking a moment to map out the possible logical course our users will take gives us insight into how they may use it. This is a very important step when developing anything from a website to a complex application. A great app I have found for this is http://www.mindnode.com/

Lloyd Viente's picture
Lloyd Viente
Tue, 2011-02-01 07:35

Iteration is the process of taking output and using it as input, processing it, then using the result as the starting point of another round of changes. Iteration can take many rounds before the result meets the design goals for a particular application. An example of an iterative design paradigm is Agile Software Development.

User/Consumer research is gathering, recording and analysis of data. This allows designers to identify what features work well and which need improvement in a project. I think it's important that designers do not let user research be the sole determining factor in development.

Mock-up/sketching is creating rough illustrations diagramming possible graphic representations, User Interface layouts, and other design elements of a project. Unlike manual/software renders or prototypes, sketches require less time to execute, less detail, and do not provide functionality. It allows designers to evaluate proposed designs and choose the most promising candidate(s) to iterate on.

Prototypes are working models that demonstrate what the finished product would be like. It is not meant to be the final version, it can still be further refined based upon testing and feedback.

What is digital design to you? Digital design is creative problem solving that aims to reach a compromise between aesthetics, cost, and complexity. All projects do not strike the same balance, one might stress economy over graphics, while another might

Anthony Gomez's picture
Anthony Gomez
Tue, 2011-02-01 07:47

I agree with João quote of Peter Lawrence "designers are not artists solving their own problems; designers are experts solving everybody else's problems".

Having agreed with the above quote. I believe that "Digital Design" is the process of figuring out a way to solve a digital problem with ease, using digital design implementations.

Raymond Uphoff's picture
Raymond Uphoff
Tue, 2011-02-01 11:59

I'll try to make it short......

“Digital Design”;

Creating a well-thought concept, targeted to a group of users, that will motivate them and excite them and thereby encouraging them to perform a task or set of tasks.

Euge Ortiz's picture
Euge Ortiz
Thu, 2011-02-03 02:52

Thanks for posting your opinion Raymond. And you write about a very important point: the audience (users) target. A design is not made for everybody, we always have a targeted audience. It may be very specific or very broad.

Alexis Rodríguez's picture
Alexis Rodríguez
Tue, 2011-02-01 15:50

El diseño digital es el conjunto de metodologías orientadas a desarrollar soluciones en medios digitales, colocando como objetivos principales la viabilidad, la eficacia y la eficiendia.

Los prototipos son modelos básicos de bajo costo que representan a grandes rasgos los aspectos fundamentales de una idea.

El brainstorming es una metodología grupal de solución de problemas que consiste en colocar añadir ideas en un ambiente libre de críticas para luego consolidarlas en una propuesta.

El mapeo mental es una técnica de representación que consiste en agrupar radialmente en torno a una idea central palabras, ideas, tareas, u otros conceptos relacionados. Se utiliza principalmente para tomas de decisiones, organización y solución de problemas.

Felipe Saldanha's picture
Felipe Saldanha
Tue, 2011-02-01 20:50

Iteração: processo de resolução (de uma equação, de um problema) mediante uma seqüência finita de operações em que o objeto de cada uma é o resultado da que a precede. [1]

Prototipagem: elaboração de protótipo (versão parcial e preliminar de um novo sistema de computador ou de um novo programa, destinada a teste e aperfeiçoamento). [1]

Mockup: modelo em escala de uma estrutura, geralmente em tamanho natural, utilizado para demonstração, estudo ou teste. [2]

[1] Novo Dicionário Eletrônico Aurélio versão 5.0
[2] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mockup

Felipe Saldanha's picture
Felipe Saldanha
Tue, 2011-02-01 20:53

Guys, check these two sites:

http://www.inspireux.com/ - User Experience quotes and articles to inspire and connect the UX community.
http://builds.balsamiq.com/b/mockups-web-demo/ - a virtual tool for creating mockups.

Euge Ortiz's picture
Euge Ortiz
Thu, 2011-02-03 02:59

Thanks for sharing Felipe! We will give you all (at the end of the course) a very interesting list of UX resources and we will add yours too :)

Alex Mrvaljevich's picture
Alex Mrvaljevich
Tue, 2011-02-01 21:46

[EN]

What is digital design?

I particularly liked the reference to Herbert Simon's definition of design as a "course of action for changing existing situations into preferred ones"

Indeed it seems that those of us involved in digital media obsess about change... Innovation, be it iterative or disruptive, is at the core of what we do with our shiny screens and increasingly ergonomic mice.

So to me digital design is the course of action we have taken to improve the world through the new tools that computing has provided for us. Digital Design is changing the physical world through the digital one.

Frankie Yan's picture
Frankie Yan
Wed, 2011-02-02 00:14

Like João and everybody’s already mentioned, being a designer is different from being an artist, where an artist create works that solve or satisfy his/her own problems, a designer must follow constraints and guidelines to solve someone else’s; because of this, intuition plays a much smaller role in a design process compared to an artist creating art. This doesn’t mean creativity isn’t involved, except when applying our own creative touch during a design process we must go through many of the methodologies listed in this week’s reading, and provide reasons/evidence that our particular solution to the problem has its merits.

Brain Storming to me, is where all the creativity and intuition comes into play: thinking outside the box and present any and all wild ideas that might – or might not solve the particular problem. Mind-Mapping is one of the many tools that can be used during a brain storm session.

Semantic Analysis: Not too sure about this one, from Googling it seems to be a critical analysis on textual content, and in a more specific example such as web-design, categorizing textual content into a usable and easily understandable format.

Briefing Sessions: In design, communication between the client and designer is very important. In order for a designer to get clear and precise instructions/guidelines and other specifications from the client, meetings, especially face to face, are necessary steps during the design process.

User/Consumer Research: Ultimately, the users of the finished product are the ones we have to design for, and in many cases this does not include the client themselves. Demographics, age groups, etc. are all things taken into account in a design. Members from the user/consumer group must also be involved with both the prototype and final product testing phases.

Mock-up/Prototype: I feel these two can be more or less grouped together, where a mock-up can be a low-fidelity, rapidly made model and a prototype closer to the final product. These tools are usually made to test out the interaction (speed/accuracy/ease of use) with the users involved, and are an early indication of a strong/weak design.

Saffad Khan's picture
Saffad Khan
Wed, 2011-02-02 00:18

I think digital design focuses on digital tools to create a form of communication between the user and designer. Designing and evaluating emotion of the user which would be the human aspect of design (Human computer interaction) is an important part of digital design I believe which would also be connected to usability. So I think digital design is a combination of design principles of a way to communicate with the user through design in the best way possible.

Laeti G's picture
Laeti G
Wed, 2011-02-02 00:34

To me digital design is dual. Since a discussion on chocolate already emerged in that forum ( ;) ), I would use it to explain my view : I see digital design as being the fudge on a chocolate cake and the spoon to eat the cake at the same time. Without the fudge the cake is less attractive, and unless you are really in need of consuming it, you may not have some. Without the spoon, that beautiful and appealing cake covered with fudge would be a mess to eat, and you may even end up frustrated and give up finishing it.
In both cases, the concept puts the user (here the person in front of the cake), at the very center of it all. The main concern is to please the user, bring him all he needs to enjoy the experience painlessly.

As for the common tools implied in design production, I have picked mind-mapping to make a little research on, as I have recently met someone using them, and been puzzled.
Mind maps are diagrams that you develop around a central concept. I like how this is an unconventional and free way of structuring ideas in that:
you start your diagram from the middle of a page, drawing branches around it as your reflexion progresses
ideas are not organized in cells, lines nor rows, you put them on your page anywhere you feel they fit the best, regarding the importance degree you evaluate for them, and their connection to other groups of ideas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map
http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk/_images/_Images/ADVICE-AND-INFORMATION/How...
Thanks for this enlightning first class, thanks for all the interested comments :)

Andrew Trent's picture
Andrew Trent
Wed, 2011-02-02 01:54

This design neophyte feels that Digital Design is, ultimately, the process of making human-computer interactions as transparent, instinctual and easy for the human part of the equation as possible. Whatever methods are used, the goal of digital design (to me) is to develop interfaces for information stored and accessed digitally that reduce (or, ideally, nearly eliminate) barriers to the consumption and digestion of that information by people.

I find the concept of Mind Maps irritating, but only because I once had an employer who insisted that they were the ultimate solution to everything wrong anywhere, anytime. This might turn out to be true, but you'd never know it from him because he never actually looked at the damned things after he made them. Producing them was just a perfunctory exercise he engaged in to make himself feel like he was actually doing something. At the root level, Mind Mapping seems to be nothing more than representing brainstormed concepts in a more radial/hub layout. Doing a little research indicates that, oddly, the modern "invention" of Mind Mapping may hold Korzybski's General Semantics as an inspiration. This possibility only reinforces my dislike for Mind Mapping :)

Jay Henderson's picture
Jay Henderson
Wed, 2011-02-02 02:11

Digital Design is what you create from your mind, through pixels and ideation, it can mold and shape into any product. I have seen ideas come from an inspiration and become life changing aspirations. Example, the internet is a carefully crafted product in which communication is developed digitally. This "design" through numerical code and logarithmic patterns has led way to sub-design's in which we use to communicate right on this thread. As noted in the article, design whether it be digital or traditional is aimed at PEOPLE. I think digital design helps our daily effort to be more relatively easy but has ties to traditional concepts which are rooted below:

Iteration:
This from what I learned in graphic design class, helps your methodology in creating a concept and refining it. We studied different techniques in taking anamorphic, wording, and colors to refine our ideas. Through repetition and exploration Iteration allowed me to concentrate on refined results.

Briefing Sessions: I think of this as a glance on your overall objective. A time to review what your end goal is ultimately. Presentations, Keynotes derive from briefing to get a group or project back on it's journey.

User/consumer research: User / consumer research is crucial to any project in design. You must take into account the user of the product, through retail studies it shows what works and what doesn't. The data obtained from conducting experimental research helps marketing and designers reach a full agreement.

Mockup/Sketch: Sketching and mock-up design helps iteration come to life. Through quick strokes and ideation this process helps fine tune your design. I believe this to be the most natural and spiritual process of creativity. It helps influence and allow the artist to add their individuality to the assignment giving that product a sense of humanity.

Prototypes: Prototyping helps bring a realistic concept to the overall design, testing it's limits and solidity. It's a vital approach to defining an idea. Many bug's are ironed within a protype test even digital or realistic. I love the sketching and protyping phase of any process because these concepts are the humble initial beginnings of your end goal.

Mind mapping: is the visualization of a diagram in which activities and structure develop. It can be a collage of ideas, words, images, and tasks. Collectively bringing a type of organization that helps clarify one's approach to a design problem. In my User Centered Design class our first task was to develop a mind map/collage that allowed us to focus the design problem visually. This experiment in turn helped us within the next phase of our process.

read more...on my ideas at
http://blujconcepts.net/blog

Jonathan Gottfried's picture
Jonathan Gottfried
Wed, 2011-02-02 07:02

Digital design results in an interactive experience. I would say that any electronic devices including computers and websites integrate some form of digital design, form the hardware to the software. Good digital design creates an intuitive and memorable experience for the user dealing with the digital product. Though not always executed using digital tools, the result is presented in a digital format.

Nick Casares's picture
Nick Casares
Wed, 2011-02-02 07:30

Great discussion everyone. It's nice to have so many different viewpoints we can reference while working through the course.

To me, digital design includes all of the techniques used to effectively communicate ideas in digital form. I view digital design as an application of specific design techniques that span a variety of disciplines including graphic, information, interaction and experience design. The choice and application of tools/methods is up to the designer practicing in the digital realm.

Ideas can ultimately be communicated digitally using digital or non-digital tools/methods. The tools/methods used are not dictated by the delivery method. This speaks to the point made that many successful designs are originated in the digital realm but delivered in the physical realm (and vice-versa).

Sketching and mind-mapping are perfect examples of using non-digital techniques to arrive at a digital solution. I regularly sketch and mind-map in a notebook for projects that end in code or pixels. I prefer starting projects this way because it's fast, intuitive and feels more directly connected to my thought process (maybe that's a testament to the need for HCI).

I look forward to the interaction with everyone. It sounds like we have some great thinkers in class!

Thao Vo's picture
Thao Vo
Wed, 2011-02-02 08:10

Digital design drives communication and experiences through technology. For a compelling experience, it is all of the fields - software/instructional/graphic/interface/interaction design, combined. These fields overlap in many ways, and they intersect at the point of the user in order to make technology accessible, usable, and enjoyable. What are the consequences of digital design? The pervasiveness of technology in our everyday lives: computers, laptops, phones, etc. Technology is so ubiquitous that in some developing countries, more people have access to mobile devices than they do to basic human needs, such as access to clean drinking water.

Through user or consumer research, data is gathered, analyzed, and is taken into account in the design process. It is a way to get insight into people's preferences, attitudes, and behaviors, and is used to make the product or service better.

Webcrafter Yarrowroot's picture
Webcrafter Yarrow...
Wed, 2011-02-02 12:47

"Digital design" is a new term to me but I would understand it as designing for people to use computer programs - the interfaces that present tasks - and the design that enables people to complete the task to their satisfaction. Seeing with fresh eyes is essential in order to produce an easy and intuitive design.

dj zero's picture
dj zero
Wed, 2011-02-02 20:25

Thanks to everyone who posted resources. Thanks especially to Brock for the Fogozine, it was massively helpful.

Much like Mela, thinking about the question what is digital design only produced more questions for me.

For me, the process of design is essentially problem solving. Design has a practical element (as opposed to art). It incorporates researching and planning to create an elegant solution. Design considers the interaction between the product and humans and attempts to seamlessly integrate the end product into everyday life. From this, I would say that digital design is problem solving that will eventually end up as 1s and 0s –– website, app, clock, thermometer, etc.

I'm interested to know what people think about self-expression. From some of the things I have read, good design should not include self-expression. But I believe that good design would be a natural extension of the designer. There is no way to disconnect the designer from the product.
http://uxdesign.com/design/article/good-design/54

dj zero's picture
dj zero
Wed, 2011-02-02 20:32

Tools & Methodologies:

Briefing sessions: Client describes their requirements for the project. Excitement ensues. Potential problems are discussed.

Brainstorming: Idea generation. This is usually the second phase of my process after the design brief. I try to generate as many possible solutions even contradictory solutions.

Reference research: Usually the third part of my process. I like to research the client's industry & competitors. To get an idea where the client is situated. This is great to do after some introductory brainstorming so that the research doesn't completely color all of the brainstorming.

Mock-up/sketching: Quickly putting together possible solutions for the client.

Rashmi Ramakrishnan's picture
Rashmi Ramakrishnan
Wed, 2011-02-02 20:57

I like this definition.

"Digital Design focuses on the communication of messages and experiences, both physical and virtual, for people. These communication experiences take place either on computers, the Web, a mobile phone, museum kiosk, a hospital directory or time-based media, such as film and video. Whether to persuade, inform, educate, or express a message to the intended user, a digital designer's solution is often done in concert with other communication channels. Working in a multidisciplinary approach, the digital designer will ultimately provide optimum user experiences."

http://www.daap.uc.edu/design/digital/

To me it all seems like communicating effectively ideas, products, services, thought and much more in this so called "digital age".

I would like to thank Brock for "fogozine" and I liked Garrett Polifka post on the Tools and Methodologies.

Christopher Marx's picture
Christopher Marx
Wed, 2011-02-02 22:38

1) User/Consumer Research is one of particular interest to me. This common practice has a basis in the scientific method and applied to the most successful forms of reaching people - psychology and marketing. In both fields, there is a danger to presume to know what people’s intent. And it is only though objectively testing using the scientific method that such presumption is avoided. Likewise, since design is about the people, there is a real risk of designers claiming they know best without ever researching actual users/consumers. And since the best design is one rarely noticed by the user, there is an added risk of designers to create results that are actually noticed. For example, think about the popularity of the reflection in web design. After Apple began to use it in their designs, it seemed everyone else did. But in reality, Apple was taking a live product and giving it dimension on the page - solving a problem, creating a useful design. And I think the Apple application attempted to be somewhat invisible. But after the idea became mainstream, every graphics tutorial site had a how-to, every product box designed in Illustrator had a reflection, and sites that did not need this solution did it to show off. It represents “designers” trying to be noticed, not researching consumer needs, and following the pack.

2) Digital design to me has an added challenge to other designing. Like an architect needing an engineer to build their design, traditional graphic designers needed others: printers, product box makers, sweatshops in China to produce molds, etc. Digital designers have the added burden of taking their design to reality. Sure, many pass the process off to Photoshop-to-HTML sites, or change their designs to fit into CMS dictated constraints (I fall victim of this too), but a GOOD designer in the digital world can create the site themselves. Front-end coding is important for designers these days. On top of that, consumer research is becoming very cheap online. Ad placements, A/B split tests, traffic analytics, cookies - all of these help a wise designer make a smarter design. So in the digital world, the life of the designer is vastly more important. Designers can be the creators. Designers can create end-to-end solutions. The only limitation these days is time.

Euge Ortiz's picture
Euge Ortiz
Thu, 2011-02-03 02:36

Amazing feedback people!
Gran trabajo!

Apostolos Mastoris's picture
Apostolos Mastoris
Thu, 2011-02-03 21:09

Digital Design is a way for us, the developers, to express our artistic interest and to cultivate our talent. Using much less money and without any kind of mess in our working place (except chocolate wrapping and food residues), we can produce an equally admirable work of art.

Beyond the artistic nature of digital design is the practical one. Each creation should have some elements that will make it a good quality product. Using techniques that you mentioned above we can present a work that would be creative, innovative and well-presented.

Digital Design is the way that the product will communicate with the user, the mean that gives an additive value, having in mind that the first impression is the most important even between humans. We should make our designs so simple to be understood by everyone as complex in order to attract people’s interest.

I will not refer to the techniques that can be used cause I see that we all have pretty much the same point of view.

PS. Sorry for the late commitment, but I was extremely busy with my exams. Nice to meet u!!

Anthony Garritano's picture
Anthony Garritano
Fri, 2011-02-04 03:24

I've always been a little hesitant to use the phrase 'digital design'. It's vague, and begs too many questions: Does it mean you are designing something that is digital, rather than something that is analog? And where do we draw the line at what is considered digital or analog. A watch may have a digital face on it, but it must be crafted into some physical material obviously. Or is it used to mean that the the design process was done digitally, regardless if the output is digital or analog. I don't have an answer for what it is, because it means too many things.

Instead of using digital design, I like to use a term that both industry professionals and laymen can understand. For instance, I am a web designer. Web designers often take on not just the actual design, the artistic and creative part of the project, but also the experience, the information architecture, building it in HTML/CSS and sometimes doing the behavior themselves with JavaScript. Even at this level of complexity in what I do, the average person understands what a website is and can thus understand what I do when I say I design them.

I realize I've veered a little off topic, but I felt it was relative.

João Menezes's picture
João Menezes
Fri, 2011-02-04 12:25

But how should we name a project that uses similar supporting but isn't related to the world wide web? Let's say, the interface of a digital portrait that reads memory cards?

Bianca Zanardi's picture
Bianca Zanardi
Wed, 2011-02-09 03:27

João, em português não seria design de interfaces? No caso citado.

A grande VFS tem um curso de Design Digital, por exemplo: http://www.vfs.com/learn.php?id=13
É um pouco perturbador porque tive disciplinas semelhantes na faculdade, e o curso era Design - habilitação em Design Gráfico. Não vejo a necessidade de novas nomeclaturas. O curso que eu fiz antes chamava-se "Comunicação e Expressão Visual", mas as pessoas querem contratar "designers", não "comunicadores".

Algumas confusões que podem ser geradas disso:
http://www.daap.uc.edu/design/digital/ - não é bem confusão, mas o curso está sendo renomeado. Atualmente as coisas mudam o tempo todo, sendo assim logo precisaríamos de outro nome.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100809134649AAcdYwB - também penso que "design digital" pode ser algo de circuitos ou bits.

Sorry guys about the post in Portuguese only.

João Menezes's picture
João Menezes
Wed, 2011-02-09 13:10

Oi Bianca,
Sim! Essa era a resposta que eu queria provocar. Meu curso passou pelas mesmas mudanças de nomenclatura - Desenho industrial, Design gráfico x produto, programação visual x projeto de produto... Hoje na minha universidade temos 5 habilitações: visual, produto, interiores, moda e animação digital. Observe nesse último como o termo "digital" acaba limitando o conceito global de "animação". E, o mais curioso, é que animação digital é a única habilitação que tem a disciplina Design de interfaces. Curioso, não?

oswaldo vazquez's picture
oswaldo vazquez
Fri, 2011-02-11 03:28

For me digital design term refers more to the tools used to produce the project that the project itself, for example when we hear the term digital printing, we know that the return results will be any printed product (paper, bags, boxes) is an analog product (to describe it in some way) but in the process used digital tools.

Para mi el termino diseño digital se refiere mas a las herramientas usadas para producir el proyecto que el proyecto en si, por ejemplo cuando escuchamos el termino impresión digital, sabemos que el resultado va a ser algún producto impreso (papel, bolsas, cajas) es un producto análogo (por describirlo de alguna manera) pero en su proceso se utilizaron herramientas digitales.