ARTICLE SUMMARY: Designers love what they do, but let’s face it sometimes they get bogged down and get lost in the details. What designers need is a comprehensive plan that guides how the design will be used to achieve business goals, meet user needs, and differentiate a product or service in the market.
The other thing we need to remember is that we want to work smarter, not harder. The best way to do that is have a strategy in place when designing, a system that will move the project along in a timely and orderly fashion towards our goal.
In Ed Orozco’s “What Is Design Strategy And Why Do You Need It” his goal is to help us find that sweet spot between profitability and value for the client and designer alike. To do that you need a strategy. His article will help you understand why
- Design Strategy is Cost-Effective
- Design Strategy Gives You Direction
- Design Strategy Helps You Prioritize
Designers need to research and define their target audience in order to give them what they want. We need to know we are building the right thing, if it’s the wrong thing no amount of iteration can fix a product that shouldn’t have been built in the first place.
You want to make sure that design efforts are in sync with the company’s broader business goals, leading to more coherent and impactful outcomes. A design strategy will ensure that your design reflects and strengthens the brand identity consistently across all touch points.
Ed Orozco concludes his article telling us that “A design strategy will help your business decide what the next move — and the one after — should be. This clarity will allow you to be more effective in your decision-making process and gain a competitive advantage.”
This article is well worth reading, let us know what you think in the comments.
