My process for design is one that I adapt depending on the situation. I strongly believe in these principles.

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1. Define

Find the problem. This starts with a review and can included discovery research. Perhaps a workshop, maybe some interviews, this is finding where the stakeholders are, the problem space, defining boundaries and even seeing if there are any.

At this point, as much input as possible is key to trying to learn more about the space you are creating in and listening.

2. Explore

Once you have set some definitions, you can explore them. The definition you might have set is to explore wide, but that step sets that clarity.

I strongly believe in sketching, thinking wide and then planning from there towards delivery. Feedback is critical here as can fuel exploration.

3. Iterate

Throughout iteration, fidelity increases as feedback flows and then focuses to form. Iteration comes from testing. By taking prototypes and forms early into feedback, this gives perspectives that are incredibly valuable before ship.

4. Loop (ship if possible)

Once something has form, a point of delivery is met, but that typically isn’t the end even for client projects. I believe in iterative processes and that there is always something you can gain from feedback and review. Hence the loop. Ship is important, though, so ship then loop! This stage for me opens the wider feedback loop, leading to the definition of the next stage as it goes around again.