Concept Design Process Grid

CONCEPT DESIGN PROCESS
PHASE	ACTION	DESCRIPTION	PURPOSE	EVIDENCE
Opening	Ideation*	Sketch quick, free, playful, exploratory doodles; write words; ‘game storming,’ ‘question storming,’ ‘elsing.’	Discovery	Large and diverse quantity of small, ugly, rough sketches, notes, and thumbnails.
Exploration	Research	Collect visual reference: source imagery, art and design influences, firsthand experiences.	Gathering	Books, art samples, artifacts, objects, reference images, photo scrap.
	Observation	Study nature by sketching from life, models, and photo reference.	Examination	Observational drawings, color studies, anatomical studies, reference studies.
	Solutions*	Develop and clearly execute concrete designs as drawing(s), value studies, or color studies.	Experimentation	Comprehensive sketches of original designs completed and delivered on time.
Closing	Analysis	Take notes for revision during critical feedback session. Provide feedback and peer ratings on others’ work.	Conclusions	Attendance and participation in class critiques, observations made, notes taken, peer ratings.
	Revisions	Make improvements and alterations to your designs by applying critical feedback received.	Improvement	Changes made in a timely manner according to critique(s) & consultations.
	Iterations	Repeat the process to explore additional design avenues and refine selected concepts.	Redundancy	Additional sketches resulting from process steps.
Presentation	Outcomes*	Render chosen design(s) to production-ready standards that represent improvements on prior solutions.	Results	Final, full-color illustrations showing good craftsmanship, aesthetics, and presentation.