How do you communicate your design solutions to different audiences in multidisciplinary teams?

1 Know your audience

Before you start communicating your design solutions, you need to know who your audience is and what they care about. Different audiences have different backgrounds, goals, and preferences. For example, a client may be more interested in the benefits and value of your design, while a manager may be more concerned about the budget and timeline. A colleague from another discipline may have a different perspective and terminology than you. To communicate effectively, you need to identify your audience's needs, expectations, and level of understanding, and adapt your message accordingly.

2 Choose your format

Depending on your audience and purpose, you may need to choose different formats to communicate your design solutions. Reports are written documents that provide detailed information and analysis of your design process, methods, results, and recommendations. They are useful for documenting and sharing your design work with a wide audience, especially if they require more technical details and evidence. Presentations are oral or visual presentations that highlight the main points and features of your design solutions. They are useful for engaging and persuading your audience, especially if they require more interaction and feedback. Prototypes are physical or digital models that demonstrate how your design solutions work and look. They are useful for testing and validating your design ideas, especially if they require more user input and evaluation.

3 Use clear and concise language

When communicating your design solutions, you need to use clear and concise language that is appropriate for your audience and format. Avoid using jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that your audience may not understand, or explain them if necessary. Use simple and direct sentences that convey your main ideas and arguments. Use active voice and action verbs that show what you did and why. Use transitions and headings that organize your information and guide your audience. Use examples, analogies, and stories that illustrate your design solutions and make them more relatable.

4 Use visuals and multimedia

Visuals and multimedia can be a great way to enhance communication of design solutions, making them more attractive, memorable, and understandable. This could include images such as photos, drawings, sketches, diagrams, charts, or graphs; videos of the design solutions in action; audio like sounds, music, or narration; and animations that demonstrate changes or interactions over time or space. When utilizing visuals and multimedia, ensure they are relevant and clear to your message and format. Include captions, labels, legends, etc. to explain their purpose in relation to the design solutions. Additionally, use colors, fonts, layouts that are appropriate for the audience and purpose.

5 Seek feedback and improvement

Communication of design solutions is not a one-way process. To ensure your communication is effective and meets your goals, you should seek feedback and improvement from your audience and other sources. This can include asking or answering questions to clarify, confirm, or challenge your design solutions or communication methods, receiving or giving comments to praise, critique, or suggest improvements, making or requesting changes based on feedback or new information, and measuring or assessing the impact, outcome, or quality of your design solutions or communication methods. When seeking feedback and improvement, it is important to remain open-minded, respectful, and constructive. Listen to different opinions and perspectives, acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses, incorporate feedback into your design solutions or communication methods, and explain why you did so.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?