What are some effective methods to generate design concepts for complex projects?

1 Understand the context

Before you start sketching or modeling, you need to understand the context of your project. This means analyzing the site, the program, the budget, the regulations, the culture, and the history of the place where you are designing. You also need to identify the goals, requirements, and preferences of your clients, users, and stakeholders. By understanding the context, you can define the scope, constraints, and opportunities of your project, and establish a clear design brief and criteria.

2 Research and benchmark

The next step is to research and benchmark existing projects that are similar or relevant to your project. You can look for examples of projects that have solved similar problems, achieved similar goals, or used similar materials or techniques. You can also look for inspiration from projects that have different styles, functions, or contexts, but have some aspects that you can learn from or adapt. By researching and benchmarking, you can gain knowledge, insight, and ideas that can inform your design process and concept development.

3 Brainstorm and sketch

Once you have a solid understanding of the context and some references to guide you, you can start brainstorming and sketching your design concepts. You can use various techniques to generate ideas, such as mind mapping, word association, mood boards, or SCAMPER (substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to another use, eliminate, reverse). You can also use different media to sketch your ideas, such as paper, digital tools, or physical models. The key is to be creative, open-minded, and prolific, and to avoid judging or filtering your ideas at this stage.

4 Evaluate and refine

After you have generated a number of design concepts, you need to evaluate and refine them according to your design brief and criteria. You can use various methods to evaluate your concepts, such as SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), feasibility analysis, user testing, or peer review. You can also use different tools to refine your concepts, such as diagrams, drawings, renderings, or prototypes. The goal is to select the most promising concepts and improve them in terms of functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability.

5 Communicate and present

The final step is to communicate and present your design concepts to your clients, users, and stakeholders. You need to prepare a clear and convincing presentation that showcases your design process and outcomes, and explains how your concepts meet the needs and expectations of your audience. You can use various formats and media to communicate and present your concepts, such as posters, slides, videos, or interactive models. The aim is to engage your audience, elicit feedback, and persuade them to approve your design concepts.

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?