What are the best communication strategies for Industrial Designers?

My mentor Chuck Jordan, Vice President General Motors Corporation had a perfect quote. “ I can not see with my ears” Show Me! I agree. As I have designed vehicles in Japan, Italy, Germany and China, only my sketches were my sharing strategy. Our international connected world demands strong visual skills as well as the ability to sell your vision verbally when required. If the project has a beginning and end, then a story board can create a narrative that leaders and the other stakeholders can rally around. If spoken or written communication is called for, please use concise and straightforward terms. Nobody wants to sort out verbal noise. Ideally, strong visuals with clear delivery works best. Practice your delivery! Aim and Fire

We still live in a 2D Eng. drawing world. But the younger the machinist is, the less they know about blueprint reading. It's time for people to take learning this language seriously.

Having dynamic communications or at least following the most up-to-date industrial designers is the key to being globally present. It is always possible to improve an idea or implement an existing idea in a new context to expand its application. As a technical manager, I always support my team's new ideas. It makes me, my team and our company more productive and successful.

Visual communication is our design dialect, our canvas of expression. It's the artful orchestration of shapes, colors and forms, akin to a conductor leading a symphony. We employ sketches, renders and prototypes as our instruments, harmonizing to convey intricate ideas concisely. Like a skilled storyteller, we craft narratives through visuals, communicating complexities effortlessly, translating visions into tangible forms. It's universal language of our craft, bridging gaps between concept and comprehension. Through this, we sculpt clarity, inviting others to journey through our designs, evoking emotions and fostering understanding without uttering a single word. It's the design song, resonating and captivating across diverse audiences.

I agree with Daniel below. Chuck Jordan used to say. "When I listen with my ears it sounds great, but when I open my eyes, ... It's just not there! + Smile". He was a great design communicator. Sometimes he could piss you off. But design teams need a little bit of sour every now and then to make the sweet sweeter.

Verbal communication is our symphony's conductor, guiding the narrative behind our designs. It's the eloquent articulation that transforms sketches and prototypes into compelling stories. Like a seasoned storyteller, we weave intricate tales, elucidating the essence and rationale of our creations. Clarity in explanation and precision in expression are our notes, harmonizing ideas with coherence and passion. Through discussions, presentations and pitches, we sculpt a vivid mental landscape, inviting others into the world we've envisioned. It's the art of dialogue, painting visions with words, making the abstract tangible, and resonating the design's soul with compelling vocal melodies.

Verbal communication in design must never be intrusive or disruptive to the point that retracts the viewer's attention (and eyesight) from your design to focus on long explanations. Let your design (the visual part of it) do the main talking, and you should add verbally only relevant enhancement to the most important details of your design. If a certain shape is crucial for your solution, enhance it verbally, explain how that single detail enhances the entirety of the product and its user experience, and don't dwell in inspirational talks nor ego-focused dissertations.

In certain phases of a work, I feel it's important to verbally outline a project. In the initial stages of development when the ideas are often still fragmented, for example. However - I'm wary that some Designers feel the need to indulge themselves in elaborate and lengthy explanations at the end of the project. I often feel they are more interested in hearing the sound of their own egos - and their noise often just gets in the way. Once released into the world, design perception is entirely in the eye of the beholder - not the originator. I prefer to let my finalised design do the talking - and leave it to the voice of my Customers to help do the selling.

Verbal communication is essential for everyone. Really this is a skill that needs to be honed by anyone and everyone. For industrial designers it becomes the tool we use to drive through our stories. The why which it the genesis of it all, becomes the soul of the creation. Its purpose and its reason for being. This gets all structures and constructed by verbal communication. Now to bring this up a notch. Effective Verbal communication its not just words coming out of your mouth, hoping it makes sense to the listener. In my opinion, if you want to be effective you need to have structure, confidence, tone and body language. Your voice should be more than sounds. It should be a statement.

Context is critical: Know your audience. For senior leadership teams, you should be able to tell the story of a design concept with a concise elevator pitch. What is the essence of the design and why will it succeed? Is this a leadership design story or a fulfilling a need story? Lead with high-impact visuals and the why. Do not lead with the backstory process and every step you did and every sketch. That's for internal design updates- not a final presentation.

Written communication serves as our design's manuscript, meticulously crafting narratives and blueprints. It's the parchment where ideas take shape, forming a lexicon of precision and clarity. We sculpt sentences, shaping them into bridges that convey our design philosophy and technical nuances. This form of communication dances through reports, specifications, and documentation, etching a trail of understanding for collaborators and future generations. Articulating complexities with simplicity, it's a skillful composition that ensures our vision isn't lost in translation. With finesse in tone and structure, written communication chronicles the genesis of innovation, immortalizing our designs with the elegance of prose.

never underestimate the power of sharp writing skills! Good writing helps you keep your research tidy, justify your design choices, and share insights effectively. Focus on clarity and structure in your documents—whether it's reports, proposals, or portfolios. Always nail the grammar and punctuation. And before you hit 'send' or print, proofread! A well-polished document speaks volumes about your professionalism and attention to detail.

Written communication is a crucial skill for designers. Here are some tips for effective written communication: 1. Be clear and concise: Use simple language and avoid jargon or technical terms that may confuse your audience. 2. Use active voice: It's more direct and easier to read than passive voice. 3. Use bullet points or numbered lists: To break up long paragraphs and make information easier to digest. 4. Use headings and subheadings: To organize your content and help readers quickly find the information they need. 5. Proofread and edit: Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, and make sure your writing is easy to read and understand.

Go straight to the point. If this is part of something that you are presenting live, keep your text to the core bullet points, the catchy sentences that will create a memory onto your viewer, but on a very punctual method. No one has the attention span to see an image, listen to the speaker and read descriptive text all at once. Therefore, your copy should act as an enhancer, never as a content filler.

La comunicación escrita también es necesaria como soporte de cara a poder expresar la funcionalidad de los dise?os, es posible que plasmando en un dibujo no sepamos cual es el material exacto o algún detalle específico que se quiera destacar.

Being a "Good Designer" is mostly about ditching the Ego. Shut up. Listen. Look. Take in the product and people landscape. Understand the dynamics. When you do start to speak - it's a case of testing the water, and teasing out the spoken and unspoken needs and wishes of your fellow stakeholders / collaborators. Don't think you can jump straight in with the "magic Bullet" solution - your role as a "Good Designer" is not to impose, but to facilitate - to get the most out of the opportunity. No design will ever come out "perfect". However strong or determined your personal vision is - it's only ever going to be as good as the wider team you're a part of . . . So - it makes sense to get as much out of them as you possibly can.

Non-verbal communication in design orchestrates an intricate ballet of gestures, sketches, and spatial arrangements. It's the silent conductor, channeling intentions through sketches, prototypes and models, expressing more than words ever could. The curvature of a line, the placement of components, it's a visual symphony echoing intent. Posture and gestures during presentations conduct a silent dialogue, conveying confidence and conviction. Even spatial arrangement in a studio harmonizes workflow and collaboration, telling stories of creativity and innovation. This silent language of design transcends verbal boundaries, connecting hearts and minds to the essence of a creation, resonating deeply with the audience.

Nonverbal communication is a vital aspect of designer-client interactions. Here are some nonverbal cues that designers should be aware of: 1. Body language: Maintain good posture, eye contact, and facial expressions that convey interest and attention. 2. Gestures: Use appropriate hand gestures to emphasize points, but avoid fidgeting or distracting movements. 3. Proximity: Respect the client's personal space, but also use proximity to convey empathy and build rapport. 4. Touch: Appropriate touch can convey empathy and build trust, but avoid over-touching or inappropriate contact. 5. cues, designers can create a positive and productive working relationship with their clients, build trust and rapport.

Throughout the years, what I find most are designers that have absolutely no clue on how to communicate their ideas/proposals/solutions. Either because: 1) They are afraid and adopt a defensive posture, usually attached to short verbal skills. 2) They are overconfident or insecure (it actually acts in a similar way), and talk to much, gesticulate too much, and steal the limelight from their own products, 3) Do not prepare, go straight to the point, but are then not able to answer any rebound question and actually discuss and defend their designs. To any of these scenarios, the answer is always the same: First, read the room, then, use the ticks and tells from your audience and make them yours, make yourself and your product more relatable.

If you don't know where you're at with the people around you in the product development process, then you're not really designing - you're just indulging yourself.

Interpersonal communication for industrial designers resembles the art of composing a symphony. It's about orchestrating diverse instruments, listening, empathy and clarity to harmonize a collective melody. Each note, a thoughtful word or gesture, carries resonance of collaboration. The conductor, designer, navigates the tempo, ensuring each instrument, each team member, strikes the right chord. It involves a delicate balance, knowing when to crescendo ideas and when to soften critiques. The masterpiece emerges from symphony of interactions, where harmony fosters innovative compositions and unified visions. Like a well-conducted symphony, adept interpersonal communication in design unites individual talents to craft a magnificent opus.

Be humble. Be open to listen. Be open to take other's opinions and insights. Even if you think you are right, even if you know your design is the best possible product and solution, open yourself to listen to others and engage with other opinions in a positive way. That way, when you have to argue back why your solution is the best and why it needs to be produced, other relevant parts of the entire process will take you in better consideration as everyone will feel more included in the process and that their voices actually matter. It's just a question of creating 3rd party empathy.

Reference and build upon the marketers, researchers, and engineers who helped brief/ build or support the project. it takes a team to ship a product. If you as a designer show vision, you can inspire others to help deliver it. Be a great teammate.

While sketches and renders speak a lot about the vision and concept of a design, interpersonal skills allow designers to connect & bond with various backgrounds of their users. The connection becomes even richer when quality questions are asked.

Effective Industrial Design requires communication and interaction on all levels. A good sketch won't sell itself. It needs to be understood. It needs to be in context. It needs to feel relevant to the target audience. It needs to offer genuine benefits to justify the commitment of manufacturing it. When it all comes together, the solution might start to appear obvious and straightforward . . . . but the process of setting up and maintaining the right conditions for good design solutions to be defined and thrive is the most challenging (and rewarding) part of the job. That's why we do it - it's a discipline that uses a lot of different parts of the brain - and requires a lot of close teamwork and collaboration.

Having worked alongside @Mike Turner on multiple projects I echo his thoughts - its engagement and also having an mutual understanding of the constraints on other systems, including the build and assembly process over the whole lifecycle of the vehicle. Once you have an environment where this happens naturally then you can develop trust and build confidence.

Be proactive and ahead of your key work partners. Skate to where the puck is headed, in the words of Wayne Gretzky. Help a business succeed, and if that means working differently, faster, and rethinking assumptions, do it with grace and passion. Get over the assumption you need to control every aspect of product development. In larger companies, influencing team members and inspiration is valued. Be a pathfinder.

Effective communication is akin to conducting a symphony Firstly, it's about tuning the pitch. I tailor my communication style to suit different stakeholders, using technical precision when engaging with engineers and a narrative flair while presenting designs to clients. Next, it's the rhythm of collaboration. I emphasize active listening, fostering a symphony of ideas through open dialogues and feedback loops among team members. Then, it's the crescendo, visual storytelling. Leveraging sketches, prototypes and 3D models, I conduct a visual symphony that transcends language barriers, enabling a harmonious understanding of design concepts.

Creo que un buen dise?ador industrial debe dominar todas las formas de comunicación anteriores, ya que, de nada sirve tener una buena comunicación visual y no saber explicar lo que ha dise?ado, y al contrario aunque sepas explicar muy bien lo que has dise?ado es importante tener un apoyo gráfico bien definido y fácil de leer para que el resto de la comunidad pueda comprender de lo que habla.