The inherent aptitude – the drive, even – to imagine the desired end result and express it in a tangible way is what separates designers from non-designers. 

What designers must excel at is looking at a blank surface and filling it with believable representations of an end product, so that other people can seem to understand and eventually built it.

Building it is a separate task; designers don’t build products any more than architects build houses. Instead, they provide precise instructions so that builders can focus on accomplishing the end result.

The reading is very methodical in the way it describes the process of designing. It mentioned having an “inherent aptitude” in order to reveal the expected outcome. Also, it is able to express it in the form of a “tangible” product is a good way to differentiate between a designer and non-designer. The author has a point in mentioning this because designers have a lot of room to explore their boundaries when it comes to product-making, but at the same time once they create an output, it is necessary that the output is sustainable and works well in the long run. In cases such as 3D printing for example, understanding how the designs work and function well is very important, which is why it is necessary to look into dimensions in the software program, make the necessary adjustments and ensure trial tests are made long before the actual product has been made.

The structured procedure of designing is also essential in making sure our works work the way they are supposed to. The overview of Goal-Directed Process is structured in such a way that is applicable to process that I may find applicable, such as for Final Year Projects which include an art installations. If there is chance that I might work on installations that involve laser cutting of gears for instance, that would mean I need to plan in accordance to this process that is rather procedural. I would consider the sizing of the gears, the type of teeth I would want to put in the design software I would use (Adobe Illustrator), and as mentioned before, the diameter, teeth number, the length of rack & pinions etc would need to be measured accurately, before the process of laser cutting takes place. This would not only save time; it saves costs too, especially as a university student. However, as much these Goal-Directed processes is useful, in my opinion, there could be an experimental stage one can in the beginning of the process. Since my familiarity with electronics grew since few semesters, I find that it is necessary to make time to experiment on materials and electronics before finagling on a plan for our Final Year Project. I believe that would fall under Modelling or Research stage.

In conclusion, the Goal Directed process can be a useful way to structure projects such as our Final Year Projects. At the same time, in order to maximise our learning process, adding an Experimental stage can also help to ensure that we make full use of the resources available, make time to play around with materials and electronics in order to see what works and what may not for you as a designer ( or in my case, Interactive Media Designer). With that being said, planning is crucial part of the process because designers need to execute their works in a timely fashion, given the industries we are surrounded by in modern times today.

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