06 Dec The Importance of Discovery in the Design Process
What are some of the ways discovery influences the design process? A thorough discovery phase is an essential step in design, whether you’re creating a product, a building or anything else. It consists of research and idea-shaping, helping your team make a finished product that meets the need of a target audience. Here’s why discovery is an important part of the design process.
What is the discovery phase?
Discovery involves a deep dive into products, industries or services. Designers research or frame a problem they need to solve, gather evidence and provide an initial direction on what to do next. The discovery phase doesn’t involve testing a hypothesis and making observations. Instead, designers should collect and analyze all relevant information about the project and the intended market for the project, or its audience.
What are some of the ways discovery influences and improves the design process?
A comprehensive, detailed discovery phase gets every design process off to a good start. As you gather information to inform your design, you can get to the heart of what your clients really want, and how you can create something that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. Rather than letting personal bias drive design, you truly get to know the unique needs of your client. Taking your time in the discovery phase can provide the following benefits for your next project:
- Reduces Risks: No matter what you’re designing, whether it’s a building, an app or a car, doing your due diligence during the discovery phase provides a clear understanding of your goals and objectives. It also helps your team develop a benchmark of estimates for time and budget. In many situations, the discovery phase means the difference between success and failure.
- Establishes a Blueprint: After a successful discovery phase, you should be able to provide your team with a clear set of requirements that they can use to create a step-by-step plan to carry out the project. After discovery, you’ll have a full timeline of the project with goals, deliverables and deadlines. You’ll have a clear idea of how the project will progress from conception to launch, with no alterations necessary.
- Builds Trust: Thorough discovery builds trust with your clients or audience. Regular communication and in-depth discussion with key stakeholders give them confidence that their project is in good hands, and that you’ve done your due diligence in terms of preliminary research.
- Prevents Scope Creep: Projects in all industries, from architecture to tech, can stop dead in their tracks due to scope creep. Project implementation extends without measurable deliverables. The discovery stage helps you drill down the scope of your project, keeping things on time and on budget.
Now that you understand why discovery is an important part of the design process, work with designers who take their time to do their preliminary research. Thorough research ensures the finished results meet your needs, as well as your timeframe and budget. Contact Emotive Architecture for more information on the design process and get your project off the ground on the right foot.