Approaching the problem, part one

Understanding the problem

I realised that, as this site was meant to represent both my work and my approach to it, I first had to understand that. I needed to clarify what was important to me, so that I could communicate it well.

The best way of doing this was brainstorming. Brainstorming is great for finding the little nuggets of information tucked away in your mind that you didn’t even know where there.

I did two separate brainstorms: one about the approach I take as a designer to problems, and another about what I do.

My approach

Below the brainstorm, I’ve written a motto that summarises most of it. Yes, I realise that mottos can be a bit naff, but my goal was not to create something to place beneath my logo. This motto was instead the refinement of my own priorities into a single sentence, for my own benefit. The text reads:

Clarity and simplicity, working together to effectively communicate information without distraction, in a way that respects users of the product.

After I completed this brainstorm, I realised that the ideas I had about how I approach my work were compelling enough to possibly be of interest to others. This led to the development of another part of the site, which I’ll talk about in another post.

What I do and can do

As you can see, I have a lot to offer. Technical skills are labelled “tool”, as if I am doing design work, they are tools I use to get the job done.

At the bottom of the page, you’ll notice the word “thinking” underlined, and separate from the rest. While listing all the services and products I currently offered, or can offer, I realised that the most valuable asset I bring is my ability to think effectively and solve problems well in this domain.

I’m a smart guy who understands the landscape well. This is what I need to sell to clients, and no version of my site has achieved this.

You might also notice Usability Review in the bottom left. This was a video podcast that Des and I ran. It’s labelled “marketing” as, on top of enjoying it, I could see the promotional benefits in terms of getting my name out there.

What this did

A lot of stuff popped up during this brainstorming that didn’t occur to me before, and I grew more confident of beliefs I had previously held. After figuring out who I am and what I can offer as a designer, I could make informed decisions about what the purpose of the site should be.

This is an Article. It was posted on November 1, 2007.