Purpose of Conceptual Design
Many people have a hard time explaining what a conceptual design is, especially to someone who has never worked in the field of design. The idea behind conceptual design is that it provides a foundation for the remainder of your design process, and without one, you might find yourself reworking a lot of details later on in the design cycle.
This is especially true if you’re trying to meet the needs of users or consumers with a product, as these users will be expecting that your final design will fulfill certain goals and expectations. conceptual design give you the chance to establish these expectations early on so you can meet them with a finished design that’s as close to your original idea as possible.
During the conceptual design phase, designers transform the abstract ideas that are generated during the ideation stage into more concrete and detailed design solutions. This is also the point where truly original creative sparks can occur. The design team can explore various variations and iterations, determining which will have the most impact on the design’s end goal and audience.
What Are the Purpose of Conceptual Design?
This phase requires careful consideration of the product’s target market and its potential impact on consumers. Getting to know your client, their brand, and their values will help you formulate concepts that align with these factors and set them apart from the competition. For example, if you’re designing a children’s toy, focusing on inclusivity and accessibility will help you create an innovative product that appeals to parents who share your company’s values.
Conceptual design is the first step in the design process, and it’s important to remember that not every concept will be a winner. Even the most technically advanced ideas will fail if they don’t have strong concepts to support them. This is why it’s essential to spend the necessary time on the initial design phase, so you can have a successful product in the end.
During this phase, designers must translate their thoughts into a visual representation. This is often done through sketching. You can use pencil and paper or a drawing application, such as Procreate. The goal is to pour out your ideas on a page, creating tangible visualizations of what you’re thinking.
You’ll want to be sure your sketches include a brief description of the concept as well as the overall design intention. This will ensure that everyone on the design team has a clear understanding of what you’re looking to accomplish with your concept.
This is also a good time to research the work of other designers and gather reference material for your project. Taking inspiration from other projects will show you conceptual possibilities that you might not have considered, challenging you to push your own designs further. Organize this information in a mood board that you can refer back to as you move forward with your own concept. You might want to include these in your presentations as well, so that stakeholders and clients have a better understanding of the design concept.