5 laws every designer can live by

1. Multi-dimensional approach

In a world that is constantly more complex, the most effective design approaches are the ones that prioritize multi-discipline thinking and solutions that link to a wider base than the problem called for. Here’s an example: Stantec worked on the experiential design for a 10,000-seat rugby stadium for the Austin Huns in Texas. We started talking about a stadium, but we ended up designing a mixed-use “place” that will attract rugby fans, families, wellness aficionados, entrepreneurs, and many other Austinites. The client came to us for our ability to design an experience, and by thinking outside the confines of a typical rugby audience, we created a design that reflects our client’s values and aspirations while attracting a wide spectrum of the Austin population.

2. Collaboration

Everyone on the panel seemed to agree that a “one genius” design solution is never complete. When design solutions incorporate input from a large team comprised of designers, users, clients, and other stakeholders, the result is more desirable. The increasing complexity of our culture demands more nuanced and multifaceted expertise than a single person can deliver. When we collaborate and listen, the end product is something that brings people together and gets them excited about a collective experience.

3. Listen to users

Being an active listener and observer is a virtue in life, and as a designer, it is one of those qualities that can really make a difference. “Listen to what the users do,” said Travis Stiles, one of my fellow panelists and the lead user experience designer at Denver software company Apto. This was a great point. Often users talk green but choose blue. Listen and observe, and the final results will be a more successful product that addresses real needs and not perceived or desired ones.

4. Attention to detail

Doug Wilson, a typographer and fellow panelist, showed a slide of famous brands such as Uber and Amazon but with altered fonts and asked the audience, “Would you buy a service from a brand like this?” A simple variation in font type and size can change the perception of a brand. The message is clear: attention to detail is something every designer should strive for.  

5. Be experimental

Today’s digital tools allow any designer to explore solutions and iterate with unprecedented ease and speed. Architects can now use parametric software to generate many design options so they can come up with a more sophisticated end design. Industrial designers can use 3D printing to create multiple products prototypes easily and cheaply. Technology makes it easy to experiment. Embrace it! Exploration should be part of every design effort.

The laws of design, like design itself, are ever changing. Design thinking is migrating from fields where it historically resided to business, science, and beyond. As our work starts to blend between disciplines, we have a great opportunity to create designs that bring communities and people together, and that is something to be excited about.

What are the design principles that guide you to achieve excellence and innovation?

CarloMaria is an associate and senior designer in Stantec’s buildings group. He has worked on projects from Hong Kong to Mexico City and has lectured on parametric design and digital fabrication at the New York Center for Architecture and at universities in the US, Europe, and Asia.