Design processes and models

Introduction

A simple search of the web will result in a plethora of models describing a variety of design processes. Their main aim is to define steps in design processes that can be either linear or iterative. Some areas of focus of design processes and their models are:

• product development
• software development
• web site development
• systems design
• project management phases
• instructional design

Examples of design process models

ADDIE

ADDIE, an acronym for Analyse, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate, is intended and used as a model for instructional design but generic enough to be applicable to a multitude of design objectives.

Double diamond model

The design council's 'Double diamond' design process model was the result of a study of design processes used by 11 companies in 2009.

1. Discover - gather ideas and user needs
2. Define - alignment of business objectives to user needs
3. Develop - solutions developed and tested, iteratively
4. Deliver - launching, testing and evaluation, feedback

Generic web design process models

From Smashing Magazine

1. Planning - includes needs and requirement analyses, site planning, information architecture
2. Design - mockups and prototyping, designing interaction, flows
3. Development - coding, building and testing functionality and templates, content integration
4. Launch - testing, transfer to live server, testing,

This is a meta-category that includes categories related to design, design methodology and research methods.

References

Reimer, Luke (2011). Following A Web Design Process - Smashing Magazine. Retrieved 26 January 2012 from http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/06/22/following-a-web-design-process/