Understanding the New Design World Order

In the fast-paced world of design, things move fast and you need to be able to react accordingly. The new design world order emphasizes rapid production, short turnaround times and constant iteration. In this new design world order, you need to be able to think fast and react accordingly. To do this, you need to be well-grounded in your design methodology and you need to be comfortable with collaborating. The good news? If you’re already doing one of these things, you’re already a step ahead in being ready for the new design world order.

With that being said, you might be wondering how to get your feet wet. Where do you start?

The New Design World Order: What is it?

The new design world order emphasizes rapid production, short turnaround times and constant iteration. The old design world order was focused around a waterfall methodology but in this new world order we can see that waterfall methodology is out the window. Now designers are more focused on rapid iteration which means they’re doing more frequent design changes. But there is a caveat to this with the designer being able to produce quality designs in shorter amounts of time. It doesn’t mean that you’ll be settling for less, but you will need to change your mindset to get used to it.

Be Agile and Collaborative

The first step to adopting the new design world order is being agile and collaborative. The days of the lone designer solving all problems solo are long gone. In the new design world order, designers need to be able to collaborate across disciplines and work in a fluid manner. Designers also need to be comfortable with rapid production and short turnaround times. They need to be able to iterate quickly on their work, learn from mistakes and move on quickly.

To do this, you’ll need a good understanding of your design process, your creative process, how best to brainstorm ideas and how to turn those ideas into reality. You’ll also need knowledge of how to create prototypes, which will help you test those ideas before creating full-scale designs that take more time.

If you already have these skills, or if you’re learning them now, then it will be easier for you adopt the new design world order.

Learn to Use the Right Tools

One of the most crucial skills you need is to be able to use the right tools. Tools like Adobe CC, Sketch and Invision are all popular tools for digital designers. You’ll want to get familiar with them so that you can make sure your team is always on task and never falling behind.

Build Solid, Collaborative Relationships

The first thing you need to do is build solid, collaborative relationships. When you work collaboratively, there are many different viewpoints and ideas that you can draw from.

While it’s not possible to include every idea, it’s important to take in as much feedback as possible. You never know when an outside perspective will give you a fresh new way of looking at your project. Collaborative relationships also help set a culture of teamwork and cooperation throughout the company.

Becoming a better problem solver

We live in a fast paced world and that means that you need to be able to think quickly on your feet. You also need to be able to solve problems that come your way. In the new design world order, these skills are essential for designers who want to succeed. Think back on the last time you faced a problem and had no idea how to handle it. How did it make you feel? Were you stressed? Good designers come up with solutions quickly, they solve problems and they don’t get bogged down by difficulties–they focus on solving them or finding someone else who can help them solve them.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that you need to be self-aware. What are your design strengths? What are your design weaknesses? Does this new design world order challenge some of the things you’re not so good at?

If it does, that’s okay! You can start by picking up a skill or two in a particular area. Or, maybe you hire someone who can do what you need to do better than you. Hiring out for certain skillsets can help get you up and running quickly.

Another thing to consider is how will your business be impacted by this new design world order. If the changes it brings about will put your business at risk, then it might be time to reconsider your direction and look for a new way forward.