Creative Mornings Field Trip: Austin Center For Design / Jon Kolko

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The Austin chapter of Creative Mornings started offering small field trips that allow a small number of creatives go to various places around town in groups to hear from experts in a variety of fields. I was lucky enough to grab a spot at the last field trip, to the Austin Center for Design (AC4D), where we heard its founder (and a favorite designer of mine) Jon Kolko speak about why he founded the school & how its curriculum is structured.

Snapshot from Creative Mornings field trip: my notebook and cold brew coffee

AC4D follows the idea of a three-step design process:

#1: Qualitative / Ethnographic Research

You want to move closer to empathy by asking users what they want. But, asking isn’t the full picture. People can tell you one thing but do another. They may not be telling the truth or the whole picture. Instead of just asking people, put yourself in their shoes. Watch them.

Asking
Watching
Trying

One you’ve felt what it’s actually like in your users’ shoes, then you need to externalize it.

#2: Synthesis

Synthesis is making sense out of complexity. You can use tools like concept mapping, flow diagrams, etc. They help make sense of data and turn it into insights. It gives you constraints to work within.

Design needs constraints. Insights become the parameters.

#3: Making Stuff

Creating stuff iteratively allows you to make 1000 ideas and figure out the 10 good ones.

Ideas are free. They cost nothing until you do something with it.

Designers must unattach the idea from their identity; it is confidence that stops designers from being great. You need to be able to take all forms of criticism, and then know what to follow. You need to be able to test the value of each idea.

Other Thoughts from Jon

On shipping a product:

What is the smallest piece I can build & get it out the door? SHIP IT.

On designers & perfection:

Designers need to shift from ‘get it perfect’ to ‘I hope someone is using it right now’ and then use the momentum to make it perfect.

On being amazing:

You may be amazing but you need to prove it.

On design & rules:

You get to a point where there are no rules.

On ideas & asking permission:

The idea you must have permission is almost as far fetched as the idea that there are rules.

On asking for critique:

If you’re asking for critique, you can set the terms of the critique & then ignore anything isn’t inside the boundaries you set.

So here’s to being open to critique and shipping things even if they’re not perfect. In all areas of life!