Design as a Conversation

Image from: http://www.conversationagent.com/2007/12/index.html

           Can design be considered a conversation? In order to answer this question we must first define what a conversation is and what the qualities of a good conversation are. Before you begin to have a conversation you must think about what you are going to say. Once this occurs you then say what you have to say to the other person you are talking to. Then the other person must engage in the conversation by adding something to it. Once the conversation starts to flow you want to keep it going and you also want your listener to be engaged with you as well. One way to do this is by keeping eye contact. Eye contact is a way to let your listener know that you are talking to them and when they are the ones talking it is a way of letting them know that you are paying attention. Also something that classifies as having a good conversation is finding some sort of common ground in which you both give your opinions and maybe even find some similarities between you and the other person’s way of thinking.

            So how does this apply to design? Well design like a conversation is a process. According to the book Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud in order to create any work in any medium you must always follow a path.  You must think and develop an idea, decided what form it will take, decided the genre, put it all together in a structure that works while still crafting this piece of work, and finally add the finishing touches to your work of art. Design is a conversation between the designer and the observer. In order to communicate effectively through a design one must combine the processes of design and communication.