Approaching problems

It can be trying to iterate another 25 designs after generating 100 of them. If you’re stuck, it may be time to approach the project with broader questions. When we ask different questions we get different answers, just like a different design approach will lead to a different solution.

It’s the difference between:

“How can I design a better chair for a trendy restaurant?”

vs

“How can I design a better seating experience at a trendy restaurant?”

I look at the first prompt and think of a dining chair with good ergonomics. Designing for a better experience pushes beyond the chair. Now we can consider stools, yoga balls, foam seats, rugs, pillows, and all other things people sit on. The prompt can go further into the experiences related to seating, such as, approaching the seat, touching it, time being seated, turning in their seat, a foot rest, types of clothes against the seat, putting a jacket on it, the table, the floor, the location of the seats, and any similar areas of interest from user mapping. Design a good product by designing for a better experience.