How I see design:
Design is iterative, not finished
“Every iteration leads to new insights, and the new insights are what will set a product or service apart from other solutions in the market. Designing, thinking, making, and breaking many different representations quickly rather than striving to create one perfect solution leads to a more innovative outcome.”
-Design. Think. Make. Break. Repeat. A Handbook of Methods
The design process is not a one-size-fits-all method
I believe that there isn’t a single best practice but it depends on the unique context of whatever project you’re working on. A good designer should be familiar with various methods and know when to use which method or tool.
“These methods and approaches have a role to play ... because they can help designers have the right conversations at the right time.”
-Universal Methods of Design
Design should be inclusive
If we are designing for users, how are we going to create solutions that help them if we don’t include them in the design process? The same can be said for the people who are actually going carry out design, such as developers and engineers. We shouldn’t treat our craft like an exclusive club, but rather we should demystify the design process by including everyone.
This is something that I practiced a lot at my first internship when I was the only designer working closely with a team of developers. Rather than coming up with a design and chucking it over the fence to the developers, I would include them in the design process by showing them my designs and get feedback from them.
Design should help, not harm
As designers, we should be practicing human-centered design, which puts the user first. This includes helping the user rather than creating designs that benefit us and our companies at the expense of the users.
“Designers must always keep foremost in mind that the products are to be used by people.”
-Don Norman, The Design of Everyday Things