INTERNAL
FACTORS
EXTERNAL
FACTORS
DESIGN
Sc)
UNDERSTANDING ‘estn strategy” is a popular indust
uzzword, but do you know what it rea
DESIGN _ means? Terry Lee Stone breaks it dow
so that you can utilize design strategy
STRATEGY create your work and win the respec
sy tensy tee stove your clients.
270" MaKe 2032 WwW [Link]In the broadest sense, “strategy” Isa plan for how to
achieve a goal. In business, strategy bridges the gap
heuween policy (guidelines governing action) and tac
tics (a set of techniques). Strategy is what a company.
develops to differentiate itself Fram competitors actual
‘or predicted moves. I's complex and it deives every
decision a business makes.
‘Ourclients husiness strategies also form the frame-
work for our design strategies, While these are intent
lated, they are not the same thing. Design strategy, as
a field of theory and practice, refers to the integrated,
holistic planning process examining the interplay
between design and business sirategy: Hemever, for
most graphic designers, design strategy simply relers
tothe conceptual underpinning for their creative work.
WHAT IS DESIGN STRATEGY?
There eeally is no one definition of design strategy,
but the goal is to menge business and ereative objec
tives in a meaningful say that meves design beyond
just an aesthetic exercise. "When we integrate design
processes and design thinking into the larger busi=
ress goals af our companies or clients, we elevate the
‘concept of design to a strategie tool that businesses
‘can leverage,” says Tob Bynder, creative director and
‘owner of RBD | Rabert Bynder Design Inc, in New=
beny Park, CA. While inextricably linked, business
tind desigh strategies moct diferent needs. “Busi
ness strategy includes financial, product and market
‘objectives, which are best expressed through brand
touchpoints, says Greg Mann, pattner and creative
director at The Fibonaces Design Group LLC i Los
Angeles. "Design strategy isthe roadmap forthe visual
‘and media components that help to build and drive
these objectives.”
Design strategy could be described as inventing
the Langage to express your elient’s business strategy
‘most clear Jamie Koval, president of VSA Partners in
Chicago, puts it this way: "Design strategy aniculates
the parameters and potential of a specific challenge
that drive a sevies of solutions or result. I's simple,
‘compelling and actionable." And as with any language,
‘evolution and variation are inevitable and should be
accommodated, “Design strategy is a dimensional,
‘multifaceted plan that allows traveling down different
paths,” says Volker Darre, creative director of Duere
Design Inc. in Los Angeles, "We want to inelude flex
ibility and the option of organic growth into the agenda
right from the star.”
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WHAT GOES INTO A DESIGN STRATEGY?
Any design strategy should address the follwing
Existing problems and ongoing challenges
© Current benefits and successes to he leveraged
# Unmet elienvieustomer needs
* Changing cliemeustomer behaviors and atitudes
‘© Emonging ideas and trends
# Opportunites to differentiate
The way these nates are adresse i the essence ofthe
strategy When this process is translated from business
Janguage and actions into design language and actions it
becomes the hass fora desi strate (See Inilucnces
an Touchpoint chats on pa 170 and bel)
Some designers confuse design srateay with ere
avie brik, but anderstanding the distinction i cot
Design state i how we recomend apprcing
the project a creative bret helps fume what ts being
requested by the client and is an itera par of comm
bleaton bettcen cient and designer sys Justin Anes,
Princpabreative director of Rule29 in Geneva, tL. "The
design strategy can oten expand or conti that brie
based on the research or findings while the stag
being developed”
DESIGN TOUCHPOINTS
Er ets
ore)
Co
COE
Ol
\
1. Review
What are the design's
measurable goals and
objectives?
2. Scan
What internal and,
external factors impact
the design?
3. Form
How will the design work
to meet these challenges
and opportunites?
4. Implement
What exactly will we do?
Who exactly will do it?
How will it be done?
5. Evaluate
How well does the
design achieve its goals,
and objectives?
6. Maintain
Do we need adjustmenets
or do we keep the design
as itis?
HOW IS A DESIGN STRATEGY DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED?
the process of developing a design strateyy (see Process chat, left) should be a
logical progression from an initial review of goals and objectives, to a review and
analysis ofthe factors alfecting the design, Design strategy is about framing a client
problem in a way that can get solved by design. The goal throughout is to uncover
and anicubate a problem, present it to a client and get buy-in an your solutions}
‘This roquites research
Simply interviewing the elient an! internal stakeholders thoroughly san excel
lent frst step. From there, designers ean expand into traditional market research,
like demographic and/or psychographic studies as well ay customer focus groups
help better identify and arsiculate wha the target audience is Ethnographic of user
experience research, which kooks at customer behaviors in different contexts, aso
Js valuable, Whichever research method you use, these Findings help the designer
understand key diferentiators forthe lient and/or their produetserice in onder to
‘sualize an approach that eapializes on these insights
Design strategy isa process of learning and diseaveny: Aequiting a deep under-
standing ofthe clients industry, competitors, goals and opportunities allows us 19
Formulate an executable strategy: At the same time, designers acquire knowledge of |
\what fs working, and what isnt Asave gain clarity, areas of opportunity will emerge.
"We understand our elient’s goals and seek ta support those aspirations, of, if
rnccessan; we help shift the focus or redefine the target to what is appropriate,
obtainable and makes sense,” says Amy Griver, president and creative director
of ELEMENTS in Branford, C1. “We [then| distil all of this information and
research as our first step so tha all goals and objectives are agree! upon and defined
“To formulate your design stratexy, your job is basically to absorb, understand,
differentiate and articulate your clients needs. Think of it as doing the work of
‘translator, “Clients come to us with Telt needs’ and ‘hard goals," explains Jason
Adam, prineipalesigner at Hexanine in Los Angeles/Chicago. “hmagine the CEO.
who wants 2 new logo hecause the ld ane is ugh’ afer the course ofa Few inter-
views, we might find that a hard goal would be 1o elevate the corporate look ofthe
‘onganization to match its competitors.” H's important to note that in this example
the clients innate sense of what was needed came into alignment with the proper
strategie solutions, but this isnt always the ease, Your job as designer isto take
the “Tel needs." as Adam puts it, of your elient as well as the needs not yet con-
sidered or articulated, and translate these into specific, measurable “hard goals”
whenever possible
In addition to qualifying and empowering you to devise suecessful strategies,
fully understanding a elien’s perspective will also help get them on your side
You may not always agree, but you will carn the level of rapport necessary to have
your opinions appreciated and respected—which is especially handy when they
fer from your client’
Alter you've gathered and understnd the research, you can then form an action
plan to meet the challenges presented. Once that is approved by the client, the
project is designed within the agreed upon strategic parameters, then implemented
as planned. The design strategy should be reviewed again alter implementation
ta determine fi worked as it was intended. H should be refined as needed, then
‘maintained, and applied to other client projects if applicable, Keep your client
involved as much as possible during this process; design strategy is only effective if
both elient ane! designer are committed 0 its integrity.
WwW [Link]“Process is important to de:
in strategy, since
design strategy isn’t the goal, or the tactics,
it’s the plan. How do we get there? In what way
do we achieve our goals? Ask your clients: Can we
get more specific with that? What is the thinking
behind that? What are we really trying to
accomplish here?”
CAN YOU WORK WITHOUT A DESIGN
STRATEGY?
Not having # cohesive design steteyy means ereat-
ing reactive, not proactive, work—hastly developed
designs that meet only the jmmedute needs of the
lien, with mo thought the future. This esl in
flack ofa unified visual brand presence for the cient
«ver time, There ino builling upon what is eames
Things are not coordinated. Because of haphazae
rather than cohesive, strategle thinking, there are
fewer measurable results that would prove a design's
‘alu as well sits return on investinen
“Design strategy isthe unsung hero of design says
Ke Jocha, design manage at Dell Computer in liso
Viejo, CA. “The alternative is designing by opinion
‘which wll always be won by the ment senior suit in the
room for worse, acomimitice of suits). That might give
the design tam a path to oll, hut hen the project.
cerishes and hums, guess who's lel holding the bag
foe the failure: the desigh team” Solutions to design
challenges can be numerous and varied; developing a
strategy wil help you make sound choices and salve
problems in aly that is consistent and reproducible
HOW CAN YOU ARTICULATE DESIGN STRATEGY
To CLIENTS?
Like every ather aspect of the design process, a design
strategy must be cleatly articulated in order to he use
Tul. Clients need to understand the rationale behind
design decisions within a business context. Since
design strategy isthe underlying game plan for all of
the work a designer will do i's worth taking the time
to present it well. Using concise language and a well=
designed, exsily understood presentation will help eli
cents visualize the strategy much mete immediately, If
its welF-formulated and explained, the elient is much
more likely to understand and approve it.
The ley to successlully presenting a design strategy
is in helping clients form an image in theit mind that
svems actionable. They can see how the design will
hecome a practical tol to help them achieve specific
gals, More Important, they will more easily be able
to articulate the strategy to others. Your elient con
tact must often “sell” the design strategy to their owa
internal team members; providing the tools and infor:
mation they need 10 do this is a great way 10 ensure
their success. With the approval of the design strategy,
the designer has taken a critical step tosvaed making
sure that what they design for the client will be well-
received and approved throughout the design process,
From ideation ta completion,
DEFINING DESIGN STRATEGY: 4 DEVELOPMENTAL QUESTIONS
Design strategy is @ recommendation for the
evelopment and use of speciic elements that
wil promote the desired perception of a brand,
product or idea. Good strategies are simple
and understandable. even when the product or
proposition is complicated. Many. people think
‘that strategy means applying empirical data and
getting an absolute resit. Good design strategy
is balance of intuition and inteligence. falls
Into the category of “Tuzzy logic” ands success
‘alison both the vision andthe trust of the cet
‘AL Chase Design Grou, our design strategy is
based on afew key understandings
4 What does the target audience need to fel and
[Link]?
2. How wil our message be diffrentUbetter than
‘that ofsirilar messages or competitors?
2. What are the core elements that MUST be cre=
ated based on the mediums in hich the design
wil ve?
4, What tats (29. type ste, color language te]
‘capture the appropriate character?
‘A good design strategy feels intuitive and can
Inspire more than one valid solution. If too
“on the nose,” then the results wil tkely fool
‘pected. To test it, share it with the audience. A
‘0d designer wil ring the strategy to life in a
vay that allors someone in the target audience
te play back the key ideas easly and natural. If
they cant do that. then you've created something
that’s too complicate.
(Chris Laer prodent an ead aati of
Chase Destzn Group in Los Angeles and New York
City wo chasedesigngoup camHowever, clients ean sometimes resist a design
strategy. “Firs, trust their reluctance. Tiy to under-
stand i,” advises Michael L cative ditector
4 Metro io Los Angeles, “Irs theit business, ight?
Why are they unsure? What experience, knowledge oF
intuition is keeping them from going all-in?” Lister
closely to your clients reservations can improve the
work and even save i
Pushing hack doesn't need to be awkward or
Fraught with tension; without bragging oF iwvalidating
theit cancers, review past experiences of yours t0
help fll in blinks and address concems. If you sill
face resistance, develop altemative plans. Not having
2 buckup strateyy already in place if and when your
initial efforts fail ean leave your client with limited
‘options for moving om,
‘Just emember: If anyone should be excited about
{your strategy it should he the elient,” Jochai says. If
they'te not, it means your strategy Is olf the mark, oF
it could mean that they're looking to design for the
wrong reasons Le, to puta decorative "Band-Aid on a
_znarly business problem, “H's your job to discern what
Is wrong an fv itor, as is sumetimes the case, abort
hefore further time and resources are wasted. Stopping
a client from going down the wrong path isa valuable
service and should not necessarily be regarded as
Failure.” Jochal says,
HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT DESIGN STRATEGY?
When presenting any design strateyy, make sure to
discuss the following:
The clients business goals and how this strategy
helps meet hem
* How ths steatexy positions the eliet in theie com:
petiive landseape
* The audience’ needs, expectations, aspirations and
how this stratogy works to satsly these
*# Feasibiiy: how this steategy will be eolled out on
time and on budget
+ New opportunities that presented themselves inthe
course of developing this strategy
Avoid discussfons that focus on the follwing
* Personal preferences
* Simplistic reactions to complicated issues
# Attachment to the status quo
+ Pievemeal instead of holistic approach
* Fear of the unknown or unteied|
© Minutia of graphic taties
HOW IS DESIGN STRATEGY EVALUATED?
A good design strategy makes designing much easier
As Mann explains, “If you feel like you'te launching
into the unknowsn, you havent aid the right foundae
tion, When the strategy is wellconsklered and set in
place, the ideas flow.” Every job has its own unique
‘wvists and tums. Your design strategy is your compass,
and communication is key. "e's our duty to verify that
the design solutions deliver on al strategy paramete
Durre says. “I'things veer of target, it might suddenly
sgt very hard co proceed with a specific deliverable or
project. That's when we pick up the phone and tell
‘our client that we need to regroup and facus an the
Foundation before there are eracks in i.”
Presenting a design strateyy Is about explaining
how aesthetic considerations and creative decisions
will be made in a business. I takes great presentation
and communication skills ta make sure that the design
strategy will be accepted, Once presented, encour
age Feedback from the client, Together, evaluate the
soundness of your thinking by reviewing the strategy
in detail and discussing the fllewing
# Is it accurate an! authentic
# Does it rellee the eens bra
snd rue personality?
© Does it have emotional impact
# Ist interesting and compellin
* Is it innovative and provocative
# Is expected? And is that good or bad?
# Will it stand out in the environment it needs to?
COMMUNICATING DESIGN STRATEGY: 3 KEYS TO SUCCESS
Successful design strategy & communicated in
terms the audience understands. That means
you need to “speak the language” of all the
Stakeholders inthe room and create a meaning-
ful context around your recommendatians that
incorporates mary points of vew. How?
41, Make a detailed tat of the stakeholders that
wil atend your presentation, and als of those
wo may see your work after the fac. In all
lietihood, this group wil include design, market-
Ing and management, at a minimum. Keep this
rmultidstnary group in mind as you design
your presentation and find ways to address the
‘needs and concerns af each,
2. Ack yourself whether you're using a profese
sonal anguage that wil exclude some of the peo-
le in the room. and take steps to speak in terms
that wil resonate with everyone in your audience
Take time to explain specialized language to cre-
tea sense of inclusion and callaboration.
3, Create a visual and verbal language that's
accessible and inclusive, recognizing that some
stakeholders wll ot have the same visual itera
‘that you do, Use al the too! a your disposal
to help your audience understand the near-term
and strategic value of the work you're presenting,
Candice-Legh Baumgadner is founding partner
cd pnp tego shi, rel tector of
research at Art Center Collegeof Desig.
nostic# Can we implement it within the required parameten?
* Ieanything unsatisfactory? What? Why?
# Can ithe presented bythe lent contact person so
that they con easily communicate your design stat
egy to ther aarti?
Bclore preventing your design strategy to lien,
yon might want to test it ineraly. is try to poke
holes in, challenge i and question i, Thoroughly
taming l, and even expire wors-cane scenaton
“We lok tit fom every posible al,” Gravee sys
“When we ae satisfied, we preset out recommend
sions toe cients, who usally respon piney
COMMON MISTAKES IN DESIGN STRATEGY
Developing, articulating and implementing a success:
ful design strategy fsa complex task. Is also an exe
Ing challenge for any designer. OF course, sometimes
ceven the best-ai plans go awry: Here are some things
to watch out for:
* Lack of partieipation from the client
‘Rushed oc haphavand backgrounding
‘ Insuflicient thinking and analysis
* Inahilty to make decisions
# Lack of lacus on specific details
‘© Overly elaborate plans that go nonshere
[No buy-in from key individuals
* Lack of oversight and commitment
«© Pessimism or intimidation
# Lack of drive of passion
‘ Murky communications
«People just dont ike i
WILL DESIGN STRATEGY RESULT IN BETTER
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS?
IF the design provess is driven by the client's desire
to achieve a measurable goal or objective, then it’s
pretty obvious whether or nat the design strategy su
ceeded in uchieving the goal through the creative that
was developed from it, Laura Tu, thought leadership
account exceutive at PwC in Portland, notes, “your
design outputs are producing the desired results—
‘attracting the right clients, mecting customers’ needs,
increasing sales of a product—it's working, If your
designs are confusing elsnts, producing more ques
tions than answers, ot sending mixed messages, then
your strategy needs to be refined
As the designer, i's your job to be clear and up
front about the process. Remember, not everyone
lives in the world you do: too much “design-speak’
can sound pretentious and give the impression youre
working with smoke and mirrors instead of a sound,
researched foundation, Communieating cleadly in 3
language anyone can understand will cantribute to
your eredibilty asa skilled professional.
Developing, articulating and implementing desig
strategy is important for all designers. “Designers
approach their work in strategie ways whether they
know it of not,” Ahrens says. “A formalized of consis:
tently explined design strategy allows the creative ta
have discussions with their cliems ina way that teuly
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“What is the one thing | find myself saying over and
over again to my internal clients about design
strategy? ‘Our design strategy is not about what
you like or what | like. It’s about what's right for
us as a company and, ultimately, for our company’s
customers. Our company is invested in this
approach, and staying on strategy is the best way
to create value for our clients.”
matters to the client. It lets designers speak about
the work with words that mean something to ther”
Bynder puts it simply, “Design strategy elevates aur
discipline beyond commodity
While nota solution in and of self, design steategy
lays the essential foundation for success by providing
a means 1o arrive at solutions. Creating a robust design
strategy will empower you to ereate solid, defensible
solutions, and will also serve to propel your design and
aesthetic instincts toward stronger concepts that 3
ote likely to be approved by the client, Ie will result
‘nv swork with more ereative integrity that is also more
clfective at supporting the client’ business, It's. win:
win foreveryone. mM
‘Terry Lee Stone isa Los Angeles-based waiter and
creative strategist. She has worked with top design.
{firms including AdamsMlorioka, Chase Design Croup
‘and BMWGroup Designworks USA. Stone teaches
the business of design at Art Center College of
Design and at [Link], She’ the author of several
books on design. inclucting the two-book series called
Managing The Design Process.
[Link]
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JUSTIN AHRENS GENER, Lwotes com
CANDICE-LEIGH BAUMGRRONER THOUSAND OAKS, CA
[ROD BYNDER NEWBERRY PARK. CA oraynecem
VOLKER DURRE RANCHO PALOS VERDES,
AMY GRAVER BRANFORD, CT wassaneneserea com
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