IDEAL AND PRACTICAL DESIGN
Design is a very subjective term. It is omnipresent. Its meaning and understanding varies for each individual. Design can never truly be taught or forced.
In simple terms, people define DESIGN as a problem solving attitude. It is important to keep in mind that while solving a problem, sensitizing ourselves with the people who face it and understanding their needs is crucial. Here, design thinking plays a vital role in understanding people and empathizing with them. A lot of design problems get solved based on HOW WE THINK?
Our thinking pattern is based on how we perceive things and react to the information given to us. Different people think and react differently to a situation as per their prior knowledge and experience. Our roots, environment, atmosphere and culture are amongst the various aspects that affect our thought patterns. Sometimes these make us think in a single direction, creating a narrow cone of vision towards the problem or situation, which restricts our ability to think creatively. In addition to that, it often becomes difficult to relate to a problem that we haven’t come across in our lives, previously.
Hence, to provide a good solution to a problem, we need to ensure that it is IDEAL as well as PRACTICAL. An IDEAL DESIGN means aligning to one’s perception of the words ‘perfect’ and ‘most suitable’. It is something that exists largely in one’s imagination. It is what is most desirable but not likely to manifest into reality. Whereas PRACTICAL DESIGN is something that is concerned with the actual doing or application of something, as opposed to replying solely on theory, imagination, concepts or ideas. Practical design is likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances. It is FEASIBLE.
While trying to solve a problem through design, a designer goes through two main phases of thinking or ideating - ideal concepts and practical concepts. We start with our own imaginative concepts and ideas which are ideal and then rationalize them to end up with something practical, and hence, feasible. Thus, a good design solution or innovation emerges as a result of through design thinking, understanding, and empathizing which can only be achieved through a perfect balance of the ideal and practical aspects considered while solving a problem.
Thus, a good design lies in a FEASIBLE SOLUTION to a problem- one that is both IDEAL and PRACTICAL.
