MESSAGE FOR WEEK BEGINNING 9th February 2004

..do guide lines.?

In the design process do guide lines come right at the beginning as part of the design brief, or do they come in later when the idea is shaped to fit the needs? Both stylees may be productive. There is a fear that if tight guide lines are set up at the begiinning then the creative freedom of the design is inhibited. On the other hand, there is a fear that if the guide lines only come in later there can be quite a waste of time designing ideas which can never be made to fit the guide lines. It is always possible to challenge the guide lines and ask if they are really necessary. If you were designing the layout of a coffee shop would you put 'easy to clean' as part of the design brief or bring it in later as part of the design brief or bring it in later as a 'shaping factor'?

Edward de Bono nmt
1st February 2004
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