What Do You Mean by Conceptual Design?

Conceptual Design

If you’re looking to build a new product, or renovate your existing home, there’s no doubt you’ve spent time thinking about the overall design. Whether you’re seeking a full home renovation or simply a few new rooms, the conceptual design stage is where the foundations are laid and a roadmap for project execution is created.

conceptual design is a phase of the product development process that serves to establish the underlying ideas of the final design and plan for how these will be expressed graphically. It can range from a few rough sketches to an elaborate, detailed illustration of the design. Often, a client will provide a set of instructions for the conceptual design which can help guide subsequent phases of development.

Brainstorming is one of the most effective methods for creating a concept design. Using a method like free association or mind mapping, team members can share ideas and work together to create rough sketches. This allows the design team to explore potential options for the final design and can help them develop a clear vision for how the design will look, which is necessary to ensure that any subsequent details are aligned with the original concept.

What Do You Mean by Conceptual Design?

Ideally, conceptual designs will be research-backed and will establish the context for which the design will exist. This can include gathering information about the client, their brand and the audience they’re targeting. Understanding these factors will help the design team to form a concept that is unique and sets their client apart from competitors, as well as establishing a strong sense of style and tone that will resonate with the target audience.

Another essential consideration is researching similar designs from other manufacturers to understand industry conventions and how the final design might be positioned within the market. This is particularly important if the design will be competing with other products in the same category. For example, if the client is a toy company, researching competing toys will allow them to consider ways they might differentiate their design from other products that may be marketed in the same way.

As the conceptual design process continues, it’s a good idea to gather inspiration from other projects of a similar nature and compile them in a mood board that can serve as a reference point for the whole project. It can also be helpful to find images that capture the feeling you’re trying to evoke in your own design, and these can be used as a starting point for further exploration during the detail design phase.

While it’s true that nothing is completely original and every designer builds on the innovations of those who came before them, conceptual design is where truly original creative sparks are likely to occur. So when collaborating with other designers, be sure to use their work to your advantage, but don’t be afraid to take some risks in order to produce a truly unique and innovative design.