A concept is essential for any creative person to elucidate their art. It helps in understanding the intent or the basic idea behind any work. It also provides the appropriate reasons and thoughts preliminary to the creator. People like architects, graphic designers, product designers or artists should understand the value a design concept adds to their work as it can make the result more relatable. Then it eventually becomes the framework of any project. How does one go about establishing a design concept, which is vital at the commencement of any project?

Architectural design concept | Design Concept

A concept in architecture is considered the framework of any project as it conveys the idea behind the design. There are multiple ways by which one can develop a design concept. The first and most essential stage in generating a design concept is understanding what the project requires, what needs to be designed, and what the client wants. One can develop a design concept either visually or verbally. The visual concept often refers to the concepts that individuals absorb from their surroundings, some of which may be connected to nature, for instance, in biomimicry, in which one person tries to use a natural component as the foundation for their design. 

Visually driven concept 

Termite habitat, for instance, has been crucial in understanding the notions of natural ventilation and effective functioning in skyscrapers. The scale at which termites build their houses is similar to how humans build skyscrapers; that’s why it helps in understanding the smooth functioning of a building. It helps us understand how to develop a structure capable of regulating the temperature inside the building when the heat in the outer surroundings is higher. Also, while developing a notion from visual aspects, biomimicry is not required to be used exclusively. Any object at random can aid in the development of the concept. Elements such as everyday objects, such as cubes or possibly item stacking, might aid in thought development. Because most visual concepts are colour-based, a good colour scheme can aid in capturing the attention of consumers.

Tips & Tactics: How to Develop a Design Concept - Sheet1
TERMITE MOUND_©Dinesh Valke

Verbally driven concept 

However, some people have theories to support their concepts. They are typically aimed towards the message that your design wishes to convey. People sometimes anticipate their ideas to be more urbane, so they employ extravagant language to convey them. A verbal concept is more like a series of abstract ideas that come together to generate a great outcome that is both visually appealing and practical. One of the most prominent examples of a verbally driven concept is the golden ratio, which is also referred to as the rule of thirds.

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VERBALLY DRIVEN CONCEPT_©MEDIUM.COM

Steps for a good design concept | Design Concept

These were the major categories under which one can choose to develop a design concept. However, there are certain steps that one needs to understand to generate a good concept. As we know, a good concept can easily elevate a project as it helps people connect more. Those steps are as follows. The first step shall be the acknowledgement of an individual towards what they are designing and for whom they are designing. For instance, some renowned brands have designed their logos so that their users get to know their ideology as a brand. Like the brand of Baskin robins, they have a ‘B’ and ‘R’ in their logo, which is written in a way that depicts the ’31’ number, which signifies the number of flavours they offer.

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BASKIN ROBINS LOGO_©LOGOS.WORLD.NET
Tips & Tactics: How to Develop a Design Concept - Sheet3
BASKIN ROBINS LOGO_©LOGOS.WORLD.NET

The second step relies upon the research work related to the project. This step includes cognizance of the project and what it expects from the designer. Activities like mood boards can also aid in understanding what exactly the project demands and what the ideas impact the designer while researching the project. Mood boards help gather the visuals that inspire a person the most for the envisage. These visuals are then harmonized and positioned in an attempt to derive a conclusion as to what would be the primary inspiration for the concept.

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MOOD BOARD_©MORPHOLIO.MEDIUM.COM

Sketching is an essential skill for any architect or creative person. Sketches can always be used to convey ideas to the responsible individual. As an element of visuals, they play an important role in conveying and communicating the designer’s thoughts to the user. Simple sketching of ideas and inspiration might also lead to a wonderful design. However, since the client will finally reside or use the built structure, one should contact and solicit comments from them timely.

FRANK O GEHRY CONCEPT SKETCH FOR GUGGENHIEM MUSEUM_©guggenheim-bilbao.eus

As an outcome, it can be inferred that a design concept can serve as a framework for the project. To develop a successful design, one must first understand its beginnings and journey. These are only a few of the numerous techniques and ideas for a concept design. Developing a design concept is an organic process that requires imagination first and then research to back it up. On the other hand, an individual’s creative thinking would be accountable for transforming something ethereal into a tangible form.

Citation

ONLINE SOURCES:

Medium. 2022. 5 great steps for designing a concept. [online] Available at: <https://blog.prototypr.io/5-great-steps-for-designing-a-concept-9e618077bf21> [Accessed 9 October 2022].

Medium. 2022. What is a design concept? How to master it?. [online] Available at: <https://medium.muz.li/what-is-a-design-concept-how-to-master-it-36abc63f81b0> [Accessed 9 October 2022].

Bradley, S., 2022. Thoughts on Developing A Design Concept – Vanseo Design. [online] Vanseo Design. Available at: <https://vanseodesign.com/web-design/design-concept-thoughts/> [Accessed 9 October 2022].

First In Architecture. 2022. How to develop architectural concepts. [online] Available at: <https://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/how-to-develop-architectural-concepts/> [Accessed 9 October 2022].

VIDEOS REFERRED:

Youtu.be. 2022. [online] Available at: <https://youtu.be/620omdSZzBs> [Accessed 9 October 2022].

IMAGE SOURCES:

Sekar, S., 2022. Architectural secrets of termite mounds. [online] Mongabay-India. Available at: <https://india.mongabay.com/2020/10/architectural-secrets-of-termite-mounds/> [Accessed 9 October 2022].

Medium. 2022. Visual Concept Making Step-by-Step. [online] Available at: <https://medium.com/model-driven-conceptual-design/visual-concept-making-step-by-step-e57004715f81> [Accessed 9 October 2022].

Logos-world.net. 2022. Baskin Robbins Logo, symbol, meaning, history, PNG. [online] Available at: <https://logos-world.net/baskin-robbins-logo/> [Accessed 9 October 2022].

Medium. 2022. Delivered: Your Mood Board Library Access. [online] Available at: <https://morpholioboard.medium.com/delivered-your-mood-board-library-access-45e69e1e7b85> [Accessed 9 October 2022].

Guggenheim Bilbao. 2022. Meet Frank Gehry | Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. [online] Available at: <https://www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus/en/the-building/frank-gehry> [Accessed 9 October 2022].

Author

Priyanka garg, born and raised in Delhi is a student who has developed interest in architecture. She likes writing, reading and designing. Also, she has a key interest in sustainable and eco-friendly measures for design and construction to make the world a better place to live.