A Design Journey

Notes • May 2025

Everything we interact with has been designed in some way. Some things are shaped by nature and time; others are shaped deliberately by minds. This note focuses on the latter. Whether you're building a product, a service, a brand or a system, it all starts with intention. Good design doesn’t happen by chance — it’s the result of a purposeful, iterative process.

1. Discover

We start by mapping the landscape. This is about context: understanding needs, behaviors, limitations and opportunities. Before you make, you must observe.

Purpose: Climb the tree, get a view of the terrain. Build confidence.

Key outputs: Project brief, stakeholder insights, ecosystem map.

2. Define

From insight to clarity. We translate what we’ve learned into a design direction. Who is it for? What does it do? What does success look like?

Purpose: Set direction. Define boundaries. Focus the mission.

Key outputs: Design principles, mission statement, audience profiles, moodboards.

3. Ideate

With a clear brief, we explore multiple routes. Ideas are not the start — they are what come *after* understanding. We sketch, prototype, and test fast to land on one promising path.

Purpose: Generate and test ideas. Frame the architecture.

Key outputs: Concept sketches, idea architecture, wireframes, roadmap.

4. Prototype

We build a quick, low-fidelity version that focuses on core functionality. This is not the final thing — it’s a tool for learning.

Purpose: Make it real enough to test. Avoid premature attachment.

Key output:  Lo-fi prototype that expresses the core function.

5. Test

Time to take it into the wild. We test with users or in context to gather reactions, verify assumptions, and decide what’s next.

Purpose: Make decisions: move forward, tweak, or go back.

Key outputs: User feedback, performance insights, go/no-go decision.

6. Build

This is the deep work. We take insights and prototypes and craft the full experience, applying craft and precision to every part.

Purpose: Realize the idea. Deliver on the mission.

Key outputs: Final product/service, ready for release.

7. Launch

We launch — not just by pushing it live, but by communicating the purpose clearly. Positioning, packaging and storytelling are crucial here.

Purpose:  Ensure the idea can be found, understood, and adopted.

Key outputs: Launch plan, communication materials, channel strategy.

8. Analyse

Now we listen. Data, reactions and user feedback tell us what worked — and what didn’t.

Purpose: Learn from reality. Prepare for the next move.

Key outputs: Insight report, analytics dashboard, user feedback summary.

9. Evolve

Design is never done. We adapt, improve, and evolve based on what the world tells us. If it works — make it better. If it doesn’t — pivot.

Purpose: Make it thrive. Let it grow.

Key outputs: Updated versions, refined messaging, new features or formats.

“Purpose, focus, simplicity and delight — that’s what we strive for throughout the process.” — Robin, Founder of Tecken

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