What you wear, what you say, what products you buy, how you speak, what art you create... all give a window into your soul and the way you see the world. They say; you can know a person by what he creates. As a communicator/designer we are responsible for translating the message in a way that the receiver understands. Observation is the key to good design. From noticing the composition of the design, and how the elements work together on the page to observing the nature. The best blueprints for design surrounds us everyday, we are in it, and it sustains us. The natural world, creation itself is our greatest inspiration as designers. If we want to know what colors work well together we look to nature. If we want to develop a new product or invention we look for similar creatures or products that already exist in nature for inspiration, study and research.

A good design must have; Form – the looks; Function – what it should do; Relationship – how it’s form and function should affect and effect it’s surroundings. It has to breakthrough a lot of “noise” (like lifestyle, media, job, relationship to other forms of competition); or distraction (like belief systems, values, reality and behavior).

The theme is the power a communicator hold over their design but it also has the power to motivate. It is the core message of what you are trying to communicate. It usually conveys an emotion or a feeling. It’s purpose is to determine the direction of the design. The style follows the theme. Simply put, it is the choice of colors, images and arrangement of the design. The concept supports the theme. It’s is the visual impartation of the design and allows the reader to recognise the theme in the intended manner.

Start with ideas by visualizing concepts in rough sketch form, also called thubnailing. It pushes the boundaries forcing you to think beyond the obvious concepts to something original. Art is an expression of yourself and is open to interpretation by all who see your work. Design is communication and must be immediately seen and understood by the intended audience.