Openbook Design’s Post

Excited to share insights on "𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁"! 🎨 Environmental graphic design plays a pivotal role in creating immersive and memorable experiences. From strategic planning to execution, every element contributes to the overall success. In this post, I delve into key components that drive effective environmental graphic design projects. #EGD #environmentalgraphicdesign #environmentalgraphics #design #signage #wayfinding #openbookdesign

Are overly polished visuals distancing clients from the design process? 🤔 In the pursuit of perfection, are we unintentionally creating a barrier between our designs and the people they’re meant for? Polished, high-definition renders may look stunning, but they can sometimes feel final, leaving clients unsure about where they fit into the conversation. ✨ 💡 Here’s the challenge: When clients see a flawless, completed image, they may assume there’s no room for their input. The design process can feel less collaborative and more like a finished product presentation. This can lead to: ➡️ Reduced Engagement: Clients may feel intimidated or disconnected. ➡️ Missed Feedback: Valuable insights and ideas might not surface. ➡️ Approval Delays: Clients might hesitate to sign off, uncertain about their role in shaping the design. 👉 How do we strike a balance? The solution lies in presenting design ideas in a way that feels open and approachable. Visuals that highlight key elements but leave room for imagination encourage clients to feel like co-creators. This approach values their opinions and reminds them that the design is still evolving—a shared vision rather than a pre-determined outcome. ✏️💭 This doesn’t mean sacrificing professionalism or clarity. It means intentionally creating visuals that engage clients, spark curiosity, and invite collaboration. The right visual can act as a bridge between concept and reality, drawing clients closer to the heart of the design process. 🏗️ 🖌️ Hand-drawn sketches offer a solution. Sketch illustrations, created in Procreate bring a sense of flexibility and collaboration to the table. Their softer, unfinished style encourages clients to ask questions, share ideas, and provide feedback. They feel like active participants in the design journey, not just spectators of the end result. ➡️ Imagine presenting a sketch that invites conversation—a visual that says, “This is our starting point; let’s shape it together.” It’s a powerful way to build trust, spark dialogue, and create designs that truly resonate. 💬 Does this resonate with your experiences? Let’s have a conversation—how do you balance polished visuals with collaborative design? Share your thoughts below! 👇✨ #Architecture #DesignIllustration #HandRender

Lately, I've been reflecting on the increasing trend of people calling themselves designers. As a designer myself, this raises a question for me: Has the line between creativity and professional design become too blurred? Yes, design tools and processes are more accessible than ever, which has empowered people to engage with design in exciting ways. I think that’s a great thing — encouraging creativity and new ways of thinking is incredibly important. But what I’ve noticed is that with this accessibility comes a challenge: the title of "designer" seems to be used more loosely, often without the depth of understanding that the profession demands. From my perspective, being a designer involves much more than the ability to create something visually appealing. It requires a strategic approach, grounded in knowledge of materials, ergonomics, manufacturing processes, user psychology, experience and a host of other factors. It’s about solving real-world problems with carefully crafted solutions — solutions that not only look good but actually work in practice. What I find concerning is that in many ways the profession is being undermined by the idea that design is simply a matter of aesthetics. It’s far more complex than that. While I fully support the idea that everyone can and should engage with design thinking and its process, I believe the title of "designer" should reflect a level of expertise, knowledge and experience that goes beyond participation. I think it’s important to maintain a distinction between engaging with design as part of a process and being a professional designer who has mastered the intricacies of the craft. After all, calling oneself a designer implies a certain level of responsibility and commitment to delivering thoughtful, functional solutions that has a positive impact. So, here’s the question that I came across while reading an article on medium and I’ve been pondering: How do we as a profession maintain the integrity of what it means to be a "designer" in a world where creativity is becoming increasingly democratized? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we strike that balance between inclusivity and professionalism in design. I might also be wrong here but I think hearing different perspectives from you all can help me understand this better or from a different view perhaps!

Art and design have had a significant impact on my life both professionally and personally. Art – as a child, I took art classes, which kickstarted a lifelong interest. I try to check out a local art gallery (e.g. Vancouver Art Gallery) at least once a year and am fortunate to have visited iconic art institutions during my travels including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Musée du Louvre, Park Güell, the Museums in Vatican City State, Van Gogh Museum, and The National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo. Design – I went to design school after university and worked as a graphic designer for many years. Throughout my career, I am grateful to have worked with talented creatives in various disciplines of design: graphic, brand, environmental, industrial, retail, interior, product, customer experience, web, UX/UI, etc. I still approach problem-solving with Design Thinking and continue to be involved with Design Professionals of Canada (DesCan). Every once in awhile, the question "what's the difference between art and design" pops into my head – oftentimes during client discovery sessions or stakeholder requirements gathering, and especially when drafting project briefs with too much “blue sky”. In this blog post, I attempt to distinguish between the two, but also address how they are intertwined. Let me know what you think! Do you agree or disagree with my analysis? #art #design #blog

Make Impact! How Design & Designers Impacts the World As designers, we often find ourselves immersed in the aesthetics of shapes, colors, and typography. But design is more than just visuals; it's a powerful tool that shapes our world in profound ways. 1️⃣. Solving Problems: Great design addresses real-world problems. From creating intuitive user interfaces that enhance accessibility to designing sustainable packaging that reduces environmental impact, design is at the heart of innovative solutions. 2️⃣Shaping Cultures: Design reflects and influences cultural trends. Think of how branding can redefine a company's identity or how urban design can foster community engagement. Through our work, we contribute to the cultural tapestry of society. 3️⃣Inspiring Change: Design has the potential to inspire. Whether it's a campaign that raises awareness about social issues or a product that revolutionizes an industry, the right design can spark movements and drive progress. 4️⃣Empowering People: Good design is inclusive. It considers the needs of diverse populations and strives to create experiences that are accessible to all. By designing with empathy, we empower individuals and communities. 5️⃣Enhancing Daily Life: From the smartphone in your hand to the layout of your favorite coffee shop, design impacts our daily experiences. Thoughtful design makes life easier, more enjoyable, and more meaningful. observe, innovate, and creat Keep designing, keep inspiring. Make a world a better place. #DesignImpact #Innovation #Culture #Empathy #ProblemSolving #DesignThinking #UIUX #Branding #Inspiration #Sustainability

🌟 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 🌟 𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘵: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘦𝘺 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘴 "𝙒𝙃𝙔?" 🔍 👋 Hello, creative thinkers and problem solvers! Here's a design insight that goes beyond aesthetics. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 "𝗪𝗵𝘆?" 💡 • My mentors taught me one essential question: "𝗪𝗵𝘆?" • Why this color? Why this icon? This single word drives impactful design. • "Why" separates 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, and 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 🧐 • People often think anyone can make things look good with templates. • But great design is about thoughtful choices—creating a 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀. 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 ⚖️ • Design isn’t just about looking good; it’s about 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. • Our role? Harmonize what looks good with what works well. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 ⚠️ • The 1979 nuclear incident at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania was worsened by a design flaw. • An indicator light showed that a valve was powered but didn’t show if it was open or closed. When the valve got stuck open, operators thought it was closed because the light was on, leading to hours of misdiagnosis and catastrophic safety risks.  • 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: 𝘐𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 = 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 🔑 • Imagine LinkedIn’s job search feature buried under unrelated content—it’d frustrate users. • If Google made search results harder to find under ads, people would leave. • If YouTube prioritized comments over videos, users wouldn’t find the content, and engagement would drop • When design loses focus, 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀. • 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, not just appearance. 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 > 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 💖 • Next time you see designers debating an element know it’s about more than visuals. • Every part of a design should earn its place and serve a 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! 🗣️ • Do you agree? Disagree? Have similar experiences? Let’s discuss! • 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲—because it’s about making things work, not just look good. 𝗨𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲... #प्रN #IntrovertGoesDigital #FunctionalityOverCreativity #PurposeDrivenDesign #AnsweringWhy #BalancingUsersWithBusinesses

Are overly polished visuals distancing clients from the design process? 🤔 In the pursuit of perfection, are we unintentionally creating a barrier between our designs and the people they’re meant for? Polished, high-definition renders may look stunning, but they can sometimes feel final, leaving clients unsure about where they fit into the conversation. ✨ 💡 Here’s the challenge: When clients see a flawless, completed image, they may assume there’s no room for their input. The design process can feel less collaborative and more like a finished product presentation. This can lead to: ➡️ Reduced Engagement: Clients may feel intimidated or disconnected. ➡️ Missed Feedback: Valuable insights and ideas might not surface. ➡️ Approval Delays: Clients might hesitate to sign off, uncertain about their role in shaping the design. 👉 How do we strike a balance? The solution lies in presenting design ideas in a way that feels open and approachable. Visuals that highlight key elements but leave room for imagination encourage clients to feel like co-creators. This approach values their opinions and reminds them that the design is still evolving—a shared vision rather than a pre-determined outcome. ✏️💭 This doesn’t mean sacrificing professionalism or clarity. It means intentionally creating visuals that engage clients, spark curiosity, and invite collaboration. The right visual can act as a bridge between concept and reality, drawing clients closer to the heart of the design process. 🏗️ 🖌️ Hand-drawn sketches offer a solution. Sketch illustrations, created in Procreate bring a sense of flexibility and collaboration to the table. Their softer, unfinished style encourages clients to ask questions, share ideas, and provide feedback. They feel like active participants in the design journey, not just spectators of the end result. ➡️ Imagine presenting a sketch that invites conversation—a visual that says, “This is our starting point; let’s shape it together.” It’s a powerful way to build trust, spark dialogue, and create designs that truly resonate. 💬 Does this resonate with your experiences? Let’s have a conversation—how do you balance polished visuals with collaborative design? Share your thoughts below! 👇✨ ProSketch #Architecture #DesignIllustration #HandRender

Hey fellow designers! 👋 I've had a bit of an "aha" moment recently. After diving into some articles on sustainable design, I realized I've been overlooking this crucial aspect in my work. And I bet I'm not alone! Many of us already follow these practices without consciously thinking about sustainability. So, I thought I'd share the tips I've picked up. Nothing groundbreaking, just somethings that we can all keep in mind while designing : - Embrace the dark side (of design) - Do you like dark themes? You're already helping! Darker colors require less energy to display, especially on OLED screens. This simple choice can contribute to energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint. - Keep it simple - We all love those fancy animations. But a minimalist approach can really cut down on energy use. Clean interfaces, lesser server requests, lesser data transfer and processing, fewer fonts, simple animations - Everything Counts! - Design for the future - Imagine the hassle of redesigning the entire layout just to add one section? Turns out, it's not great for the environment either. Aiming for upgradable designs that can grow with our products would be the way to. go. - One size fits all - Responsive design isn't just user-friendly, it's planet-friendly too! Fewer versions mean less resource use. As designers, we have a unique opportunity to shape not just user experiences, but also the environmental impact of digital products. It's exciting to think that small changes in our design approach can contribute to a more sustainable future. I'd love to hear from you all. Are you considering sustainability in your design process? Have you tried any of these, or do you have others to share? #SustainableDesign #UXDesign 


Design is important in life for several reasons 🔥🔥🔥 1. Functionality : Good design enhances the functionality of everyday objects, making them easier to use and more efficient. For example, ergonomic chairs or intuitive smartphone interfaces improve user experience. 2. Aesthetics : Design adds beauty and visual appeal to our surroundings, enriching our environment and uplifting our mood. Whether it's architecture, fashion, or product design, aesthetic considerations play a significant role in how we perceive and interact with objects and spaces. 3. Problem-solving : Design is about solving problems creatively. Whether it's designing a product to address a specific need or crafting a solution to a complex issue, design thinking involves identifying challenges and devising innovative solutions. 4. Communication : Design is a powerful tool for communication. Visual elements such as color, typography, and layout convey messages effectively, whether it's through advertising, branding, or graphic design. Design helps to convey information, evoke emotions, and engage audiences. 5. Efficiency : Well-designed systems and processes streamline tasks and optimize workflow, saving time and resources. From industrial design that improves manufacturing processes to user experience design that simplifies website navigation, efficient design enhances productivity and effectiveness. 6. Identity and Branding : Design plays a crucial role in shaping the identity and branding of individuals, businesses, and organizations. Logos, packaging, and visual identities communicate values, personality, and differentiation in a crowded marketplace. 7. Innovation : Design drives innovation by pushing boundaries, challenging conventions, and envisioning new possibilities. Whether it's through groundbreaking technologies, sustainable practices, or novel approaches to problem-solving, design fosters creativity and pushes society forward. Overall, design is not just about aesthetics; it's a fundamental aspect of human interaction, problem-solving, and innovation that shapes our daily lives in profound ways.