Design

Sunflower Infographic

IDE 631

Assignment: What is Design?

IDE 631 began with a challenge to define design and consider its purpose. This first individual assignment required the creation of an infographic explaining my definition. This assignment centers around design, but it combines two phases of ADDIE: Design and Develop. How does one define a concept that seems to have unlimited definitions and is used for many purposes? Putting the definition of design into a simple sentence was not an easy task, especially after opening my mind up to all possibilities. Design is all around us whether we are looking for it or not. Ultimately, design is about progress and the conceptualization and creation of new ideas, interactions, information, and more. Design is the approach we take to solve a problem and create a purposeful addition to the real world. Design affects what we want to achieve and becomes what one needs it to be. 

In the context of IDD&E while following the ADDIE model, design is the phase that initiates the instructional designer to create the solution to the performance problem. This typically follows the analysis phase which requires the instructional designer to analyze job tasks and the performers to identify a performance gap. The ADDIE model does not have to be linear as it is a flexible model where the instructional designer can begin in any phase. After settling on my definition of design, I developed an infographic which was the required media to share with the entire IDE 631 class. 

While contemplating the meaning of design and its purpose, the first image that came to my mind was a sunflower. I focused on the idea that design is everywhere whether it is purposeful or not. Nature is always designing the world around us whether we consciously realize this or not. Nature becomes what it needs and that is exactly what design sets out to accomplish. Design satisfies a human need, whether it is to share an idea, analyze the world around us, or just to share the beauty in our lives. Because design takes on the form of many interpretations, I also believed using the sunflower petals was a great representation of that idea. A sunflower is not forever and neither is design, but sunflowers return to provide the world with the beauty nature decides we need. Design evolves to provide us, the learners in a needy world, with exactly what we need. 

This assignment spoke to my creative side and my obsessive nature to create what my brain designs. This assignment allowed me to design and then to develop a creative product. I used Adobe Express for this assignment, as this has been my go-to tool for media creation. Adobe Express is also at my skill level. I lack the knowledge to use the more complicated tools of Adobe Photoshop and other Adobe applications. I know just enough of the Adobe Express application to create my product and remain satisfied with its outcome. This assignment reinforced the creative aspects of instructional design that I enjoy the most.