This might be the worst thing for some designers, but data analysis is the key. Sounds boring doesn’t it? This is like what the executives at the top want from their managers on a 24/7 basis to see how their business is doing. I found that some of the best design to date have a strong and healthy amount of data and research that backs it up. In these cases designers understand their audience and purpose without making assumptions. When we are crunched for time we naturally assume answers to the varibles we are not sure of. If designers had a right hand man (or woman), it’d probably be that quiet guy (or girl) in the corner that reads, analyzes and interprets the mountains of data that is received everyday about customers, clients, and/or people wandering in the public.

The truth is that the key to great designs are making sure you fully understand the project problems and situations with ASS-U-ME ing anything. The minute that you assume, whether or not your core thought is correct, means that your design isn’t dead on its target. Obviously execution of the design is the other key factor to success but that is something that changes and improves over time as you gain experience. Data doesn’t lie, trust it, make it you first thought when you start any project and I promise your designs will improve … Regardless…