Good design is understanding and balancing all the constraints of a project, externally and internally, to achieve a result that satisfies requirements.
Good design is understanding and balancing all the constraints of a project, externally and internally, to achieve a result that satisfies requirements. Excellent design, however, layers both invention and experience atop this balancing act. Excellent design not only satisfies the constraints and requirements, but pushes beyond them by building upon what we know, and also by exploring the possibilities of new ideas, technologies, or materials.
It is human nature to lean into one or the other: innovation, or experience. We may decide to play it fast and loose by implementing products, methods, and systems that are shiny and new in hopes of creating something unique. We may instead play it safe by exercising design based on what we already know and what we’ve done before to satisfy the project parameters. The balancing act becomes much more interesting, though, when we combine both approaches in the creative process. Our goal is a critical, reflective design practice combining innovation and expertise that contributes to design excellence.
At its core, innovation is problem solving – problem solving that adds value. Whereas an invention is usually a “thing,” an innovation often changes our behavior. As one author writes, “Invention is easy, innovation is genius.” Innovation can be paradigmshifting. The iPhone is a frequently cited example, and rightly so: it’s an invention that led to global innovation, and it came from the ability to think differently about the future of communication.
Expertise, on the other hand, draws from deep knowledge based on experience. Expertise in our field helps us to build trust with our colleagues, our clients, and our communities, and a proven track record of success allows us to generate work that is influential and valuable. Knowledge diversity – drawing expertise from a variety of perspectives and disciplines – is a cornerstone of design excellence and enriches our work. Importantly: expertise provides a solid foundation from which to achieve buy-in for new ideas and inspire innovation.
This is perhaps why we as designers are never truly done with the work: our insatiable need to add to our knowledge and to make improvements to our art informs every decision we make. This mastery of science and art is delicate and requires a willingness to explore, observe, question, adapt, and reflect.
Design excellence is this continuous adaptation of existing knowledge and intentional creation. By applying what we know through learning and our natural curiosity, and by implementing the value of critical thinking, we can create spaces and environments based on validated existing evidence adapted and recombined to create innovative applications. Holistic environments that engage with users, born from strong foundations and informed by advanced thinking, highlight our dedication to excellence in design at the intersection of learned and learning
i.Snelling, Alexis. July 16, 2021. “Invention Is Easy, Innovation is Genius – (Or Orchestrated)” https://www. my.skillvill.com/post/invention-is-easy-innovation-is-genius-or-orchestrated.
Meet the Author
Associate Principal Wil Drennan is passionate about design excellence. In every project, Wil focuses on human-centric approaches to creating interior environments which elevate the experience of inhabiting a space. In his nearly 20 years as project manager and lead designer on a diverse portfolio of commercial, mixed-use, hospitality, K-12, civic, and other work, Wil has developed a comprehensive knowledge of design principles, practices, and aesthetics. He particularly enjoys the process of anticipatory thinking and proactive design solutions; he is also fascinated by the impact of lighting on human minds and bodies and how designers can deploy lighting to create better interior environments. Beyond his design acumen, however, Wil has also earned a reputation as an excellent colleague who enjoys the process of team building, storytelling, deep listening, authentic collaboration, and problem solving.
Wil currently leads the Interior Architecture Studio in the Charlotte office, and serves as Chair of the firmwide Image Knowledge Team focused on integrating interior strategies from the earliest stages of architectural design to create a holistic, thoughtful, client-centered interior environment. With a Bachelor of Science in Design and a Master of Architecture from Clemson University, Wil is actively engaged in professional and community service; he currently sits on both the Rock Hill Board of Historic Review and is serving as Chair of the Board of Palmetto Community Health Care for 2023-2024.
The confidence built from expertise is critical for innovation, and innovation is critical for validating our expertise.