Concept is extremely important to the design community. Without some unifying idea it is hard to create a design that is cohesive and attractive. There are several ways to go about this.
One is to find some sort of inspirational image to draw from, whether you do it figuratively and use the feel or idea of the image or you literally take colors and shapes from the image. This is probably one of my favorite ways to go, but sometimes it can be hard to find an inspiring image.
Next on my list is finding words that sum up your ideal. This is also a good idea and tends to help you from everything from basic overall aesthetic to what kind of finish you want to use.
Last, and my absolute most hated is to draw up a concept statement. This is supposed to be somewhere around four sentences that sum up your design. While doing this (at least for my current teacher) you are supposed to be extremely vague and make it so it could apply to ANY design. So you aren’t allowed to use phrases like “This room” or “this space”. You aren’t even really allowed to mention materials because that’s too specific. This tends to result in what I can only describe at bullshit. The type of bullshit they expect you to write in literature classes.
For example, my current project is designing a skybox for BMW. Now what I’d like to say is something along the lines of creating a space that is dynamic and exciting, but with luxurious furnishings. I’d also like to mention smooth materials and bright, vivid lighting. Instead, I’m turning in this spectacular piece of bullshit.
“Sit back and experience luxury. Comfort and energy join into one pleasant whole that contours around you in streams of light and sleek, modern forms.”
Now it’s a nice bit of bullshit, I’ll admit. It sounds nice and dreamy and like it comes from a commercial, but I don’t want to write commercials. I want to design beautiful, efficient, modern interiors and put George Nelson’s Coconut Chair absolutely everywhere. I should not have to spend an hour and a half trying to take my ideas and words and spill them into a vague bit of gloop that in the end doesn’t say any more than the keywords I picked out does.
