Two Heads Are Better Than One: Principles for Collaborative Design Practice

Design is an inherently complicated activity, reliant on the input of many other disciplines, stakeholders, and users. Over recent years, product designers, clients, suppliers and customers have become even more close and connected, and working together has become paramount in the design process. This chapter looks at the notion of collaboration in design, and suggests that being connected to others can enhance the overall creative effort. As the prevalence of interdisciplinary teams and global work practices grows, this is relevant across all design disciplines. An interdisciplinary team approach provides benefits that can bring about innovation. However, teams are also idiosyncratic and serendipitous. Since design itself is equally unpredictable, there is a need to structure collaborative working. This chapter aims to provide creative practitioners and students with a set of methods by which a collaborative approach can be fostered and maintained in contemporary design practice.