Start From

Start From is a fundamental design principle and methodological approach that emphasizes the importance of identifying and establishing an initial point of reference or foundation from which a design process can systematically develop. This conceptual framework serves as a crucial starting point for designers, architects, and creative professionals to begin their ideation and problem-solving journey, ensuring a structured and purposeful progression toward design solutions. The principle encompasses various aspects, including the determination of core requirements, constraints, and objectives that will guide the entire design process. In professional practice, starting from a well-defined point helps designers avoid arbitrary decisions and ensures that all subsequent design choices are anchored in meaningful context and purpose. This methodology is particularly valuable in complex design projects where multiple stakeholders, requirements, and constraints must be carefully considered and balanced. The concept has evolved significantly with the advancement of design thinking and user-centered design approaches, incorporating elements such as user research, market analysis, and environmental considerations as potential starting points. In contemporary design practice, the principle of Start From often integrates with digital tools and collaborative platforms, enabling teams to establish and share common starting points across distributed work environments. The approach has gained recognition in design competitions, including the A' Design Award, where judges evaluate how effectively designers establish and build upon their initial premises. The principle's significance extends beyond mere project initiation, as it fundamentally shapes the entire design narrative, influences decision-making processes, and contributes to the overall coherence and effectiveness of the final design solution.

Author: Lucas Reed

Keywords: design methodology, starting point, foundation principles, design process, ideation framework, project initiation, systematic approach, design thinking, design strategy

Help us improve the Design+Encyclopedia, contribute your alternative definition for Start From today!

About the Design+Encyclopedia
The Design+Encyclopedia is a crowd-sourced reference of information on design. Unlike other crowd-sourced publications on design, the Design Encyclopedia is edited and actively monitored and publishing is only possible after review of submitted texts. Furthermore, editors of the Design Encyclopedia are mostly consisting of award winning designers who have proven their expertise in their design respective fields. Information posted at design encyclopedia is copyrighted, you are not granted a right to use the text for any commercial reasons, attribution is required. If you wish to contribute to the design encyclopedia, please first register or login to A' Design Award and then start a new design encyclopedia entry.