What Interaction Designers Do

A designer is someone who designs something before it’s actually made, usually by drawing plans or drawings. The term is often used interchangeably with the architect, and designer/architecture often refers to the same type of professional. They are involved in the conceptualisation of a building, often drawing on the basis of blueprints and model buildings before construction gets underway.

Architectural designers create the plans and shapes of buildings and generally have a greater input in the actual design work than the designer of a building. These architects produce architectural plans and specifications. The role of the principal designer is often seen less in the construction process, since architects take care of that, but they are still vitally important to the final outcome. Their role is therefore less defined within architectural practice, although their role is important in the whole process.

In architectural practice, the role of the principal designer is split between them and the principal contractor. In general, the principal designer has more influence on the designs of a building than the principal contractor, although this is not always the case. If a project is being carried out on a part time basis by several principal contractors, the overall impact of their designs can be seen by looking at the Gantt charts. This chart, which shows how many staff hours are being spent on labour and development, can help to show whether the contractors are spending too much time on certain aspects of the project, or not enough. If the chart says that one of the principal contractors is spending too much time on some key aspects of the project, then it may be worthwhile to look for another contractor who can complete the job in a cheaper way.

The next type of designer to look at is the interaction designer. Interaction designers are those whose job is to assist the principal designer in creating the final designs of a building. Interaction designers do most of the preparatory work associated with planning a building project, from drafting up blueprints to modelling physical models and so on. Once the initial sketches have been made, the interaction designer will often go on to create the actual designs used in the construction of the building. An interaction designer’s role goes beyond just carrying out the main design work though, as they are also consulted on matters such as colours and surfaces, and often have a major input during the drafting stages.

One of the most innovative architects to have come out of the modern era is Frank Gehry. He was a member of the ‘Guggenheim School’ – which was founded by a pair of German businessmen who had developed computer technology and applied it to architecture. Together, they sought to use computer design to create complex architectural designs, and achieved some success with their efforts. Gehry also worked closely with Le Corbusier, another very famous architect of the period, and together they produced some of the most striking buildings in the world. Gehry’s importance as an interaction designer can perhaps be gauged from the fact that he co-founded the International Academy of Design Arts (IAD), which is recognised as one of the most prestigious design organisations in the world today.

Interaction designers can work in various different fields, and their talents are increasingly used by fashion designers to make new and innovative products for many different sectors of the fashion industry. Designer boards have become very popular for many different reasons, and interaction designers are playing a more pivotal role than ever before. Designer boards are used to create new and exciting product lines for clothing, interior design, fashion, haute couture, accessories and more.