TDO420

Think First, Design Second: What Employers Really Want Introduction In design school, we spend a lot of time learning tools—Photoshop, Illustrator, HTML, CSS—but what if that’s not what really gets you hired? Recently, I worked on an HTML exercise based on a powerful message from a Creative Director at one of the area’s top design firms. His words stuck with me and reshaped how I view the role of a designer. What the Creative Director Said He made it clear: “I can teach software. I can’t teach problem-solving, common sense, and communication.” Let that sink in. It’s not about how well you know the Pen Tool—it’s about how well you can think through a visual problem, explain your choices, and communicate solutions clearly. How I Built an HTML Page From It Structuring content semantically (using <section> , <blockquote> , and others) Styling clean, readable layouts Highlighting meaningful quotes and ideas This project helped me think more deeply about design...

Unlocking Creativity: A Surprising Exercise That Changed My Perspective As a graphic design student, I’m always looking for new ways to boost creativity. While I usually rely on sketching, brainstorming, or exploring new design trends, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and try a structured creativity exercise. I found "The Alternative Uses Test," a well-known creativity exercise originally developed by psychologist J.P. Guilford. This exercise challenges you to think divergently by coming up with as many alternative uses as possible for a common object. I followed the instructions from IDEO’s Creative Confidence Exercises , where similar creativity-building techniques are shared. The Exercise: Alternative Uses Test The goal of this exercise is to pick an everyday object (like a paperclip, brick, or rubber band) and brainstorm as many unconventional uses for it as possible in a set amount of time. How I Did It Chose an Object: I picked a paperclip because it’...

Branded Stationery for Zombie BBQ Bunker: Cohesion Across Every Detail 1. Business Card: A Survivor’s Essential Contact A business card is often the first impression someone gets of a brand. It should be memorable, well-balanced, and instantly recognizable. For Zombie BBQ Bunker , the business card is designed to feel like a survival pass or military ID, reinforcing the bunker theme. Key Design Elements: Distressed Metal Texture – The background mimics aged, scratched metal, like a piece of gear from a survivor’s bunker. Caution Tape & Hazard Stripes – Running along the borders, these elements evoke danger and an apocalyptic atmosphere. Bold Stencil Typography – The restaurant name and key details are printed in a strong, military-style stencil font, adding to the post-apocalyptic feel. Torn, Burnt Edges Effect – Instead of a traditional clean-cut border, the edges have a distressed, burnt effect to enhance the “worn-out survival pass” theme. QR Code for Social Media & Onli...

The SCAMPER Method Exercise: SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse) is a framework for innovating existing ideas. Learn more at MindTools . What I Did: Substituted traditional BBQ sauces with “radioactive” glowing green jalapeño sauce. Combined bunker survival aesthetics with restaurant branding. Adapted Call of Duty’s Perk-a-Cola concept into a real-life cocktail experience. Modified takeout packaging to look like military MREs. Put to another use the tally marks from Zombies mode as a customer loyalty tracker. Eliminated standard menus in favor of distressed metal “mission briefings.” Reversed traditional seating with bunker-style communal tables. By applying SCAMPER, I realized that nearly every aspect of the dining experience could be enhanced to fit the theme—right down to how food is plated and how customers interact with the environment. One idea I particularly loved was reversing the ordering process—instead of customers choosing me...

Role Reversal: Think Like a Zombie Exercise: Found in Thinkertoys , this technique involves shifting perspectives to see a problem from a completely different angle. What I Did: Instead of thinking like a restaurant owner, I thought like a hungry zombie. What would make a zombie choose Zombie BBQ Bunker over a normal restaurant? Messy, over-the-top meals (because zombies don’t care about clean eating) Bone-in meats (since zombies like gnawing on things) A bunker-like atmosphere that feels like the last safe place on Earth “Brain Burgers” (a themed pulled pork sandwich) Thinking this way led me to brainstorm more immersive restaurant details, like customer "bite marks" on loyalty cards, grunge-style metal trays for serving, and even interactive elements where guests “board up” tables like a zombie outbreak defense. Another fun idea was offering a secret menu only accessible if a customer acts like a zombie at the counter. This adds an element of fun and deepens engagement with...

Word Association Web      This exercise, recommended by Creative Bloq , involves picking a central word and brainstorming connected words to expand concepts.      Starting with BBQ , I linked it to words like fire, bunker, ribs, apocalypse, smoke, grill, zombies, survival, and chaos. Then, I connected those to survivor’s ration cards (loyalty programs), bunker-style tray plating, hazard-striped signage, and flaming meat graphics. By continuing to branch off into different associations, I uncovered ideas for merchandise, themed drinks, and even interactive tabletop elements.      One of my favorite discoveries was the concept of a “Survivor’s Menu”, where customers roll a zombie-themed dice to get a random menu item, just like a loot drop in a video game. Another idea was a takeout box designed like a military MRE, reinforcing the bunker aesthetic.      This method helped organize branding elements and uncover new marketing ang...

The 30 Circles Challenge Exercise: This exercise, found on IDEO’s Design Kit , challenges you to transform 30 blank circles into different objects in a limited time. What I Did: I adapted this for Zombie BBQ Bunker by turning the circles into BBQ-related symbols—zombie hands gripping ribs, Perk-a-Cola bottle caps, smoke rings, bullet-ridden burger patties, and apocalyptic hazard signs. At first, my ideas felt predictable, but as time ran out, I was forced to think outside the box, resulting in unexpected and fun concepts. To make the challenge harder, I set a two-minute timer to see how quickly I could come up with unique ideas. This pushed me to think fast and avoid overanalyzing. I discovered that some of the best ideas—like zombie hands reaching for a smoked brisket or BBQ sauce splatters forming a skull—came from working under pressure. Lesson Learned: This exercise helped me break creative blocks and find unexpected design ideas. It reinforced that constraints fuel rapid ideation...