Back to blogs

Finding balance between logic and creativity

18 May 2022 •

By: Marichen Design

Growing up, I always had an underlying fear that I would one day be forced to choose between being analytical or creative. I decided to pursue Ideation Design as my field of study, the best of both worlds.

There's a common misconception that a designer's capacity is limited to being creative. Given my experience in a design capacity, I’ve realised that this cannot be further from the truth! Few, if any, professions balance creativity and logic as well as product design.

Sticky notes on a wall.jpg

A Product Designer, at its core, is a problem solver. We identify and solve problems with the aim of creating products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences for users. The product design process incorporates various design frameworks and methodologies to build and implement solutions that enhance user experience.

Most people associate a good user experience with the functionality of a product. While functionality is indeed important, the ability to relate to the user behind the product is what distinguishes an adequate product from a truly phenomenal one.

People who are able to think both analytically and creatively tend to be great communicators. Why? Their logical side makes them inclined to think things through and assess the situation before they act, while their creative side enables them to break established patterns to most effectively solve problems.

Stereotypes separate creativity and logic onto two opposite ends of the thinking spectrum. The truth is, creative thinking and logical thinking can co-exist and even work together. The result? Innovative solutions, for both life and work.

human-brain-left-right-logic-art-brain-process-shut.jpeg

Source: The Week

Let’s have a look at the definitions of these two concepts. Creativity is defined as the ability to transcend traditional ways of thinking or acting, and to develop novel ideas, methods or products. In contrast, logic is a specific way of thinking, rooted in reason and based on good judgement.

Someone who shows strong logical skills is often seen as a conformer to established patterns and rules. While the answers from conformers are seen as reliable, logical thinkers may be seen as lacking in passion or empathy.

Creativity, by nature, breaks established patterns. Creative thinkers are outliers who ignite the brilliant spark of innovation. This can sometimes raise concerns about uncertainty and instability, however, their intuitive side makes them highly empathetic and able to relate to others with ease.

Product Designers are involved throughout a product’s life cycle: from defining goals, to planning and creating product roadmaps all the way through to the successful launch of the product and the continuous iteration post launch. Our creative side aids us in empathising with users at every stage of the design process which is vital to ensure that we create products that enable meaningful user experiences. We continuously use logic to reinforce creativity by validating our design decisions with quantitative data and research.

Baking a cake.jpeg

As an avid baker, I’ve always considered the process of baking a cake to be very similar to that of product design. Initially, you need to understand who you are baking for; what they enjoy and appreciate, their preferences (design and taste) and what makes them unique. Thereafter, you have to filter through designs and recipes until you find the most suitable combination that relates to the person you’re baking for. Execution involves following a recipe, but be prepared to improvise if need be — as baking, much like product design never goes entirely as planned. Finally, assemble the cake and decorate to epitomise the recipient’s preferences. While those eating the cake often overlook the aforementioned process, they can always appreciate the cake’s relevance and how it contributes to a memorable experience.

Keenan Cummings, product designer at Airbnb, expertly described his role as follows, “Design really is just a practice of empathy. It is about synthesising culture and movements of ideas and distilling that into something interesting. Designers do this without thinking. They work with the intent to spread ideas. And they are good at making things that are spreadable. That comes from empathy. They get outside their own frame of reference so they can make something that touches the masses.”

Balance is not something you find, it is something you create. Few, if any, professions truly balance creativity and logic as well as product design. Interested to know more about our product design process? Have a look at our services page for more information.

Share this
18 May 2022
By: Marichen
Design

More interesting reads