Problems are inherently messy. At Common Object we understand that good design embraces complexity and creates clarity through the fog. Projects don’t always fit neatly within a standardized linear process but the human centered design approach is one that we understand deeply and use as a starting point to bring wholistic solutions into reality.
Research - Observe - Co-create
We are naturally inquisitive and use that curiosity to build empathy for all stakeholders wether it’s the neurosurgeon at a hospital or a child at a playground. We often use Co-Creation as a way to both engage a community around a project as well as helping us understand the key needs and desires of everyone involved. This along with observation and secondary research gives us rich information that we can synthesize into a north star for why we make design decisions going forward and leads to outcomes that are more valuable for everyone involved.
Spectrum Health Epilepsy Monitoring Room Research and Co-Creation
Devos Children’s Hospital waiting area Co-Creation
Ideate - Prototype - Experience
We view ideation as a conversation. It’s not always pretty. It can involve a napkin sketch or a fully rendered product. It can be a video or a rough prototype. It’s about the pulse of suspending reality while exploring and pushing boundaries and then having meaningful conversations to bring those solutions back to earth.
“The only way to experience an experience is to experience it” - Bill Moggridge
Building a new hospital room experience from the furniture to the architecture
Windows into a potted plant
Refine - Test - Scale
Where the rubber meets the road. We all know that where design intent meets real world constraints is often what makes or breaks a project. We pride ourselves in attacking these constraints head on. We are always willing to challenge convention while leaning on experts to bring vision into reality. We see manufacturing and implementation as a key partner in creating compelling designs. We sweat the details because we understand that the details make the product
