Perhaps, for most people, design is something which involves a tedious process of gathering thoughts and ideas, and turning them into superb concepts for your very own artwork.

These days, designers spend most of their time in front of their computer screens in the usual, controlled environment. It’s approximately 1 ½ square meters of workspace, if not another ½ square meter more.

To begin with, design is not just for pros, and design is something that must not only be crafted in a moolah-making region. If you want to be a great designer, let the world be your comfort zone and let life be your inspiration.

So, how do you become, if not already, a great designer?

Your design discipline can range from fashion, interior, graphic, architecture, web, game, photography, etc., but the fundamentals of designers are general in essence.

There are two design models which you must know. It must either be Rational or Action-Centric.

To put it simply, Rational Model is a goal-getting model that starts with an objective and produces design solutions according to purpose. Now, if you’re the type who wants a bounty, Rational Model is something which will work for you, but this one can turn out to be a landmine on top of your head. Can you imagine your dark days in college? The Rational Model is meant to school you during grimly hours which is, well, from start to finish of your design project.

All the moolah you’ll get for a design project won’t equate to the nerve-wrecking and head-blasting design process which you went through compared to the Action-Centric which comes easy on anyone. This design model involves a designer’s own perceptions and critique of aesthetic. This literally spells Your World, Your Design. Action-Centric allows a designer to become agile, and make the most out of all inspirations known to human life. Art and design does not come as easy as this. Action-Centric stirs nothing else but subjectivity, and it is the best stepping-stone for beginners and the most prodigious canon for designers.

Your critique of aesthetics, along with subjectivity, is the primary reason for you to be identified as a designer. Repeat that. IDENTIFIED EQUALS IDENTITY. IDENTITY EQUALS DESIGNER BRAND. Now, apart from exquisite design and artwork, that’s all you need to be a designer who’s in demand.

So, what I’m trying to say is that your design model should not either be Rational or Action-Centric. For the most part, it should be Action-Centric with a dash of Rational. Take inspiration from life. Everything around you, be it alive or inanimate, should mean something to you. Every designer, regardless of experience and achievement, will agree with me on this. So, don’t pose the question: “Why?”

Don’t let the words process, model, design, Rational, and Action-Centric wear you out. The only words you need to remember are inspiration and life. Let life inspire you in the simplest way.

Photography is probably one of the most helpful practices that will take you far in terms of learning aesthetics. You don’t really need a DSLR for photography, and it certainly won’t be hard for you to choose your subjects.

Mobile Phone Photography continues to spruce not only on hobbyists, but also on those who are on social network sites. Photo sharing has been quite a trend that continues to give birth to various photo applications like Instagram, Filter Mania, Fuzel, and iPhoto amongst all other photo and video applications.

This new trend is actually as good as saying: “Everyone has an eye for detail.” These photo applications allow you to tweak your life snaps instantly, and turn them into professional photo editing copies. Not much of a designer? Well, if you’re using these applications, it’s certainly a step to figure your designer instincts.

Design is always meant to serve a purpose, and for whatever purpose it is made, you have a world of ideas to inspire you to craft your masterpiece. Let your own life inspire you to dwell in a world of art. And, never limit yourself to your 1 ½ square meters of workspace.

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