This classic recipe is one of my favorites and a bonafide crowd pleaser for any day of the work week. It’s great for inhouse graphic design teams as well as other creative teams that just appreciate a hearty and thorough design process. Ingredients may vary depending on the project, but this recipe serves as a great base to work from.

1. Prepare the design brief, conduct a kickoff meeting, define the problem, and understand the story to be communicated.

2. Stir in research and some thought provoking questions to better understand the audience. Make sure to challenge assumptions.

3. Mix together inspiration and ideas while brainstorming, use conceptual thinking to draw connections from other sources and look for patterns to reveal any underlying issues.

4. Combine the unexpected, ideate, and explore with sketches.

5. Fold in the story, being sure to use hierarchy, composition, color, layers, texture, pattern, and scale.

6. Pour carefully into a grid, leaving plenty of white space to give the design room to breathe.

7. Sift the design ideas to refine, analyze, and see what works best. Use creative collaboration to diversify and generate new ideas. Develop mockups and prototypes to share with colleagues and clients.

8. Knead the design with several rounds of edits and plenty of open communication. Review and collaborate with the client to bring them into the creative process. 

9. Test the design solution, and gather feedback from desired users and audiences.

10. Bake⁠—Implement, print, animate, fabricate, install, create, and deliver!

11. Cool⁠—Debrief with the team and reflect on the process, lessons learned, areas for improvement, and what worked well. Be sure to celebrate success!

12. Enjoy⁠—The final design should exceed the client’s expectations; meet the deadlines; come in at, or under budget; and inspire and communicate with the intended audience.