Design Process from a Design Perspective involves 6 stages as below:

• Stage One: Data Collection:
   - What is the brief from the Client?
   - Is it a new design or a redesign?
   - By interacting
     . with users - very important (sampled?) - is there a focused group?
     . with users to talk to them, narrate their experiences and getting their feedback.
     . with experts to seek their opinion
     . through emails, discussion forums, e-groups, etc.
   - By observing and studying
      . the users navigate through different spaces
    . the different interactions the users have with the environment and how they use the facilities
     . the environment, artifact, building or the facility for the signage
     . external space? internal space? public space??
   - By documenting
     . all the facilities along with the users
     . using photography, sketches, video-taping
   - By conducting
     . experiments (controlled?) ex. for visibility, recognisability, etc.
   - By referring to
     . previous works, examples, etc.
     . literature, papers, books, magazines, project reports, etc.
     . web documents

• Stage Two: Understanding the 'Design Problem for Investigation':
   - Physical factors?
     . shape, form, colour, number, size, texture, etc.
     . sound, smell, growth, repetition, etc.
     . realistic, Abstract.
   - Organising factors?
     . sequence and hierarchy of information, spatial organisation, flow, structure, etc.
     . activities, interactions, interactivity, etc.
   - Semantic factors?
     . expressions, meaning, content, feeling, etc.
     . macro view, micro view, etc.
   - Functional factors?
     . educational, entertainment, emotional, promotional
     . to Identify, to differentiate, to focus, etc.
     . to inform, to direct, to warn, etc.
   - Influencing factors?
     . cultural factors, local idioms and conventions
     . aesthetics, trends, etc.
   - Usability factors?
     . visibility, readability, etc.
     . human factors, etc.
     . human Product Interactions
   - Technology factors?
     . materials and processes
     . method of manufacture - batch, mass, hand fabrication?

• Stage Three: Analysis of the 'topic under Investigation':
   - Compare, cross-relate, evaluate
   - Locational factors?
     . mapping, way -finding, tracing
     . human movement analysis
   - Identification factors
     . identifying functions, grouping, connecting, etc.
     . compare symbols, labels, typography, text, etc.
   - Structuring your factors?
     . classification, grouping of similar factors, chunking, etc.
     . differentiating factors, identifying unique features, etc.
     . assigning hierarchy, ordering factors, etc.
   - Graphical analysis?
     . graphs, charts, mapping of factors.
     . chart of 'time - activity - senses - spaces -function'.
     . visualization of Information/ factors.
   - Experimental analysis?
     . set up constraints and conduct experiments.

• Stage Four: Synthesis and problem solving:
   - Converge, redefine, brainstorm, idea generation, alternate solutions.

• Stage Five: Rapid Prototyping, Models and feedback:
   - Mock-ups, sketches, models, scenarios, presentations, user and client feedback.

• Stage Six: Refine, implementation, prototyping and standards:
   - Detailing, drawings, materials, processes, prototyping.
   - Vision statement, standards, specifications, manuals, roll-out programme.