Post Script

Douglas Bowman has a solid grasp on a process for any creative project, be it personal or for a client. I feel as if he was stopped short though. Maybe for intended reasons, but I think a major part of the design process should involve the user. He has a chance here to relate how important user centered design is along with his current process of personal comparisons and sketching. Unless he has another entry on keeping the user in mind while practicing his design process, I think it should be added.

I agree completely with comparing oneself with competition or peers of a higher design capability. This will not only help you grow as a designer, but keep you from repeating mistakes others have made.

All these steps take allot of time to complete and could make an easy job much longer than most would think is needed, but as the author obviously believes, this is something you should do on every project no matter what. Much like an artist will draw layers of a binding box, skeleton, then gestures before the detail of a character, a web designer should build his site from the ground up giving it a solid foundation.