Embracing the Iterative Design Process
Published by Joel
I've officially replaced Scott as the newest member of the Aten team. For more than a month now, I've been soaking in everything, and I wanted to take a minute to reflect on my experience. So far, I've been very involved in Aten's design process. It seems fairly similar to how I've done things in the past, with one clear exception: the attitude surrounding design revisions. Throughout my career as a web designer, I've always seen (and been a part of) negativity around the revision stage of the design process. In some ways, I think we all feel like our awesome designs might be ruined by the input of others.
Aten calls the revision stage of the process the "Iterative Design Process." To me, this has meant that no design is going to be perfect from the get-go, and as a team, we'll help each other make good ideas great through iterations of the design. The same idea applies once we present a design to a client... we make it clear that what we've created may just be the starting point, and we extend an invitation for clients to provide feedback that will help make what we've created even better.
Maybe it's as simple as calling it an iteration versus a revision, but from what I can see, it's enough to keep it a positive – and effective – experience. For me, I'm happily getting used to the Iterative Design Process.

Good points Joel! What a great way to handle revisions. Just like with most things in life - go into it with a positive attitude instead of a negative one, and it's amazing at the difference that makes. Instead of 'correcting' designs, you are building upon them and improving them with more ideas.
Of course, no design is perfect from the beginning but sometimes clients have stupid suggestions. Its like, why did you hire us? You are paying us to design something yourself.
I agree it should be positive, and as a team, the creatives should be able to find a solution and be flexible, but its sooooo annoying sometimes.
I really appreciate Aten and the amazing work they do. Glad to hear you say the same thing from the inside.