What makes truly innovative or inspired design? How do designers think? Where is the connection between how they think and what they actually do? Although these questions may seem unanswerable, an investigation and exploration of praxis may help to shed some light on not just the what, but the how. In graphic design, praxis can be defined as the process of putting theoretical knowledge into practice. This process involves assimilating past experiences into the present, filtering relevance, being willing to experiment and make something new, and applying that knowledge with a willingness to experiment again in the future. Our everyday lives follow this process to an extent; the difference here is the awareness and control over it to properly articulate it into original work.

My book is based on a series of interviews tracing the praxis of several designers. The book serves as a primer about the interaction between theory and process, while this website hosts edited video clips from the interviews. These videos enhance the book by revealing the idiosyncrasies of the subjects’ personalities. Additionally, they will extend the project’s longevity, with the ability to expand to include further observations and experiences. By using an interdisciplinary group of successful designers, this research will answer how esoteric and exoteric components combine to make design useful, functional, and inspired.