What graphic designers say they do

This paper reports the results of a survey of 1500 US graphic designers. Respondents provided information about their levels of involvement with project-related information gathering and analysis, planning, and end-user evaluation. While there are significant levels of involvement in some of these activities, comments made by respondents reveal that involvement with information gathering and analysis, planning, and end-user evaluation is mostly informal. That is, they are often conducted without a formal methodology, and are often not mentioned in project proposals and other related documents. This suggests an opportunity for graphic designers to adopt a formal method for incorporating information gathering and analysis, planning, and end-user evaluation in their design processes. This could allow graphic designers to construct a process comparable to more respected professions, and should promote design solutions geared more closely to the needs of audiences. There is still much room for improvement in the areas of information gathering and analysis, planning, and end-user evaluation in the practice of graphic design.