At Massey & Harris, design is about creating more than just objects or structures, it’s about shaping experiences that inspire, delight, and engage. Whether we’re designing a full play scheme, a bespoke item, or a new product, our process ensures that every idea is explored, tested, and refined to deliver something truly special.
Our approach follows a structured, iterative process inspired by the Double Diamond framework, but it’s enriched by our core design principles: curiosity, inclusivity, sustainability, and playfulness.
Discover
The first stage of any project is about understanding the challenge fully. We immerse ourselves in the context, listening carefully to clients, stakeholders, and end users to capture their needs, aspirations, and perspectives. Research, site visits, and moodboarding allow us to explore a wide range of stimuli, from materials, colours, and forms, to textures, sounds, and the broader environment. By gathering these insights, we uncover opportunities and constraints that might not be immediately obvious, helping us to see the bigger picture and define what really matters. Discovering broadly ensures we approach the project with empathy, curiosity, and a rich foundation of inspiration.
Define
Once we have gathered insights, we turn our attention to clarity. In the Define stage, we review everything we’ve learned and distill it into key focus areas that will guide the concept development. This is the stage where understanding evolves into direction, setting clear objectives, priorities, and design intentions for the project. It is here that we make sure every decision aligns with our values, ensuring play value, inclusivity, sustainability, and quality are embedded from the outset. By defining the challenge clearly, we provide a framework that channels creativity in a purposeful way while keeping the project grounded in its objectives.
Develop
With a clear direction established, we move into the heart of the creative process. The Develop stage is about exploration, experimentation, and iteration. We think beyond the obvious, imagining multiple ways to address the focus areas and generate meaningful solutions. Concepts are sketched, modelled, and prototyped, with careful consideration of usability, interaction, and the sensory experiences they might create. This phase is highly collaborative, with clients, partners, and our team working closely together to refine ideas and challenge assumptions. By exploring widely within a structured frame, we ensure that creativity is balanced with functionality, producing ideas that are imaginative, inclusive, and feasible.
Deliver
Finally, we focus on bringing the strongest ideas to life. The Deliver stage is where concepts are refined into a single, coherent solution, balancing aesthetics, function, and safety. Every detail is considered, from materials and finishes to interaction and flow, ensuring the final design achieves its full potential. Implementation is carefully managed, whether it’s a bespoke product, a full play scheme, or a prototype for a new innovation. Once complete, we review and evaluate the project to ensure it delivers long-term value and delight for all who experience it. This stage represents the culmination of creativity, craft, and care, transforming ideas into reality that inspires, engages, and endures.
