Adapting Design Process

Is there a standard set of principles one has to compulsorily follow?

No two designers are building the same product or design, what worked for Google may not necessarily work for you, and vice versa. To each their own is the way to go as long as you follow the basic rules of design - Keeping it simple, keeping it legible, clarity for the product.

One way to try and test yourself is to try and recreate designs from dribble, up labs, xdguru, and many many many more sites in your way and style. Do not copy the design itself as it is, but try to seek inspiration from the design and make it your version.

No two designers perceive the same way or think along the same lines you do. So always take inspiration and most importantly do not copy. Rather try understanding why a particular designer made the designs in such a way and try to put your spin on it.

For example, - Design process used by Mr A may not necessarily work for Mr B. The principles, concepts, and models used by Mr A may have worked for him then for his set of requirements or problems. It may not necessarily work for Mr B. Mr B may have different requirements, resources and problems to solve. Hence he will have to build a slightly different or fresh set of design processes.

This might be an unpopular opinion, I will go ahead and say it anyway. What constitutes to be the latest design trend? One section of designers might say Style A and the others may say Style B. I can confidently say whatever comes to you instinctively at that moment while you are working on a particular product may work for you (it may flop as well and you will very well come up with something right eventually). So don't follow the status quo for the latest design trends or something popular at that moment. Sometimes just like in the movies where old wine in a new bottle works with the masses, your product may also need just a little bit of old school with a new twist.