The process of deciding how a design should feel always starts with the juvenile. Most of my ideas are ruled by the opinions of a very fussy little kid inside my head, who will only beg for a product if the packaging looks cool. If the third grader in my head would judge my designs as lame or not be able to understand who it's for, I need to revise.

 

Maybe make it more eye-catching or serious looking or rugged to make a little kid with a small perception of the world understand whether the product is for his stay-at-home mom or outdoorsy dad or punk older brother. These semiotics are foundational to communicating with the audience, and most folks will still have an initial reaction to the design that sparks that juvenile simplistic understanding of the world. That is exactly the moment I am constantly striving to connect with the viewer in.