How Should We Define “Design”?
How Should We Define “Design”? by Gardi Amit
- Is there truly a “new design” phenomenon?
- Is any idea, whether it’s an initiative for social progress or a clever way to market movies, enough to be declared a work of design?
- Can a construct such as a “process,” “business plan” or a “system” be work of design?
- Lastly, are these metaphysical constructs always design or is there a threshold of beauty, a rigorous process, or another quality standard that must be met for something to be considered a design? In other words, is a ‘business plan’ always a form of “new design” or does it have to involve some level of good, “old fashioned” design to be considered more than an ordinary business plan? And, if the latter, what are the requisite elements that would distinguish one from the other?
Design makes something more functional precisely because of its beautification. That also distinguishes design from say, engineering, where something is made better in ways that have nothing to do with its beauty.
To me, design is best defined with actions as opposed to words. I hope I never find the answer, and doubt I ever will.
