What is design?

[Geko]

When someone asks u to explain what is design? how do you answer. How do you see the design and what does it mean to you?

[abhi3d]

According to me design is putting different types of lines, colors, shapes in artistic format...

[baiskee]

Design is an arrangement of lines or shapes created to form an image or pattern.

I think colors are just additional components in a design, since you can still do design without any colors such as Black, White or both B&W which are considered SHADES not colors.

[g0ld3n_tig3r]

A combination of readables(Text) and non-readables(graphic elements)

[anjelik]

design-art or process of deciding how something will look,work,represent yourself,company,product etc.,
It means challange for me,creativity,putting my ideas into work and presenting it,see it throught my eyes
Of course every designer has his own style,its on public or costumer to decide,but it should be eye-catching,good looking and creative
that is what i see in design putting your ideas,skills and creativity out there

[Janana128]

I think design is using art to portray a message. It's a success when people understand the message that you want them to.

[DreamSky]

Well, design is manipulating visually text and images in order to present some information.

I see it as a way to make the presentation of ideas, companies, products, facts, opinions, information, etc. more appealing and as a way to convey a certain message better.

[atondex]

I think design is communication.

[northernmunki]

I think Design is a creative way of solving a problem. But as a Designer, we all have to think about the impact of our outcomes; ethically and environmentally.

[atondex]

I think Design is a creative way of solving a problem. But as a Designer, we all have to think about the impact of our outcomes; ethically and environmentally.

Can you explain the environmentally part to me ? I would be interested to find out more on this aspect of design.

[northernmunki]

The environmental aspect of Design mainly applies to the aspects of product design/packaging design/advertising etc..

As a designer, you have to bear in mind how the product will be disposed at the end of its life. You have to be aware that as a designer, you contribute to the world's mass consumption of natural resources and mass waste. If you design something with this in mind, you have more control of how much can be recycled into other products at the end of its life.

There are initiatives in Europe that require manufacturers to take back their products after use. This means, on a design level, it's in the manufacturers best interests not to use harmful components (like mercury, lead etc.)and to be designed so they can be easily dissembled into recyclable componants. Manufacturers see the benefits of this financially in that they can actually use some of these materials again in others areas of manufacturing.(EPEA.com)

Nike (of all companies!) actually have a program called 'Nike Grind' where their shoes can be returned to the store after the customer has finished with them. Nike then takes these shoes and as they have been designed with their deconstruction in mind, they can easily seperate three recyclable componants: rubber, foam and fabric.
These materials are ground down and then used to resurface basketball courts, tennis courts and playgrounds. (see http://letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/grind)

As a packaging designer, packaging needs to be designed with the recycling element in mind...less hard plastic casing, styrofoam etc. Considering reusability.

Advertising and marketing need to look at ways of getting across their messages without having to send out 50,000 flyers, 80% of which that will get discarded before they are even looked at.

If we were discussing this as a graphic designer/illustrator, we cause little damage in comparison but we can still have an impact in many ways.

Trying to use less harmful printing materials...recycled papers, soy based inks etc. when possible. Trying not to design an image that uses high quality glossy paper, spot varnishing etc... This is undeniabley hard though, as most of the time, our designs are handed straight to the manufacturer and they have the final say on what and how it is printed based on their costs and their portrayed image.
On a personal level though, we can try to reuse our printer cartidges by getting them refilled (much cheaper anyhow!) and printing out as little as possible.

One thing a good graphic designer/illustrator can do, is make images so attractive that people want to keep them on their shelves, in frames on their walls and on their coffee tables and out of the rubbish dump!

If you are interested in finding out more about Design and closing the materials loop, then a good book to read is 'Cradle to Cradle',William McDonough(an architect) and Michael Braungart (a chemist)

I hope this answers your question a little!

[baiskee]

Very well said northermunki.

[atondex]

It must have taken alot of time for you to write that, so thank you for your time and explanation. Very well forumulated.

[northernmunki]

You are very welcome...design and the environment are very interesting and important to me.

[switch_cs]

Wow... well said...

[yellow_bagpack]

northernmunki, you post the message on "earth day" too... nice catch mate...

[Arzmir]

Design is music, in a graphical form. ^^

[D.signer.]

Design is music, in a graphical form. ^^

I would say, dancing to music.

[g0ld3n_tig3r]

WoW
great concepts
never heard things like dancing and music

[uneekGrafix®]

design is work for "them"....art is work for "you".