We explain what design is and what its characteristics are. Also, what is graphic, industrial and architectural design.
What is Design?
The word design has a very wide range of definitions, since it is applied to many areas of human knowledge in a more or less differentiated way. However, by design we generally mean a process of mental prefiguration, that is, creative planning in which the solution to a specific problem is pursued, especially in the context of engineering, industry, architecture, communication and other related disciplines.
In very broad terms, design is nothing more than the imagination of an object that is, its conception taking into account aspects such as its shape, appearance, functionality, operability and useful life. Designers, therefore, do nothing more than create physical objects, graphic or of any other nature, that serve a specific purpose established in advance. For example, an industrial designer may design machinery parts for automobiles, or more efficient forms of plumbing, while others may create furniture, toys, telephones, etc.
Design as an autonomous discipline plays a vital role in the contemporary world to such a degree that it has been assimilated into practically all areas of human endeavor, and is among the most in-demand study careers internationally.
See also: Technical drawing
Design features
A designer is a person who has trained his creativity by focusing it on more pragmatic aspects, so that he can offer solutions adapted to the problem he faces. For that reason, design as a discipline is usually a bit general, a set of knowledge applicable to various fields of work but they use geometry, arithmetic, logic, illustration, marketing, sociology or computer science for a process that, fundamentally, includes the following stages:
- Observation and analysis Since the need for design arises from the daily life of human beings.
- Planning and projection Proposing a way to solve the detected need.
- Construction and execution Bringing what was projected to reality and subjecting it to the test of its operation.
graphic design
This is maybe one of the most popular branches of design today given the visual aspect that predominates in contemporary culture. It involves the creation and projection of graphic objects: illustrations, compositions, logos, images, fonts, etc., used in various industries and mass media, taking into account aesthetic, communication and symbolic aspects.
This branch of design has, in turn, segments applied to various fields of interest, such as:
- The editorial design He specializes in graphic work on layout and preparation of covers for books, magazines and other printed publications.
- Advertising design He specializes in the creative work behind advertising and marketing consumer products and services, creating advertisements, advertisements or commercial illustrations.
- The corporate design He specializes in creating corporate graphic motifs, such as logos, packaging and illustrations that reflect the corporate identity of a company or organization.
- The web design He specializes in aspects of design that concern the Internet and the 2.0 world, which is why he often ventures into the audiovisual and interactive, even using knowledge of computing and programming.
industrial design
This is a branch of design that deals with designing serial and/or industrial products that is, consumer or capital goods. Paying attention to the shape, use and useful life of objects, it seeks to maximize their functionality and make them better, more satisfactory for the consuming public. In that sense, the industrial designer is dedicated to:
- Automotive design Of automobiles or parts for them.
- Aeronautical design Of airplanes and ships or parts for them.
- Furniture design Of furniture and shelves or pieces for them.
- Product design Such as household appliances, food packaging, plastic products.
- Toy design Of recreational objects or spare parts for them.
- Design of machinery and equipment Of machines for various manufacturing or productive purposes.
Due to the complexity of these processes, industrial design usually requires very specialized knowledge in terms of materials, machinery and services, they want to study them throughout a university career.
The architectural design
It is a type of design focused on the satisfaction of the specific needs of living spaces by human beings whether in its aesthetic or technological aspect. That is, it provides technical and constructive solutions for the practice of architecture, of which it serves as a subsidiary discipline. Architectural design could be said to deal with the creative aspect of architecture.
fashion design
The creation of outfits, clothing, accessories, footwear, jewelry and other objects ornamental or functional use for human beings is the field of specialization of fashion design. He applies his creativity to the understanding and management of cultural, aesthetic, social and consumer trends of a given era in a given place, however serving the style and ingenuity of its creator. It is distinguished from cutting and sewing in the latter: in its artistic aspect, far from the mere craft of making a garment.
Fashion designers play an important role in the fashion industry, and They usually exhibit their designs in catwalk shows in which various models wear their clothes before an audience. Fashion is, in this sense, one of the main cultural expressions of various human cultures, and they play a prominent role in the preservation and transmission of moral, social values and ways of life.
References
- “Design” on Wikipedia.
- “Different types of design and their categories” in VISO Communication and marketing.
- “Debate: what is design?” in FOROALFA.
- “What is Design?” at Stifelsen Svensk Industriedesign.
- “Beginning graphic design: fundamentals” (video) at GCFLearnFree.org.
- “Design (Arts & Technology)” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica.