Design Lens

Design Lens

Nov 10

What is Design?
The best of the Dictionary.com definitions is: to plan and fashion the form and structure of an object, work of art, decorative scheme, etc.
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/design?&qsrc=)
I prefer to think of it as a perception or lens which gives the ability to see form, structure and purpose as variables which need to be harmonized into a simple elegant whole.  There are many ways of doing this, but the point of design itself is to simplify meaning, function, and form into something easily understood and intriguing to the viewer/user/client.

When thinking of the process of Design these are some words which come to mind:

Simplicity, Elegance, Refinement, Creativity, Fun, Surprise, Rhythm,
Problem-Solving, Intelligence, Determination, Intuitive-Reaction…

The process is meant to bring order and harmony to something which is nebulous or chaotic. It seems to me that in order to truly understand design one must live it, and let it permeate into every aspect of life.  That is, it brings the ideals of harmony, simplicity, efficiency, elegance, refinement, and creativity into everything we interact with and every situation we find ourselves in. It helps us to be always searching for a better, clearer way to communicate or express purpose; both in what we do and make, and who we are.

Design is a lens which encourages us to see the truth, refine it to what is truly needed, then redefine how it is expressed.