Design:
noun- object, verb- process, noun-concept
In this chapter, What is Design?, Heskett illustrates how difficult it is to define design. How it can be so subjective. How individuals vary on their knowledge of design, it's principles, or the realization of how integral of a role it plays in human existence. Also, that human existence, our habitation, and the process of design has affected nearly every aspect of Earth- "on a detailed level, life is entirely conditioned by designed outcomes of one kind of another."
He states a definition of design: "Design, stripped to it's essence, can be defined as the human capacity to shape and make our environment in ways without precedent in nature, to serve our needs and give meaning to our lives."
He addresses the confusion of the word and its usage or appropriation to a wide variety of practices to suggest expertise. Examples: hair design, nail design, floral design. As well as the range of practice in design. Some examples: craft design, industrial art, commercial art, engineering design, product design, interactive design.
Heskett compares the word love to design. Depending on the context in which the word is used, it can have a very broad range of meaning.
History is also a means of defining design. Heskett presents the point that "the history of design, can be described as a process of layering, in which new developments are added over time to what already exists."
Innovative design takes a problem and solves it. It is a constant evolution to meet needs. The needs of yesterday are, sometimes, but are not always the needs of today and the technology of yesterday certainly isn't the technology of today or will be tomorrow. As it evolves, needs will and design will.
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