Friday, January 21, 2011 - Definition of Design

Definition of Design

"Design as a noun informally refers to a plan for the construction of an object (as in architectural blueprints, circuit diagrams and sewing patterns) while “to design” (verb) refers to making this plan.^[1] No generally-accepted definition of “design” exists,^[2] and the term has different connotations in different fields (see design disciplines below). However, one can also design by directly constructing an object (as in pottery, cowboy coding and graphic design).

More formally, design has been defined as follows.

(noun) a specification of an object, manifested by an agent, intended to accomplish goals, in a particular environment, using a set of primitive components, satisfying a set ofrequirements, subject to constraints;

(verb, transitive) to create a design, in an environment (where the designer operates)^[3]

^{source: Wikipedia"}

I Think this energy drink ad is a good example of design in our modern day world. Now a days the only types of long lasting, independent (non-government funded) designs have to make money for someone, it may be a collectible or be able to reach millions of people and inspire them to ____ (blank is for whatever you want your "consumer" to do, versatile right?). The definitions of design are varied and usually have a bias towards whichever discipline the author has taken up as his perspective. But in today's capitalist mindset, and today's youth being very connected with Facebook, Twitter, and internet access virtually everywhere, The designers of today need to be innovative and original, or it just will not reach their desired masses.

This image was found on a blog site, where an Advertising graphic designer made (and quickly I might add) a generic energy drink advertisement in photoshop. It does not have a name on the image, as you can see, and just the basic color scheme and form have that "energy" feel to it. You may see this image in the near future with any kind of current energy drink thrown into the mix, and that is when this image will really be seen, only when sponsored by a corporation and endorsed, will this image ever be seen by a very large audience, but at what cost?