Design: A Very Short Introduction - Essay Example

Design The term design is common in our daily life and is used by almost everybody. It has varied meanings depending on the connotation within various disciplines. It is used in many area ranging from architecture, business, circuit diagrams, engineering, management, graphic design, and cowboy coding. Thus, design refers to the establishment of a convention or plan for construction or development of a system or object (Grillo 12). According to Antunez, design refers to beautiful solutions meant to satisfy human needs within varied circumstances and situations (Antunez 1). Design plays an integral role in guiding human life in various aspects and disciplines of life. This is because it constitutes a strategy or roadmap for achieving a certain or unique expectation. Design helps in ensuring that our plans are carried out in an anticipated manner thereby leading to fulfillment and enjoyment of life (Hauffe 15). This is because it is applied differently in various contexts such as objects, roads, buildings, clothes, shoes, and even processes. These are designed and later accomplished thereby completing the design process and its purpose in life. It is, therefore, true that people at different levels in society employs use of design in accomplishing their ideas and objectives in life. Design is thus important and vital component in life and which every man has to recognize, understand, and use. I have always loved design ever since I was a child. During my childhood, I was prone to imagining various situations, buildings, people, toys, and other playing materials. In most cases, I would make drawings of places I had never visited, people I had never met or even certain events and this to me constituted design. Thus, I designed various things more so playing materials most of which I had seen in the environment. However, as I grew up, I started developing deep understanding and knowledge in design. I came to recognize the existence of various forms of design specific to the diverse aspects and parts of life. I came to understand fashion design, architectural design, engineering design, and even basic designs of my friends and colleagues. Since I had massive experience concerning design from childhood, I support works of design in life. I love examining various designs of roads, buildings, portraits, buildings, clothing, shoes, and even designs of electronic devices and machines. I support design since it enhances life of every human being. This is because everything that was invented by human beings at one point had a design. For example, the motor vehicles we use every day were designed before commencement of actual manufacturing process. Think of the roads, bridges, buildings all of which are of great value to our lives. Through design, the manufacturing or processing system of various objects and instruments we use became easy and feasible (Hwang 1). It, therefore, made the implementation process much easier and this boosted morale and more innovation ideas. Moreover, I like design since it makes me wonder how a fellow human being thought and developed certain designs in life. For example, I wonder how certain unique buildings and roads were designed and how special were the designers. Moreover, I have always wished to see and chat with Jonathan Ive who designed the various Apple Inc. products including MacBook (Heskett 23). I will, therefore, become satisfied, as I will have the opportunity to interact and share various information and personal experience with various designers in the world. This is because such individuals are very important in life since they have made an effort in easing the life of man on earth. Thus, I believe that in case I get such an opportunity to interact with these special people, I will get some ideas and knowledge in being a good designer. However, the marvelous works by designers give me a challenge of wanting to design something unique, which will be used in my remembrance. Therefore, I believe that design is an important aspect of human life since man sleeps, eats, sees, uses, and even dream of design in daily life. Because of the various importance of design, man should embrace and practice design in as it enhances innovation in life while improving the standards of living of people (Lauer & Stephen 45). Thus, I do believe that design increases human thinking and enhances creativity, which constitutes important virtues in life. In life, I embrace and appreciate the works of design and its role in life. This is because I understand that I live comfortably because of the various designs created in the past. I know that, without design, my life would have been miserable. For instance, I would have to walk to various places, experience trouble in communication, lack the beautiful and new fashion clothes, as well as remain in the dark and archaic period when accessing news, ideas, and views were hectic and tiresome (Heskett 26). Design has been an integral part in my life. During my childhood days, I would visualize unique images and conceptualize them. As I matured, I came to understand the importance of design in establishing or developing man made features. For instance, going through some of the exemplary buildings on earth, I came across some inspiring artistic designs and structures. The photos below show examples of marvelous and inspiring designs sampled from varied disciplines Photo 1 Retrieved April 21, 2014 from http://www.lostateminor.com/2010/08/28/beautiful-and-bizarre-roads-of-the-world/ The image of the road is very beautiful and inspiring. Despite being marveled by the road, I am happy and proud of the designers for their unique and beautiful work. Photo 2. Retrieved April 21, 2014 from http://mashable.com/2014/04/19/kingdom-tower-tallest-building/ Consequently, Photo 2 is an awesome design of the soon to be constructed Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia. Upon its completion, the building will not only become the tallest in the world but also among the beautiful wonders of human creation. Photo 3. Retrieved April 21, 2014 from http://www.elle.com/fashion/designers/ In photo 3, there is a beautiful design of a woman cloth. This is a wonderful design of modern women outfits that make women trendy. There are several values associated with design. Despite having various disciplines and contexts, design has unique values. These values contribute to its significance in society thus the need for its adoption. First, design enhances thinking capacity of individuals (Rilley 1). Since it focuses on thinking and imagination, design promotes thinking towards achieving a certain goal or finding solution to a given problem. The power to think critically and creatively contributes to the development of images as well as thoughts of inventing a new thing as well as developing it. When a person thinks of an imaginative object, he visualizes on the overall presentation, shape, form, structure, and design. These imaginative features constitute the design of the imaginative objective. Thus, for the establishment and interpretation of such images, a person needs to develop creative skills. Therefore, design facilitates development of creative skills. Moreover, the critical and creative skills generated by design allow an individual to solve various problems in life. It results into a reduction of challenges as well as enhanced means and method of solving or tackling such challenges. Therefore, design is good for the society since it increases the ability to think and analyze various issues critically and in an appropriate manner thereby raising standards of living in various societies (Rilley 1). Secondly, design is valuable since it enhances creativity and innovation and boosts research work (Lauer & Stephen 48). As an individual develops new thoughts and images about a given object and plans on its resemblance upon completion, they have the opportunity to conduct research. Research enables one to gain more knowledge and understanding about a given issue affecting him and the entire society. Moreover, research ensures that a person gains much knowledge thus becomes knowledgeable and increases literacy levels while curbing ignorance (Lauer & Stephen 48). Consequently, additional research ensures generation of knowledge, which in most cases is passed to other individuals in the society. An informed society is good since it understands and cooperates within itself as well as within members of a different society. Third, I cherish design since it establishes confidence in human beings (Hwang 1). When an individual generates an idea, design it, and ensure that it becomes implemented. Despite the entire process being hectic and demanding, the implementation and thence success remains challenging and thus any kind of achievement becomes essential. On being successful, the innovator remains happy thereby developing confidence in his skills and abilities. The confidence developed is of utmost importance in life since it facilitates or enhances further innovation, which can result in the development of other useful devices or objects that can improve human life. Moreover, it makes the individual believe and consider himself capable of transforming the lives of other beings while at the same time setting a good precedent for other future innovators. Finally, design is important in life since everything human being uses are attributed to the work of design. Imagine of beautiful clothes, buildings, roads, motor vehicles, shoes and other life saving devices and machines used in hospitals, factories. Where did such important devices and machines come from? It is undisputable that individuals of extraordinary traits invented the machines and instruments. However, the invention never occurred at an instance; there is a need for the idea, design, and then implementation. Thus, at a certain stage of the innovation process, there was the incorporation of design and it ensured development of such important gadgets, machines, and instruments, which are crucial to the survival of man. It is, therefore, true that, without design, the earth would not be a comfortable place, as human beings would experience difficult challenges and few would survive (Hauffe 85). This clearly proves of the importance of design and its contribution in improving human life and ensuring that he leads a worthier and comfortable life. In conclusion, design is a crucial part and aspect of human life and exists in every discipline. Through its varied applications and use, it facilitates the development of vital objects, machines, tools, buildings or even models that are critical to man and his survival. The inventions, creations, as well as innovations attributed to design, contributes positively to the well being of human beings thereby reducing misery and making life bearable. Therefore, without design, life would be unbearable and only a few individuals would succeed. Thus, everybody needs to embrace and support design since it has a massive positive impact on human life. Through that, there would be an increase in innovation and creativity thereby leading to the development of more devices useful to man. Works Cited Antunez, Luis Jose. “What is design?” Web, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014 from https://medium.com/design-ux/c4be733141f1 Elle. Designer Files. Web, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2014 from http://www.elle.com/fashion/designers/ Goldin, Melissa. “Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia Will Soon Be the Worlds Tallest Building”. Web, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014 from http://mashable.com/2014/04/19/kingdom- tower-tallest-building/ Grillo, Paul J. What Is Design?Chicago: P. Theobald, 1960. Print. Hauffe, Thomas. Design. London: Laurence King, 1998. Print. Hwang, Victor. “What Is Design? Unlocking The Genius Within Forbes.” Web, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorhwang/2014/02/11/what-is-design-unlocking-the- genius-within-says-expert/ Heskett, John. Design: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print. Lauer, David A, and Stephen, Pentak. Design Basics. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. Rilley, Wells. “What is design? Why is it important?” Web, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014 from https://hackdesign.org/lessons/1 Zolton . “Beautiful and Bizarre Roads of the World”. Web, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2014 from http://www.lostateminor.com/2010/08/28/beautiful-and-bizarre-roads-of-the-world/ Read More