What is Design?

What do billboards, logos, websites, magazines, video games, indoor spaces, and even grocery store aisles have in common? They are all the projects of designers. The intentional, creative, and original work is called design. Design is the process of creating items like those in the previous list, along with many more visual and everyday items to appeal intentionally to a specific audience. In marketing, it's used to draw in customers.

Designers must consider multiple components that vary depending on the project and the audience. Designers often need to be familiar with using a combination of text and images to appeal to human emotions and convey a certain message or relevant information. For example, certain colors might be associated with certain emotions or events, such as black with death in western cultures, and designers will utilize these colors to help the piece achieve its purpose. Whether the designer is working on a website or working to create an appealing storefront, clarity of information and visual appeal are essential.

A successful designer must understand the various elements of design in order to be effective in the organization and the flow of information. Commonly-recognized elements of design include the aforementioned color, as well as form, texture, lines, shape, and typography. There are other principles of design as well, principles which are beneficial to know (such as contrast and proportion). All these elements and principles convey information. For example, using jagged lines might create a tense mood in a viewer, while using bright colors, bold lines, and traditional shapes would help a product appeal to kids.

Because this form of visual communication transcends written language and helps bridge different cultures, design impacts a large audience. It's relevant to art, literature, economics, education, and more. Furthermore, we encounter design everyday.

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Design Topics

Design Theory

Learn about design theory. See how design theory is used in graphic design, architectural design, and more, and discover different design theories with examples.

Fashion Design

Learn about fashion design and understand how it is used. Explore types of fashion design, the role of fashion designers, and see examples of fashion design.

Graphic Design

What is graphic design? See some examples of good and bad graphic design and learn what a graphic designer does. Learn design terms and how they are put to use.

Principles of Design

Learn what the principles of design are and how they are used in art. Study examples of principles of design in art and how they compare to design elements.

Textiles

Explore the definition of a textile and the meaning, sources, and types of fiber that are used to make it. View common and specialized fabric examples.

Web Design

Explore the principles of web design. Learn the history of web design and how web design and development are used. View examples of digital web design tools.

Design Resources

Courses in design work delve into the many aspects of design and design elements. The valuable and relevant content available is applicable whether the learner is new to design or reviewing to help develop additional skill sets. Study.com's courses provide short videos, resources, and quizzes to help learners achieve their goals in understanding and utilizing design elements and techniques.

Courses in Designing

The mix of design courses offered through Study.com explore the central ideas to design. These courses explore the principles and elements of design, as well as design processes needed to complete thoughtful and successful projects. In addition, learners can understand how to view design work through the experience of the user or audience. Engaging in these courses will help everyone gain effective and practical strategies to apply in their work and lives.

Fundamentals of Graphic Design

This course lays the foundation for fundamental concepts like color composition, shapes, and photography. The lessons are short and easy to understand, clearly presenting the processes involved with basic web design, logos, and brand identity.
Interior Design Basics & Principles

The course discusses topics like space planning, color theories, and styles in interior design. Learners have the opportunity to study for professional licensure and certifications and to work with homemakers interested in decorating their homes.
Introduction to Design Thinking

This course discusses the five stages of design thinking, including empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing. Through engaging with this course, the learners are provided with models and real-life case studies to understand relevance and applicability.
Storytelling for Designers

Engaging in this course provides an introduction to design storytelling and focuses on the outline to show the impact and meaning of visuals. The course helps learners understand how to identify elements of the visual narrative and detailed imagery.
User Experience Design Training

This exciting course helps build a deeper understanding of user experience design. Learners will develop their skills in interaction and interface design. They will also study design documentation and learn the processes of usability and testing.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the five types of design?

    There are many types of design. Some of the most common ones include graphic design, engineering design, user experience design, interior design, and software design.

  • What is designing?

    Designing uses a combination of text and visuals to create a project that appeals to the desired audience. Working in design requires knowledge of design elements and principles.