what is design?
I have been a social designer for 10+ years across multiple geographies, contexts, and fields. There are a number of design definitions and professions, but I have come to view design as:
the convergence of Curiosity, Creativity, and Strategy to create impact.
Some brief definitions to distinguish:
Curiosity: eagerness or interest in knowing, learning.
Creativity: ability to imagine and foster new ideas into existence
Strategy: creating a plan of action
A bit oversimplified, but helpful:
Curiosity asks: why?
Creativity asks: what if?
Strategy asks: How?
Curiosity is personal, we cannot force or fake it, it is unique to all of us and it is the root of creativity. Curiosity doesn’t always lead to creativity but curiosity is the foundation of creativity. Design is useless without both because strategy cannot stand on its own; it cannot have any kind of sustainable impact without the “why?” and “what if?”
Curiosity drives us towards hobbies, adventures, research, vocations, transformation…It asks, Why is this not working? Creativity says, Now that we know why, what if we do this instead? Strategy responds, Okay now how do we turn this into reality?
Curiosity is the interest, creativity is the idea, and strategy is the plan for implementation.
When most people think of design, we think of professions with design in the title: clothing designer, graphic designer, interior designer, or web designer. But the field of design is much broader than these professions.
We utilize design components regularly. We design our spaces to fit our needs, we design our days to fit our schedules, we design our gatherings to fit our community. We design for personal needs everyday, whether it is conscious or unconscious.
Those who design with intention and regularity are designers.
Designers are those who practice design in their personal and professional spaces. There is a commitment to strengthening curiosity, creativity, and strategy skills. We each have these innate abilities, at varying levels, and designers engage in the exploration of each with the dedication to one or more.
Most of my design experience, until recently, didn’t come with the moniker of design. It came in the form of strategic planning, program development, writing a lesson plan or syllabus, managing a project, drawing blueprints, decorating a home, making a sewing pattern. All these are design work but I didn’t think of myself as a designer until the last 2-3 years when I came into a fuller understanding of the word.
I used to think I had to study design and have a job with design in the title to be considered a designer. We often need external validation before we give ourselves recognition or titles.
You don’t have to wait for permission from others or have a title bestowed upon you. You don’t have to have a degree or a job title. If it is something you practice and hone - something you dedicate time, attention, and intention towards - then you have the right to identify yourself with that descriptor. You don’t have to, but you have the right to.
