[Must-see for Designers👀] What is Design? 10 Perspectives👀

The term "design" may seem to refer only to drawing blueprints in CAD, but it is actually a quite broad concept.
Especially in the worlds of make-to-order manufacturing, equipment design, and production engineering, the very act of "anticipating and deciding the future" can be called design.

Breaking it down into 10 perspectives reveals its true essence.

What is Design? — 10 Perspectives

1. Design is "Deciding the Future"

A blueprint is a set of instructions for a future worksite.

• What kind of equipment will it be?

• Who will be inconvenienced?

• What will become easier?

• Where will accidents occur?

• How many years until it breaks?

You are deciding these things while they do not yet exist.

In other words, designers are fixing the "future reality" in advance.

That is why the responsibility is heavy.

2. Design is a "Series of Choices"

There is no single correct answer in design.

• Prioritize strength?

• Lower costs?

• Prioritize delivery time?

• Prioritize maintainability?

• Leave room for expandability?

It is always a trade-off.

In other words, design is also the job of deciding what to discard.

3. Design is 'anticipating problems'

The best designers crush problems before they even happen.

If no problems arise on-site, it is because the design was good.

However, a design that prevents problems is often invisible to those around it.

This is the fate of the design profession.

4. Design is 'deciding the work of others'

Designers do not work alone.

With a single stroke of a design,

• machining becomes difficult

• assembly becomes a nightmare

• procurement struggles

• maintenance cries

• sales becomes unable to explain

In short, design is a job that even determines the working environment of other departments.

That is why, fundamentally, designers need to understand the entire process.

5. Design is the 'starting point of responsibility'

When a problem occurs, it ultimately comes back to the design.

• Why this specification?

• Why these dimensions?

• Why this safety philosophy?

• Why these parts?

In short, design is the "center of accountability."

The reason design change history is important is that it is a record of responsibility.

6. Design is the "embodiment of philosophy"

A designer's values are reflected in the equipment.

For example,

• Safety-first design

• On-site priority design

• Maintenance-friendly design

• Beautiful wiring

• Structure designed for abnormal conditions

This is not just a machine, but a "design philosophy" given form.

A designer's personality shows in the blueprints.

7. Design is "communication"

It may be surprising, but conversational ability is extremely important for design.

This is because design involves:

• Vague customer requirements

• The true intentions of the site

• Manufacturing constraints

• Cost constraints

• The boss's intent

Because the job is to translate these.

In other words, a designer is also a technical translator.

8. Design is "risk management"

Designers are constantly

thinking about

"What if...?"

• What if it breaks?

• What if it gets clogged?

• What if it is operated incorrectly?

• What if a person enters?

• What if an unexpected load occurs?

This is risk prediction itself.

In other words, design is the act of containing risk within a structure.

9. Design is "profit design"

This is often overlooked, but it is important.

Depending on the design,

• cost

• Man-hours

• Maintenance costs

• Quality

• Claim rate

• Delivery time

• Repeat rate

Everything changes.

In other words, a significant portion of a company's profit is determined by design.

It is not just a "drawing department," but effectively close to the core of management.

10. Design is the "readiness to bear responsibility"

In the end, it's about mindset, but it is the essence.

Designers must:

• make decisions amidst uncertainty,

• proceed with imperfect information,

• be criticized later,

• and be called upon when problems arise.

Yet, they must still make decisions.

In short, design is a "profession that takes on the responsibility of decision-making."

That is why what designers need is not just knowledge, but "readiness."

Ultimately, what is design?

In a nutshell,

It is by no means just a "task."

Tasks like creating drawings or modeling are merely a small part of the overall design process.

Design is,

• digesting ambiguous requirements,

• organizing constraints,

• anticipating problems,

• seeking optimal solutions,

• and bringing them to life.

It is that very series of decision-making processes.

That is precisely why a design team leader must not be a "task leader."

What is truly required is to:

• show the direction of judgment,

• identify risks,

• involve stakeholders,

• and lead to optimal solutions.

In other words, it is the role of steering the entire design.

• "Just draw the picture according to the specifications"

• "It would be fine if the customer decided everything"

• "Just prioritize the demands of the loudest person."

Such an escape route does not exist in true design.

Of course, design is a difficult job.
The responsibility is heavy, and the correct answer is not visible.

However, at the same time,

"Being able to give shape to a future that does not yet exist"

is also a very interesting job.

Even in your busy daily life, why not try to face your daily design work without forgetting its essence?

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