Decoding the Essence of 'Design' from its Etymology!

We hear the word 'design' often, but what is it, really?
To answer this question,
we will explore the 'true meaning' of 'design' through its etymology.

Thank you for joining me again today!
I am Yuji Imai, an invention designer who creates new choices!

'Design'is a word I think we hear very often.
But'What is its original meaning?'if asked that, some people might respond with
'?'.

'Design'If you have the opportunity to design something,
you want to understand its original meaning thoroughly to
'create a wonderful design'.

'Design'Even as someone who uses design,
'good design'if you can learn to distinguish it,
life might become more interesting.

But actually,
just as it is difficult to translate 'itadakimasu' or 'yoroshiku onegaishimasu' into English with a single word...
.

It is difficult to express the original meaning of design in a single Japanese word.

'Design' requires a multifaceted interpretation!

That is.

This time, let's explore it from itsetymology.

'Design' is decoded from 'De-Signare'!

Originally,
it is said that design comes from the LatinDesignare.

Divided, it is Desinare ⇒ De-Sinare ⇒ De-sign-are

'De'is the starting point (similar to 'from' or 'of' in English).
'Sign'is a mark.
'are'makes it a verb.

⇒'mark'to'attach'which translates directly to the'act'
of doing so.

Therefore, generally,
it can also be translated as 'to write down a symbol,' or
'planning'.

But! However! This is

only one meaning of the etymology of design!

This translation alone only represents the
'action' or 'behavior' seen by a third party
in other words,the superficial part.

It does not at all express the
'philosophy'
regarding 'design'!

"Sign" is also an English word, so many of you may have guessed it, but it has various meanings beyond just
"to write down".

"To indicate," "a sign"

Furthermore, by combining it with"De," the meaning deepens. In the combination
De-Signare, "De" is mainly used with a strong sense of starting point, origin, or from zero, so

starting from the present

"pointing to the future"

is also a valid interpretation.

Ancient designers must have had
a "I want to do this!"
thought in advance regarding what they were creating, andthe direction of the future
in order to"indicate" they"wrote it down."

In other words, a "designer" (one who De-Signs) is
someone who "writes down" in order to "indicate" the shape of the future

and,

the person who sees it
"Oh! It would be great if it turned out like this!"

is something that should

make them feel the "signs" of a wonderful future!

Conclusion

If you decode design from its etymology,
it is "writing down a plan"
in order to "point to the direction of the future."

However, just writing it down (drawing it aimlessly) does not
truly make it design.
That is what it means.

Therefore, as a designer, I
"point to a better direction for the future!"
I do "design" with that conviction!

There are other important elements to design,
so I will continue to write about them!

⭐️⭐️Thank you for reading today as well!!⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️Comments, requests, and questions are welcome!⭐️⭐️

Related Articles

What is an 'idea' in the first place?

What is an 'invention' in the first place?