There are many words in the modern lexicon, the meaning of which we do not know thoroughly. For example, some people cannot accurately answer the question of what design is, what is the true meaning of a given word, where it came from. We will try to lift the curtain of such mystery on the basis of theory and practical examples.
Some general concepts
Generally speaking, design is a synthesis of the design process and its result. In the course of this, everyday objects, premises, machines and equipment, as well as many other things, are created.
According to the rules, the design should contain three main criteria: profitability, convenience and beauty. Although the percentage of these indicators may fluctuate depending on which industry the work is carried out. However, one cannot say so briefly and dryly about what design is. This concept is divided into many subgroups, varieties, which are fundamentally different from each other. But they are united by one thing - a specially trained person should be engaged in creating something beautiful, comfortable and economical.
Consider who a designer is
Since today this direction is often compared with architecture, music, sculpture, the creator himself in this area is also considered an artist. It creates something beautiful, universal, something that will at the same time please the eye and, possibly, will become acceptable in use.
Who is a designer? We must not miss the moment that such a person should clearly see the general organization of all details and forms in the things with which he works. This means that, creating something new, he must move all the components of the object with which he works, until they look the most harmonious and attractive in the given conditions. This also applies to working with color, and with lines, and with shapes. If a person feels a balance in things, while seeing the general picture of what is obtained, then he is a true designer. Such a specialist can safely search for himself in one of the branches of this art form.
Let's talk about design from a professional point of view
Now let's try to consider this type of art from the practical side, which will help to take a fresh look at it and understand its whole essence. Modern information sources provide too much unnecessary information about what design is, however, in fact, there is no exact concept.
So, if we need to solve a problem, we create something new, something that allows us to eliminate the shortcomings quickly and in the most affordable way. For example, to overcome the distance between two floors, the walls of which are very high, a spiral staircase is erected . At the same time, it is smoother for a rising person than a straight line, and takes up less space. Thus, design is a solution to the problem both from a practical point of view (more comfortable conditions, more free space), and from an aesthetic one (we all know that spiral staircases look very impressive and perfectly complement any interior).
Desire to get better
Continuing to talk about what design is, we turn our attention to the furniture that stands in our apartments, houses and offices. Few people think that once it was made just to make our life better, more comfortable and more beautiful. So far, we are not talking about which varieties of certain furniture elements today you can buy, but we will directly examine the items on which we are sitting.
Once upon a time, people used only stools and benches. But a man appeared who wished to have a more comfortable place to rest, and he created a soft armchair upholstered in cloth. First of all, he had to develop a design that could withstand a person with any body weight, and then give it a certain appearance. Now it’s easier to understand who the designer is. This is a man who simultaneously constructs and ennobles his creations, which subsequently become useful and even indispensable for society.
What is design
Nowadays, there are a whole host of different types of activities that all come together under one tag - design. This applies to the Internet, household items, food, toys and interiors, cars and portable equipment. Everything that surrounds us was once, as they say, a dream that came true through the combination of constructive and decorative activities. Therefore, now we will try to divide all the styles and directions in design into the main subgroups that are most popular these days. By the way, many of them have already become separate branches of art, which are taught not only at specialized courses, but also at universities of international standard.
Our home, cottage, office and the process of their creation
Perhaps, with the word "design" for most people, the first thing is associated with a certain type of interior. Today, room decoration options are divided into many varieties that can be classified depending on the era, country or just the creator’s imagination. For example, in offices most often dominates the classical style, which, accordingly, originates from the era of classicism (nineteenth century).
Modern design is created in apartments, and it can resemble a spaceship, a night club, and so on. As a rule, this option is characterized by a minimal amount of furniture, glass shelves and tables, a large number of mirrors and monochrome colors. But any room (both working and home) can be made, say, in Japanese style or in French. In the first case, it is enough to establish a minimum of functional furniture in the room and add the appropriate attributes. In the second, we select jardiniers, couches and sophisticated forged elements, after which your idea comes to life.
Internet - a field for a fantasy flight
Today, design areas are very tightly connected with life on a worldwide network. The number of sites that fill the Internet is unrealistic to count, and each of them has its own specifics. Some are created for communication, others for basic or additional income, there are children's portals, and there are quite adults (18+). The network operates shops, social services, various support services and much, much more. We see that you can just live on the Internet, so each industry of virtual being must have its own appearance that is different from others.
The site design is created taking into account what its main functions are. Depending on this, the color scheme, various decorative details and inserts, font type, widgets, functionality, etc. are selected. It is also worth noting that the appearance and design of the site for the entire period of its existence may repeatedly change. It all depends on the speed of development of new IT technologies, services that make using the resource more comfortable and acceptable.
The food also has an appearance
It's hard to imagine, but designers are also working in the food industry. They create a beautiful shell of everything that we eat, starting with a wrapper and ending with the appearance of the product itself.
Take the chocolate candy design as an example. If this product is intended for children, most likely it will have a rectangular shape or elliptical. The wrapper will be painted in bright colors, there will be drawings and colorful inscriptions on it. Thus, with the help of design, this product will attract the attention of children, which will allow the manufacturer to increase the number of sales.
Chocolates for adults are most often packed in cardboard boxes. They can have a round, rectangular, square shape or even a heart shape. The packaging design is likely to be romantic, made in dark colors. Similarly, the design of dishes is served that are served on the table without packaging. Even meat can be cooked in a certain way so that it has the shape and color you need.
Larger Design
Have you ever thought that not only our house has its own distinctive appearance, but also the city? In fact, each locality has its own unique design, which in most cases was created over many centuries. This is what we often call the aura of a place, its secret meaning. It is interesting that the external appearance of the city very much affects the residents who live in it. Architectural forms (smooth or lancet), the width of the streets, the height of the buildings, their color, the shape of windows and doors, and much, much more, have an impact.
Perhaps a small province or village will not have integrity in this regard, but take a look at such megacities as Moscow, Chicago, Mexico City. In each of them there are old buildings, and skyscrapers, and wide avenues, and narrow streets. However, they are fundamentally different because they have a different design that has been created for centuries.
Little conclusion
Today it is enough to take design courses in order to become a worthy representative of this profession. However, it is important to consider one fact: in order to create something new that helps solve certain problems and at the same time looks beautiful, you need to have talent. Designers are undoubtedly creative natures who see this world differently from technologists or ordinary workers. Nevertheless, the design itself is not art, a kind of decoration or something like that. This is a combination of innovative findings that make our life easier and more comfortable, and beauty, which brings more good mood and positive to every day we live.