THE NEED FOR DESIGN

Design is the middle path between analytical thinking and creativity. It enables one to create products that are functional, yet aesthetic. A designer may be considered somenone who dreams like an artist and creates like an engineer. Design involves creativity to a large extent and allows one to come up with solutions that incorporate convenience, ease of use, ease of replication and sensitivity.

Design speaks in a Universal language and is often incorporated in Visual Communication for greater clarity i.e. the purpose of design here is not just communication but to communicate the same message to everyone. Airport signage is designed through a deliberate and well researched process since it caters to a diverse audience.



Design also teaches one to be sensitized to the real need and requirement of the target audience. Older people benefit more from objects with wider grips, larger alphabets and lightweight tools on account of failing motor skills.

Crayons for children are designed to be thicker for a better grip and have toys which lack small, removable parts since they have a tendancy to swallow objects.

Design also allows one to appreciate the beauty of natural objects around us. Design involving nature mimicry involves taking inspiration from or imitating the principles of geometry and form present in natural objects to create beautiful and functional objects. Spider silk has inspired Kevalose which is used in bullet proof vests. A building in Harare, Zimbabwe called the Eastgare Center has taken inspiration from the shell of a termite to create a cooling system that requires only 10% of the energy required for a conventional building of that size.

Thus, Design is an inegral part of our thinking process for coming up with innovative solutions and in making things simpler and more convenient.