What is design?

As I was leaving the Metropolis Magazine’s “Putting People First” event at OFS, I couldn’t help but reflect on my 2.5 semesters at ID. Particularly, what is my idea of (human-centered) design? This couldn’t have come at a better time, as I wrestle with what I want my personal design practice to involve 1, 5, and 10 years from now. Below are 42 ideas of what I think design is - ranging from skills to beliefs to values to ways of working.

Design is…

Communicating the invisible

Not about the designer

Taking a systems-lens

Visualizing what you can

Crafting a narrative

Rhetoric

Being unafraid to make a claim

Constant iteration

Being open to critique

Never done

Considering the full human experience

Considering the non-human experience

Facilitation

Sharing power

Activating assets

Learning by doing

Being comfortable with ambiguity

Shaping & reshaping information

Ethical

Not Figma

A holistic way of problem solving

Based in trust

Relational

Coordination towards a shared goal

NOT personas

Adaptive

Non-linear

Sharing knowledge in a usable way

Leadership

Inherently optimistic

Systemic

Empathetic

A constantly evolving practice

Personal

Political

Behavioral

Trans-disciplinary

Inclusive

Exclusive

Emergent

Applying theory in practice

Action-oriented

I highly recommend this exercise to anyone looking to reflect on how personal and varied design is just within ourselves. This is a constantly growing & changing list, but I think it’s useful to get an idea of what beliefs you hold.

Reach out if you have any thoughts, whether you agree or disagree!