Design as a process

http://www.nbm.org/schools-educators/design-education/design-the-design-process-and-design-education.html

Design as a Process

The act of design can be defined as a purposeful and creative process for developing solutions for defined needs and audiences.

• Design fulfills a need or a purpose and is carried out purposefully. Thus, it is not random or arbitrary.
• Design is creative because it involves the development of something new, different, or improved. Design is also creative because it embodies an aesthetic component, be it the visual appeal of the Washington Monument or the organizational elegance of a workflow system.
• Design is practical because it provides a solution to a perceived problem or need. The solution is not predetermined; indeed, there can be more than one viable solution or design.
• Design should respond to a particular audience or audiences. For example, a chair that is designed for a child will likely differ in form and style from a chair designed for an older person.

Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose. – Charles Eames

Design in its simplest form is the activity of creating solutions. Design is something that everyone does everyday. – Frank Nuovo

Design is a creative activity—it involves bringing into being something new and useful that has not existed previously. – J.B. Reswich

Design is the method of putting form and content together. Design, just as art, has multiple definitions, there is no single definition. Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.   – Paul Rand