Do We Really Know What "Design" Means Anymore?
Frankie Kastenbaum
Experience Designer by day,?Content Creator by night,?in pursuit of demystifying the UX/UI industry | Mentor & Speaker
Let’s talk about the word “design.” We say it a lot—like, a lot. But have we lost touch with what it really means?
Somewhere along the way, “design” seems to have morphed into a fancy word for “opinion.” And that, in my opinion, is a bit of a problem.
Design: More Than Just a Pretty Face
Ever had someone look at your work and say, “I don’t like this design,” when they really mean, “I don’t like how this looks”? Yeah, we’ve all been there.
But here’s the thing: design isn’t just about making things look cool. It’s about making things work—beautifully, yes, but also functionally. Think of it as the perfect blend of brains and beauty. It’s like making a salad that’s both delicious and nutritious.
Design Isn’t Just a Vibe, It’s a Process
We live in an age where scrolling through pretty designs on Instagram is a daily ritual. But don’t let those eye-candy feeds fool you.
Design isn’t just a vibe—it’s a process.
It’s about asking the right questions, testing your ideas, and tweaking them until they actually solve a problem. Imagine if your favorite app only looked good but was a nightmare to use. That’s what happens when design is all about the aesthetics and not about the user experience.
领英推荐
Opinions Are Great, But Insights Are Better
We all have opinions. (You’re probably forming one about this newsletter right now!)
But when it comes to design, opinions need to take a backseat to insights. Insights are those golden nuggets you get from research, user testing, and real-world data. Saying “I love this color” is cool, but saying “This color improves readability and accessibility” is way cooler. Trust me.
Beware the Opinionated Design Trap
When design gets driven by opinions rather than solid insights, it’s like trying to cook without a recipe—you might end up with something tasty, but more likely, it’s going to be a hot mess.
Decisions get made based on who has the strongest feelings, not what’s best for the user. And that’s a fast track to a design disaster.
That’s where you come in. Your job is to steer the ship with user-centered design, not just follow the latest trend or loudest voice.
Let’s Bring Back the True Meaning of Design
So how do we get back to the true meaning of “design”?
Start by grounding your work in the user’s needs, not just what looks good on your portfolio.
Gather data, seek feedback, and iterate like your design depends on it—because it does!
Don’t let design become just another word for “preference.” Make it a word that stands for problem-solving, creativity, and making people’s lives better.
Technologies Generalist
3 个月UI/UX is no longer about the end user - its all about MANIPULATING the end user and siphoning off data - that shameless and disgusting paradigm needs to end.
Lansweeper Technical Evangelist, Owner Zill IT Labs, LLC
3 个月I firmly believe that the last city of Zion in the Matrix was lost to the machines solely because they didn't just install a button to open and close the gates.
Technical Architect
3 个月Excellent post. Too often of late 'design' trumps functionality/usability. Case in point, the move towards the exclusive use of touch screens in cars. Looks cool at the dealership, not so fun when trying to adjust the temp or find that favourite radio station while driving.
Senior Computer Scientist - Adobe Photoshop
3 个月It's easy to pinpoint. . Microsoft Metro, The firing of Scott Forsall, and Johnathan Ive with iOS 7. Design has died. It's all about design systems. No longer do apps delight or wow their users.
Championing outcomes over outputs | Architect and Integrator
3 个月Thanks for such articulate thoughts people need to hear! ?? To expand, I recently came across a paper by faculty and collaborators at Delft University of Technology on Design Labels that is relevant: https://repository.tudelft.nl/file/File_2dd001ef-04ea-4d07-8f24-1f8eebf81670?preview=1 The definition of "design" both within, and publicly perceived outside of, organizations [offering design services] / communities [of designers] often isn't specific enough because there are multiple contexts in which the word can be used. I appreciate how the authors ended up categorizing the design labels into: 1. design 'for' criteria / value 2. design 'from' resources 3. design 'by' method 4. design 'of' an outcome / product 5. design 'in' a domain It's evidence, that perhaps there is no one "true meaning of "design"". Although this newsletter seems to be from a UI/UX perspective, it also resonates in my domain of architecture (the built environment kind, which encompasses a hefty list of 'design' labels ??)