The Design Spectrum

Design is where form (or appearance) meets function (or utility).

Almost every man made space around you was designed to meet afunction.

Basic needs like shelter, storage, protection etc.haveparameters around their design.That said, more sophisticated designs gobeyondfunction.

They evokefeeling– contemplation, security, exposure, exhilaration.

There are many spaces where, if you take the time to notice, we can experience these kinds of feelings.So noticing how spaces you're in affect you adds another string to your design bow.

Don't forget almostevery item(if notallof them) around you wasdesigned.

A designer spenthoursworking through iterations to create everything you're looking at.

That's why it meets all your needs.

Not only through how it works, but also how it looks.

Throughout history, humans haveshaped our reality to suit our needs.Through developing specialist tools, or manipulating our environment.

So What Is ‘The Design Spectrum'?

I tend to position most things developed by the human hand on aspectrum.

At one end we haveengineering.Things with tight tolerances, a specific purpose, that are able to be repeated and mass produced if needed.

At the other end we haveart.Things (or experiences) that require creativity, spontaneity, reflection, introspection and other personal explorations.Subjective, and not to be produced again (in most circumstances – there are exceptions).

Let's have a little look through both.

Engineering

Engineering is all aboutfunctionfirst.

The mostefficientandeffectiveway of meeting the design requirements.

Engineering hasspecific aims.

It uses amethodical approach.

The rules it utilises arerepeatable.So you generally know the outcome you wantbeforeyou begin.Andmass productionis often the aim.

Engineering focuses onreducing waste.

In essence, staying‘lean'.

Art

Art sits on the opposite end – it focuses onform.Onappearance.

Some would saybeauty.Orexperience.

Art oftenlacks a specific function(or even ‘true' interpretation if it's postmodern).

It's aspontaneous, creative process–notmeant to be repeatable.

It'ssubjective.

True art, while following the same formula,shouldnotresult in the same outcome.It can be a representation of reality.

Some artists insist the piece of work is a unique item within the world.Not a depiction, but an object on it's own.

Art isexcess.It doesn't contribute to any other process.

We don't need it tosurvive!yet we need it tolive.

Many will argue that engineering can be aesthetic – I agree.

Many will argue art serves a function – I agree there as well.

The difference lies in their priorities.

In engineering, function ‘informs' form.

For art, that connection is not always clear, or even considered.

What about design?

Designoccupies space somewhere between the two.

Design hasintent, but allows for (indeed, relies on)creative processes.

In serving afunction, it also followsspontaneityand‘hunches'.

It can be mass produced or completely unique, depending on the field.

It has opportunities for cleanefficiencyor extremeexcess.

You will fall either to the left of this spectrum, or to the right.Or somewhere in the middle, depending on your preferred design style.

You'll discover ‘gaps' during thedesign process.

They sit between spaces or areas in your garden.These gaps are opportunities for the ‘fat' or excess – in areas or spaces – to expand.

Or you may prefer no expansion.Refusing to allow activities or programs to flow into other spaces.

Your choice instyle, among other things, will dictate where you sit on the spectrum.

This doesn't have to be a conscious thing, but it can shed light on your own design preferences.

By understanding what you like, you cannarrow your focus.So you can devote your time more to findingexactlywhat you want.

Or, becreativeandspontaneous.

Do ‘Feeling Lucky searches in Google.

Either way you're allowing your design to reflect your process.