Six blind people live in a village. They go for a walk in the evening (holding each other’s hand!) and suddenly a big elephant comes in front of them. None of them (of course) have ever seen an elephant and none of them know the enormous size and structure of an elephant. The curiosity of those sahajans reaches its peak.
Everyone tries to check the elephant in their own way. The man who grabs the elephant’s tail says “this is a short rope”. The one who grabs the leg says “It feels like a pillar”.. The third grabs the trunk and says “It is a long tube”.. The fourth puts his hand to his ear and says “It is a good big fan”.. The fifth says it is a huge wall.
The sixth touches the ivory and says “Father, this feels like a sword”. The same parable applies when defining design. Many people know only a few aspects of design. E.g. Some people think that design means sketching and painting, decorating objects, making models, coming up with new ideas, they are right, but design cannot be limited to this. Let’s see some examples!
What is design?
Suppose if we make a list of objects or structures we come in contact with in the first hour after waking up in the morning, the list may be slightly different – bed, sheet, glasses, mobile, electric switch, tooth brush and paste, mirror, water tap, basin, napkin, Current paper, cup of tea etc. Now these objects are completely different in size, form, color, function, weight.
We also use them for various purposes. We wonder what the exact thought process went into making these objects, who and what kind of professionals contributed to their creation? Why would their shape, color, use be the same?
After thinking a little deeper, we will also realize that while making any product, structure or service-system, the materials, manufacturing process, purpose or function (function) are definitely important but at the same time the consumer or It is equally important to consider the user’s physical capabilities, emotional needs, beauty and comfort criteria, surrounding context and culture, environmental conditions, sustainability needs and many other aspects.
First of all, while making things with a rough mind, one should think about two important aspects – Technology and Design. Both of them are like two sides of the same coin!
It is difficult to define a design or to fit the area into a box. The field has many facets and is not easy to articulate. But for general information let us divide the design into two parts.
1. Creativity २. Analytical ability
Design is the field of finding innovative solutions to the problems or needs of the consumer or user by combining these two aspects properly!
Let’s see a practical example! Earlier, people used to carry heavy bags on their heads or shoulders while traveling. Due to this, there was pressure on their neck and spine. Some designers studied these people and the same lifting process, analyzed their needs and invented the “Strolley Bag” that can be pulled, making it easier for people to carry overhead loads, travel with small babies.
The designer Lokani went ahead and made some more improvements viz. Making a small seat on the bag (so that children don’t have to carry it on the side), being able to fold the wheeled bag into a table, adding an attachment to the bag to make it easier to climb stairs, etc. This made the user’s life more comfortable.
As the environment changed, new technological and design changes were also implemented eg. A bag tracking mobile application that locates your bag in the crowd. Or turning the bag itself into a sedentary game to relieve travel boredom – in this instance it is one part to “analyze” users, their needs, preferences, habits, and another to suggest new ideas e.g. Part of the creativity is to facilitate the stairs.
Sub-Types of Design
Design is not only about tangible products but it can be sub-typed e.g. Logo and Font Design, Smart Phone Apps, Space and Interior Design, Animation, User Experience Design, Fashion Design, Vehicle Interior and Exterior Design (Transportation and Vehicle) design.
At present more than 35 types of design training are offered in India. In the next part of the article series, we will delve deeper into all these important sub-types of design.
Think a little hard!
The answer to the riddle in the previous section.
The answer to the riddle in the previous section.
