Frequently Asked Questions

This page contains the answers to some of the most often asked questions about design. We're adding to it over time, so if you have a question which isn't answered here, but you think should, send it to and we'll see if we can include it.

Q - What is Design?

A - That's a question which every student of design must have had to write an essay on.

Design, as we mean it, can be seen as a process of planning and creation. Whether it is a product, a machine, or a work of art that is being designed, it will be made up of functional and/or aesthetic elements. It is a designer's job to select and arrange those elements.

The output of the design process might include one or more of:

• preliminary sketches;
• detailed drawings;
• the results of calculations;
• patterns;
• models;
• written guidelines.

Design is often a considered balance of Form and Function.

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Q - Form and Function?

A - Form is how a thing is made, how it looks. Function is what it is for, what is expected of it.

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Q - What types of jobs do designers do?

A - Design comes under a number of categories, many of which are specialisms.

Some examples are:

• Architecture - A discipline which takes in everything from the shape of the structure and choice of building materials to the details of the interior.
• Fashion - Designing clothing and accessories.
• Graphic Design - This area of design is linked to publishing. A graphic designer might be involved in the choice of typeface, page layout and decoration, and in relating pictures, diagrams, etc, to the text. They might also work on developing corporate identities for businesses.
• Industrial Design - The design of products for manufacture. This can involve technical decisions on the properties of the materials to be used, but may also be influenced by the marketing decisions; an item may be functional, but it might sell better if its looks appeal to the target market.
• Interior Design - At its highest level, this is a sub-division of architecture - concentrating on the insides of buildings.
• Website Design - Almost a multi-discipline activity, this can combine graphic design with information structure design and software design.

In fact, many of the jobs undertaken by designers cut across the category boundaries. Packaging design might involve elements of graphic design, but packaging can be a product in its own right - requiring industrial design techniques.

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Q - Why would I seek a designer's help?

A - Designers bring their own specialist skills and knowledge to help you look at things differently. They will also know how to pay attention to details which you have no time to consider yourself. As with any other professionals, the trick is to select a designer whose specialist skills are strongest in the area where you need most help.

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Q - What sort of qualifications are needed to become a designer?

A - The answer depends upon the particular design discipline concerned. In some cases, experience and artistic flair are more important. However, training for most disciplines is available through colleges and universities. Many specialist designers will have studied to degree or postgraduate level.

Membership of the relevant professional association may depend upon the candidate meeting certain conditions for qualifications and experience.

In the case of architects, there is a legal requirement for anyone practising as an 'architect' to have their name on the Register of Architects which is kept by the Architects Registration Board. To qualify for registration, a candidate in the UK must pass a RIBA recognised degree course and professional exams, and have two years' practical experience.

As an example of the courses available, the School of Design at the University of Northumbria offers the following design related degree courses:

• BA (Honours) Design for Industry
• BA (Honours) Fashion
• BA (Honours) Fashion Marketing
• BA (Honours) Graphic Design
• BA (Honours) Multimedia Design
• BA (Honours) Three Dimensional Design: Furniture and Interiors/Jewellery and Fine Product
• BA (Honours) Transportation Design
• BSc (Honours) Complementary Design Practice
• Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Design
• MA in Design Practice
• Foundation Certificate in Furniture and Spatial Design
• Foundation Certificate in Jewellery and Silversmithing Design

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Q - What is "Design Right"?

A - Design Right is a form of Intellectual Property.

Like Copyright, it exists from the creation of an original design and provides the owner with limited legal protection against others copying the appearance of the article (eg its shape, layout, ornamentation, etc).

Unlike Copyright, Design Right can be registered (in the UK this is through the Patent Office). Registration extends the legal protection available for a design.

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Q - What is ergonomics?

A - Ergonomics relates design to the way people use objects. The aim is to increase efficiency, safety, and comfort.

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Q - Are there any witty quotes about design?

A - Thanks to Xrefer.com we can tell you that the British artist David Hockney is attributed with saying:

"Art has to move you and design does not, unless it's a good design for a bus."

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