Design is funny and challenging to define due to some of its ambiguous nature (it’s a process specifically targets problems with no clear answers). Here are some of my favorite definitions I’ve come across from others.
“Design is the rendering of intent.” —Jared Spool
“Design is purpose, planning, or intention that exists or is thought to exist behind an action, fact, or material object.” — Robert Brunner
“Design describes both the process of making things (designing) and the product of this process (a design). … The activity of designing is a user-centered, problem-solving process….” —Kathryn Best
“Design is directed toward human beings. To design is to solve human problems by identifying them, examining alternate solutions to them, choosing and executing the best solution.” —Ivan Chermayeff
“Design is the craft of visualizing concrete solutions that serve human needs and goals within certain constraints.” —Kim Goodwin
“Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose.” —Charles Eames
“Design is the creative process in which we use our intuition and analytical ability to understand the opportunities and constraints business goals, competitive markets, customer needs, and technologies present, then envision, communicate, and realize practical solutions that meet customer needs and create business value.” —Pabini Gabriel-Petit
“Design is not what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” —Steve Jobs
“Behavior is the medium of design.” —Robert Fabricant