What is design? What are the styles and directions in design?

In the modern lexicon there are many words, the meaning of which we do not know thoroughly. For example, some people can not accurately answer the question about what design is, what the true meaning of this word is, where it came from. We will try to raise the veil of such secrets on the basis of theory and practical examples.

Some general concepts

Generally speaking, design is a synthesis of the design process and its result. In the course of this, objects are created for everyday use, premises, cars and equipment, as well as many other things.

According to the rules, the design should contain three main criteria: economy, convenience and beauty. Although the percentage ratio of these indicators may vary depending on the industry in which the work is carried out. However, we can not say so briefly and dryly about what design is. This concept is divided into many subgroups, varieties that are fundamentally different from each other. But they are united by one thing - to be engaged in creating something beautiful, comfortable and economical should be a specially trained person.

Consider who a designer is

Since in our days this direction is often compared with architecture, music, sculpture, the creator himself in this area is also considered an artist. He creates something beautiful, universal, something that will simultaneously please the eye and, possibly, will become acceptable in use.

Who is a designer? You can not miss the moment that such a person should clearly see the overall organization of all the details and forms in the things with which he works. This means that when creating something new, it must move all the components of the object with which it operates, until they look the most harmoniously and attractively in the given conditions. This also applies to working with color, and with lines, and with shapes. If a person feels a balance in things, while seeing a general picture of what happens, then he is a true designer. Such a specialist can safely seek himself in one of the branches of this art form.

Let's talk about design from a professional point of view

Now let's try to consider this art form from the practical side, which will help to look at it in a new way and understand its essence. Modern information sources give too much unnecessary information about what design is, but there is no precise concept, in fact.

So, if we need to solve a problem, we create something new, something that eliminates shortcomings quickly and in the most accessible way. For example, to overcome the distance between two floors, the height of the walls of which is very high, a spiral staircase is erected . At the same time, it is smoother for a rising person than a straight line, and takes up less space. Thus, design is a solution to the problem both from a practical point of view (more comfortable conditions, more free space), and with aesthetic (we all know that the spiral staircases look very impressive and perfectly complement any interior).

The desire to become better

Continuing to talk about what design is, pay attention to the furniture that is in our apartments, houses and offices. Few people think about the fact that it was once made in order to make our life better, more comfortable and more beautiful. So far, we are not talking about what kinds of furniture elements can be bought today, but we will consider directly those items on which we are sitting.

Once upon a time, people used only stools and benches. But there was a man who wanted to have a more comfortable place to relax, and he created a soft chair, upholstered in matter. He had to develop in the first place a design that could withstand a person with any body weight, and after giving it a certain appearance. Now it becomes easier to understand who a designer is. This is a person who at the same time constructs and ennobles his creations, which later become useful and even irreplaceable for society.

What is the design like

Nowadays, there are a lot of different types of activities that all are united under one tag - design. This applies to the Internet, household items, food, toys and interior, cars and portable equipment. Everything that surrounds us was once, as they say, a dream that came true because of the combination of constructive activity and decorative. So now let's try to divide all the styles and directions in design into the main subgroups that are most popular nowadays. By the way, many of them have already become separate branches of art, which are taught not only in specialized courses, but also in universities of the international standard.

Our house, dacha, office and the process of their creation

Perhaps, with the word "design" in most people, the first thing is associated with a certain type of interior. Today, the design options for the premises are divided into many varieties that can be classified according to the era, the country or simply the creator's fantasy. For example, in the offices most often dominated by the classical style, which, accordingly, originates from the era of classicism (the nineteenth century).

Modern design is created in apartments, and it can resemble a spaceship, nightclub and so on. Typically, this option is characterized by a minimum amount of furniture, glass shelves and tables, a large number of mirrors and a monochrome color scheme. But any room (both business and home) can be executed, say, in Japanese style or in French. In the first case, it is enough to establish a minimum of functional furniture in the room and add the appropriate attributes. In the second we select jardiniere, couches and refined forged elements, after which your idea comes to life.

Internet - a field for flying fantasy

Today, design trends are very closely related to life in the worldwide network. The number of sites that fill the Internet, it is unrealistic to count, and each of them has its own specificity. Some are created for communication, others - for obtaining basic or additional earnings, there are children's portals, and there are absolutely adults (18+). There are shops, social services, various auxiliary services and many others in the network. We see that you can simply live on the Internet, therefore every branch of virtual being must have its own external appearance.

Website design is created by taking into account what its main functions are. Depending on this, color design is selected, various decorative details and inserts, font type, widgets, functionality, etc. It is also worth noting that the appearance and design of the site for the entire period of its existence can repeatedly change. Everything depends on the speed of development of new IT technologies, services that make the use of the resource more comfortable and acceptable.

Food also has an appearance

It's hard to imagine, but in the food industry designers are also working. They create a beautiful shell of everything that we eat, from the wrapper to the appearance of the product itself.

As an example, let's take a chocolate candy design. If this product is for children, it is likely to be rectangular or elliptical. The wrapper is painted in bright colors, there will be drawings and colorful inscriptions on it. Thus, with the help of design this product will attract the attention of children, which will allow the manufacturer to increase the number of sales.

Candies for adults are most often packed in cardboard boxes. They can have a round, rectangular, square shape or even the outlines of the heart. The packaging design is most likely to be romantic, executed in dark colors. Similarly, the design of dishes that are served on the table without packaging is created. Even meat can be cooked in a certain way, so that it has the shape and shade you need.

Design on a larger scale

Have you ever thought about the fact that not only our house has its own, different from other appearance, but also the city? In fact, every settlement has its own unique design, which in most cases was created over many centuries. This is what we often call the aura of a place, its secret meaning. It is interesting that the external appearance of the city greatly affects the residents who live there. The impact is provided by architectural forms (smooth or pointed), the width of streets, the height of buildings, their color, the shape of windows and doors, and much, much more.

Perhaps a small province or village will not have integrity in this regard, but let's take a look at such big cities as Moscow, Chicago, Mexico. In each of them there are ancient buildings, skyscrapers, wide avenues, and narrow streets. However, they are fundamentally different because they have a different design that has been created for centuries.

A small conclusion

Today it is enough to pass the design courses in order to become a worthy representative of this profession. However, it is important to consider one fact: to create something new, helping to solve certain problems and while looking beautiful, you need to have talent. Designers are undoubtedly creative people who see this world differently than technologists or ordinary workers. Nevertheless, the design itself is not art, some kind of decorating or something like that. This is a combination of innovative findings that make our life easier and more comfortable, and beauty, which brings to each day a more good mood and positive.