Design: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to the overall plan or concept for an object, project, or system. It can be applied to creative, technical, and planning processes.

• The design of the new smartphone is both innovative and user-friendly
• She has a keen eye for design and architecture

Use when referring to the arrangement and style of text, images, and other content within a document or file. Often used in the context of text documents or digital content.

• Formatting the report took longer than writing it
• The formatting of the resume needs to be more professional

Use when referring to the arrangement of elements on a page, screen, or space. It emphasizes the spatial organization of visual components.

• The layout of the magazine is clean and easy to read
• They are working on the layout of the new office space

Use when referring to a repeated decorative design or a regular sequence in data, often found in textiles, designs, and behaviors.

• She loves the floral pattern on that fabric
• We are starting to notice a pattern in customer complaints

Used when talking about creating detailed plans or drawings, particularly in art, architecture, engineering, and fashion.

• She designs beautiful dresses for her boutique.
• The architect is designing a new skyscraper.

Used in general contexts to mean creating a proposed course of actions or steps to achieve a particular goal, applicable in everyday use as well as professional settings.

• They plan to go on vacation next summer.
• The team met to plan the project's next phase.

Often used when discussing the creation of schemes, strategies or ideas with a focus on inventiveness and cleverness.

• The committee devised a new strategy to improve work efficiency.
• He devised a plan to solve the problem.

Appropriate for articulating or developing detailed plans or proposals, often in scientific, legal, or policy-making contexts.

• Scientists formulated a new theory based on the latest data.
• The council is working to formulate new policies.