The document discusses different definitions and perspectives on what design is, quoting several designers describing design as visual thinking, a way of life, and about designing user feelings. It asserts that design is the creation of order, structure and narrative in society, not just about making pretty things. It lists contradictory adjectives like playful and controversy to show design encompasses many aspects and can have different impacts. It emphasizes that design is about observing the world and can involve objects, spaces, information, services, systems and people. It questions if this was meant to be a dictatorship of design rules, but concludes that design allows for democracy and choice.

1. DESIGN DICTATORSHIP
(OR, WHAT IS DESIGN? AND HOW DO I SPOT IT?)

2. (OR, WHAT IS DESIGN?)

3. “DESIGN IS THINKING MADE VISUAL”
- SAUL BASS

4. DESIGN IS NOT A THING YOU DO.
IT'S A WAY OF LIFE
- Alan Fletcher

5. “DESIGN IS NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING SOMETHING, IT IS ABOUT DESIGNING THE FEELINGS OF THE PERSON WHO USES IT.”
- Tokujin Yosioka

6. DESIGN
IS NOT
JUST THE
CREATION
OF ‘PRETTY’
THINGS,
IT IS THE
CREATION
OF ORDER,
STRUCTURE
AND NARRATIVE
IN OUR SOCIETY.

7. DESIGN IS PLAYFUL

8. DESIGN IS CONTRADICTION

9. DESIGN IS CONTROVERSY

10. DESIGN IS BEAUTIFUL

11. DESIGN BITES BACK

12. DESIGN
IS EMPOWERING.

13. DESIGN
IS CONTROL

14. DESIGN
IS CHAOS

15. DESIGN IS SIMPLICITY

16. DESIGN CAN BE A SNOB

17. DESIGN IS
OBSERVATION.
OPENING YOUR EYES
TO THE WORLD
AROUND YOU.

18. OBJECTS.
SPACES.
INFORMATION.
SERVICES.
SYSTEMS.
PEOPLE.
PLACES.
CLOTHES.

19. WAIT!

20. THIS WAS A
DICTATORSHIP,
RIGHT?

21. WHERE THE FUCK ARE MY RULES?

22. DESIGN DEMOCRACY

23. DEMOCRACY IS CHOICE

24. DESIGN IS A CHOICE

25. WHAT IS DESIGN? (FOR YOU)