Não se restringindo apenas a objetos, o Design abrange conceitos, sistemas e processos e proporciona sinergias, emoções positivas, acrescentando sempre valor sem necessariamente aumentar os recursos incorporados. A prosperidade da nossa sociedade resulta também da competência na concepção destes processos, sistemas e produtos que favorecem a saúde das pessoas, o bem-estar alargado e a gestão de recursos, considerando o respetivo ciclo de vida integral.

1. (Uma) Definição de Design
Design is the creation of a plan or convention for the
construction of an object or a system (as in
architectural blueprints, engineering drawing,
business process, circuit diagrams and sewing
patterns).

2. Paradigmas de Design – os dois extremos
The Rational Model
1. designers attempt to optimize a design candidate for
known constraints and objectives,
2. the design process is plan-driven,
3. the design process is understood in terms of a
discrete sequence of stages
The Action-Centric Model
1. designers use creativity and emotion to generate design
candidates,
2. the design process is improvised,
3. no universal sequence of stages is apparent – analysis, design
and implementation are contemporary and inextricably linked

3. Áreas de Design (18)
• Applied arts
• Architecture • Landscape Architecture
• Engineering Design • Military Design Methodology
• Fashion Design • Product Design
• Game Design • Process Design
• Graphic Design • Service Design
• Industrial Design Engineering • Software Design
• Instructional Design • Web Design
• Interaction Design • Urban design
• Interior Design

4. DESIGN PARA A CONSTRUÇÃO DE UMA SOCIEDADE SUSTENTÁVEL
Exemplo : http://philanthropybydesign.org/fightmalnutrition/