World Design Day

Oxford Dictionary defines design as "the general arrangement of the different parts of something that is made, such as a building, book, machine, etc."—a definition indicative of how design is an inherent part of our lives in every sphere. World Design Day is celebrated on April 27 each year to celebrate this aspect of our lives.

Source: designkunst.com

The phone you use, the clothes you wear and the roads you travel are all a result of design and innovation. A lot of factors are considered before designing something—form, function, as well as aesthetics. For example, the clothes worn by different sections of society show different priorities according to their need—people involved with hard manual labour will prioritise utility whereas those in the entertainment business will likely go for form and aesthetics. A study of the changing nature of women’s clothing throughout history can be a great insight into understanding how design is socially shaped.

World Design Day, celebrated on the 27th of April recognises the value of design and its role in improving the quality of life. The idea of World Design Day originated from Kim Paulsen, the vice president of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations, to celebrate the commemoration of the founding of the council. The first edition, held on April 27, 1995, was named World Graphics Day which later came to be known as World Design Day. The council, together with the United Nations Organisation promoted the idea as the international day for design.

The International Council for design decided that each year there would be a specific theme for celebrating the day, for 2022 it was ‘design for one and all’  which promoted the idea that everyone should have access to a well-designed world and objects that make life better. Some of the previous themes have been women in design, environment and sustainability and more.

In today’s world of high technology and relatively easier access to information, the idea of design is not confined to engineers in closed offices, it is much more interactive now. Factors like environment, accessibility and diversity all take centrestage in the planning and the stakeholders are not just passive bystanders. For example, a locality can not be renovated by displacing the inhabitants, the new design and planning have to keep their interests at the forefront. The evolution of functional clothing for women as well as more accessible workspaces, promotes the inclusion of women in the public sphere, although this is a work in progress.

This shows how design, from simple cutlery to gigantic infrastructural entities affects our lives. If implemented well, it can promote well-being and the collective development of society. This again emphasises the importance of this day and strives to teach the designers the interplay of social, economic, environmental, technological, and geographic factors that form the backbone of the design.