Greek Ceramics (plate 1A), ancient kitchenware from India (plate 1B), Japanese Tea Ceremony (plate 1C) and Java Puppet (plate 1D) all exhibit wide range of design applications from ancient period. Above products, display manifestations of their culture, heritage, and ethos to reflect their sentiment. In each case product expresses especial purpose and sentimental association. Design is common in each case however in each product design is representing very especial meaning for a very special community. Therefore, understanding the meaning of design is the most relevant issue before we discuss anything.

Design is an art, which we can see, experience and interact with. Design implies a type of creativity that has purpose and executed in a systematic, innovative, and analytical manner to a solve problem. Design process works on the basis of predetermined needs to help in planning solution through physical display and functioning. Design reflects socio-political-cultural issues of the society. Design changes according to the taste of people. It is never dead. It keeps on growing and changing like organic substance depending on the social need and aspirations. It survives by changing and accommodating various other surrounding factors. Design reflects the energy, prosperity, aspiration, innovations and living conditions of people. Manifestations of design are the mirror of the society. There is a saying, ‘the chaotic road condition reflects the nature of a society.’ The archeological finds from Indus Valley Civilization reflects the prosperity, growth and the life-style of the people of their time. The advanced technology, creativity and innovations of IDV Civilization amaze historians and archeologists even today. Every little or large items of IDV Civilization illustrates the taste, desire and rich heritage of their society. The ‘usability’ of design reflects the desire and the functioning of the social fabrics.

Design has the inbuilt aesthetic quality that surrounds us all the time. It reflects the principal, broadest, and most advanced form of human non-artistic activity that conforms to the laws of beauty. It embraces the preparation, production and existence of things manufactured by industry to meet the requirements of utility, convenience and beauty.

“Design is creative work whose goal is to determine the formal properties of manufactured goods, including both their external characteristics and most important, the functional and structural interrelations which turn the article into a single whole both from the point of view of producer and customer.
The design is the world of objects created by man by means of industrial technology which meet the demands of the beautiful and the functional.”
_ International Seminar on Design, Belgium 1964