Thoughts on Design

Here’s a short interview I rolled across. Charles and Ray Eames discussing some basic design questions. Short, simple, and to the point.

Q. What is your definition of “design?”
A. A plan for arranging elements in such a way as to best accomplish a particular purpose.

Q. Does design imply the idea of products that are necessarily useful?
A. Yes-even though the use might be very subtle.

Q. Is it able to cooperate in the creation of works reserved solely for pleasure?
A. Who would say that pleasure is not useful?

Q. To whom does design address itself? To the greatest number? To the specialists or the enlightened amateur? To a privileged class?
A. To the need.

Q. Does the creation of design admit constraint?
A. Design depends largely upon constraints.

Q. What are the boundaries of design?
A. What are the boundaries of problems?