Mind Mapping Design

In order to mind map "design," I decided to focus on four main categories that I thought were the key foci of the topic. First I focused on function, which is the actual purpose of the design. I highlighted three main areas which use functional design; First, the design is used to convey information such as road signs, legal documents, text books, and so on. Design is used for commercial purposes in all types of media: television, movies, magazines, bill boards, just to name a few. Design can also have cultural functionings, such as choreographed dances or prayers, as well as specific arts and crafts special to certain cultures.
From there I considered the importance of form of design, breaking the topic into two parts. In the first, 3 dimensional design, I focused on uses such as sculptures for aesthetic purposes, but 3D design also often produces items that we use every day. Also, since there are three dimensions in which to work, there is more physical diversity to be explored. 2D design on the other hand offers just as much to society, with the appeal of literature as well as popular media (i.e. magazines, TV shows, news, etc.). However, since 2D has only a flat surface to work on, it must find ways to be diverse and convey its use in different ways.
The designer's meaning can be apparent in its approach, such as road signs, pretty pictures, and designs intended for sheer shock value. Often designers look for shock value in order to make a strong point, for example anti-war campaigns featuring gory pictures. They can also try to be more mysterious about their meanings, perhaps to teach the audience a moral, or to covertly criticize their targets without being overtly obvious.
Lastly, I focused on a couple concerns associated with design. One must consider the role of the audience when designing, and be careful not to offend anyone with what you create; not only out of concern for losing your followers, but for the sake of their psychological well-being (i.e. see case about anti-war campaign). If one is appealing to a certain audience for a product advertisement, designers must also beware of to whom they are appealing as well as the best media and designs to best do so. Finally, designers must be conscious of the costs of their designs, and choose wisely the paths to best express their desired outcomes.