DesignArten

DesignArten is a term used in design discourse to describe the typology and articulation of different design practices and artefacts. It does not refer to a single organization or official standard; rather, it functions as a meta-concept found in academic texts, industry discussions, and curricular materials. The term blends the English word design with the German Arten (kinds or types), signaling a cross-linguistic approach to classifying design work.

DesignArten is applied across disciplines such as graphic design, product design, interaction design, service design, architecture, and urban design. In this usage, it functions as a framework for examining artefacts by typology rather than by a single discipline, focusing on aspects such as function, materiality, user interaction, and social or environmental impact.

As a practical tool, DesignArten helps educators structure curricula and researchers map design projects to typologies, stages, or ecosystems. Different authors emphasize various axes for categorization, including materiality (physical vs digital), scale (item vs system), and context (local vs global). The concept also accommodates considerations of sustainability, cultural context, and technology mediation.

Criticism centers on vagueness and potential overgeneralization. Some designers argue that rigid typologies overlook contextual factors or hybrid practices that span multiple categories. Despite these critiques, DesignArten remains a flexible concept in design theory, education, and practice, used to discuss the diversity of design forms and the relationships between artefacts, processes, and contexts.

See also: Design taxonomy, Typology in design, Design theory.