Designten

Designten is a term used in design theory and practice to describe a structured, criteria-based approach to evaluating and guiding design projects. It functions as a framework intended to help teams align outcomes with a defined set of performance benchmarks rather than relying solely on intuition or aesthetic judgment.

A typical designten framework organizes work around ten core criteria, commonly including usability, accessibility, sustainability, aesthetics, durability, manufacturability, cost, ethics, scalability, and resilience. Designers map features and decisions to these criteria, assess trade-offs, and document how each criterion is addressed throughout the project lifecycle. The process usually involves defining the criteria at the outset, creating a scoring or rubric, iterative design cycles, and transparent reporting of scores and justifications.

Designten is applied across domains such as consumer products, digital interfaces, architectural design, and urban or service design. Proponents argue that it provides a common language for cross-disciplinary teams, supports measurable accountability, and facilitates stakeholder communication. Critics contend that a fixed ten-criteria scheme can be rigid, risk oversimplifying complex design goals, and may undervalue intangible or context-specific considerations.

Origin and use of the term remain informal, with references appearing in design education, professional forums, and some speculative design writings. It is typically presented as one of several analytic tools to complement broader design thinking, not as a replacement for expert judgment.

See also: design thinking, design criteria, usability, sustainability in design.