designand

Designand is a term used in design discourse to describe the integration of design with other disciplines and practices within a single collaborative approach. The term functions as a neologism rather than a formal field, intended to foreground the integration of aesthetic, functional, technical, and strategic considerations in project work.

Origin and usage: The expression designand appears primarily in scholarly and studio writing as a way to talk about cross-disciplinary design processes. It is not widely recognized as a standalone discipline, but rather as a framing device to describe how design teams incorporate engineering, research, manufacturing, business strategy, and user feedback throughout development.

Applications: In practice, designand encourages early and ongoing collaboration among designers, engineers, researchers, suppliers, and clients. It aligns with trends in design thinking, systems design, and product-service systems, where success depends on balancing desirability, feasibility, and viability across the lifecycle.

Critique: Some observers argue that designand is a tautological or umbrella term that adds little beyond existing concepts such as design thinking or co-design. Others see value in it as a reminder of cross-disciplinary alignment and shared goals.

Examples: The phrase may appear in academic papers, industry reports, or studio descriptors that emphasize cross-functional workflows or design-led development.

See also: design thinking, human-centered design, interdisciplinary design, systems design, co-design.