entwerfen

Entwerfen is a German verb meaning to design, draft, or conceive a plan or product. It refers to the process of developing an idea into a workable concept before it is built or produced. The term is widely used across creative and technical fields, including architecture, industrial design, graphic design, urban planning, and software design.

Etymology and scope: Entwerfen derives from the prefix ent- attached to werfen (to throw), historically conveying the sense of casting forth or developing an initial idea. In everyday and professional usage, it covers both conceptualization and preliminary design work, from rough sketches to formal design concepts.

Usage and forms: In practice, entwerfen is used with objects or projects at the design stage. Examples include: Der Architekt entwirft einen neuen Entwurf für das Museum. Wir müssen einen Entwurf erstellen. Der Entwurf wurde genehmigt. The past participle is entworfen. The related noun Entwurf means a design or draft, while Entwurfsprozess or Entwurfsphase refer to the design process or phase.

Nuance and related terms: Entwerfen emphasizes the ideation and planning phase, whereas other terms focus more narrowly on execution or visualization. Konzipieren conveys conceptualization, gestalten on shaping or rendering, and zeichnen on drawing. Entwurf contrasts with final production, highlighting the transition from idea to plan.

See also: Entwurf, Entwurfsprozess, Design, Gestaltung. German speakers use entwerfen to describe the act of developing a plan or object from concept to concrete plan, before its realization.