Design means to plan and create something with a specific purpose in mind. When architects design a building, they decide where the rooms go, how tall it should be, and what materials to use. When engineers design a bridge, they calculate how much weight it needs to hold and what shape will be strongest. When you design a poster for the school play, you choose colors, fonts, and images that will catch people's attention.

Good design solves problems. A well-designed backpack distributes weight comfortably and has pockets in useful places. A poorly designed one might look cool but hurt your shoulders or lack space for your books.

Design involves both appearance and function, working together. When video game creators design a new level, they think about whether it's fun, fair, and exciting, as well as whether it looks good. A chair might be beautiful, but if it's uncomfortable to sit in, it's badly designed because good design means both looking good and working well.

The word can also be a noun: The design of the new playground was approved by the city. When something happens by design, it means someone planned it that way on purpose, not by accident.