Areas of Design: Classification and Boundaries

How are the areas of design classified?

The classification of design areas is a taxonomic exercise under constant revision, rather than a static system. Historically, divisions were based on the physical medium: graphic design for print media, industrial design for three-dimensional objects, and fashion design for textiles. However, this view is now insufficient.

A more rigorous, contemporary classification is structured around multidimensional axes: the medium (physical, digital, hybrid), the scale of intervention (from an interface to a service system), the dominant purpose (to communicate, facilitate a task, generate an experience), and the nature of the problem (concrete and defined vs. complex and systemic). Thus, instead of closed lists, it is more useful to think of a dynamic map where disciplines overlap and interact.

What is the difference between two-dimensional and three-dimensional design?

The fundamental distinction lies not merely in the number of dimensions, but in the cognitive paradigm and the nature of the interaction. Two-dimensional design (graphic, UI) operates on a plane, managing composition, visual hierarchy, and semiotics within a representational space. Its challenge is the organization of information and communication on a surface.

Three-dimensional design (industrial, architectural, spatial) deals with volume, matter, and habitable space. It involves ergonomics, the relationship of the human body to objects and the environment, material properties, and manufacturing processes. While the former manages visual perception, the latter manages the physical and spatial experience. Digital technology, with augmented reality and 3D modeling, is progressively dissolving this boundary.

What is visual design versus functional design?

Posing a dichotomy between visual and functional design is a conceptual error. They are not opposites, but interdependent dimensions of the same solution. All effective design is functional, and every function is manifested through a visual (or sensory) form. The true distinction lies in the project's emphasis.

So-called 'visual design' prioritizes communication, aesthetics, and the construction of meaning (branding, editorial design), where form is, to a large extent, the function. 'Functional design' (UX, information design) prioritizes usability, efficiency, and clarity in interaction, where form is subordinate to the execution of a task. A successful design does not choose between the two but achieves a synthesis where aesthetics reinforce function and function guides aesthetic decisions.

How are the different areas of design related?

The areas of design are related through convergence and complementarity, forming an interconnected ecosystem. The creation of any complex product, service, or experience requires the collaboration of multiple specialties. For example, launching a technological device (industrial design) requires packaging (packaging design), a brand identity (graphic design), a user interface (UI/UX design), and a communication strategy (advertising design).

The concept of 'Experience Design' (XD) acts as a meta-discipline that orchestrates these interactions, ensuring total coherence across all user touchpoints with a brand. The boundaries between areas are therefore porous and permeable, and the most innovative projects emerge precisely at the intersection of several of them.

What criteria are used to divide design into specialties?

Specialization in design responds to a set of criteria that often overlap. The main ones are:

1. The medium or support: defines whether the output is print (editorial), digital (interactive), object-based (product), spatial (interiors), or systemic (services).
2. The strategic objective: distinguishes between communicating a message (branding), optimizing a task (UX), shaping a behavior (interaction design), or structuring a complex process (service design).
3. Methodology and tools: certain areas are defined by their specific processes, such as Design Thinking or ethnographic research.
4. The scale of impact: ranges from microtypography and icon design to the design of urban systems or public policies.

How to choose an area of design to specialize in?

Choosing a specialty should be a process of strategic analysis, not a purely vocational decision. A three-pronged approach is recommended. First, an introspection of one's own aptitudes and cognitive inclinations: do you gravitate toward systemic and abstract thinking (UX, services) or toward formal mastery and visual semantics (branding, typography)? Second, a rigorous analysis of the market and its projections: which roles are in highest demand? Which specialties are emerging or transforming? Third, practical experimentation through personal projects, courses, or internships that allow for validating hypotheses about interest and aptitude in a specific area. Specialization is not a final destination, but a focus from which to continue evolving.

What skills are common to all areas of design?

Beyond the technical competencies of each specialty, there is a core of transversal skills that define the professional designer. These are higher-order meta-skills:

1. Structured problem-solving: the ability to diagnose, deconstruct, and frame a problem before proposing solutions.
2. Project-based thinking: mastery of an iterative process of research, ideation, prototyping, and validation.
3. Visual and semiotic literacy: a deep understanding of how visual messages are constructed and decoded.
4. Empathy and critical thinking: the ability to understand the user in their context and, at the same time, question assumptions and requirements.
5. Communication and argumentation: the ability to articulate and defend design decisions rationally and persuasively.

How has the classification of design areas evolved with technology?

Digital technology has acted as a catalyst that has dissolved traditional classifications. Its impact is manifested on several levels: it has generated entirely new disciplines (UX/UI, interaction design, motion design); it has hybridized existing ones (industrial design now integrates smart interfaces, graphic design has become interactive); and it has transformed work processes, allowing a graphic designer to model in 3D or a product designer to prototype an app. The most profound change is the shift in focus from designing isolated artifacts to designing systems, platforms, and integrated experiences, which demands a more holistic and strategic vision of the discipline.

What is a multidisciplinary designer?

A multidisciplinary designer is not a shallow generalist, but a professional with a 'T-shaped' competency profile. This profile combines deep specialization in one vertical area (the vertical bar of the 'T') with a solid understanding of multiple horizontal disciplines (the horizontal bar). This structure allows them not only to execute with mastery in their field but also to collaborate effectively with experts from other areas, translate concepts between domains, and lead complex projects that require an integrated vision. It is the ideal profile for roles in creative direction, design strategy, or innovation, where the ability to connect disparate knowledge is more valuable than a single, isolated technical skill.