Design vs. Scheme — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 20, 2024
Design involves the process and art of planning and creating something with intention and aesthetics in mind, whereas scheme often refers to a systematic plan or arrangement, sometimes implying complexity or deceit.
Difference Between Design and Scheme
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Design is inherently a creative process, focusing on the aesthetic, functional, and systematic planning of objects, environments, and systems to solve specific problems or fulfill desired outcomes. It often involves considerations of form, function, and user experience. On the other hand, a scheme is a structured plan or arrangement, aimed at achieving a particular goal, and it can be used in both positive contexts (like urban planning schemes) and negative ones (like fraudulent schemes).
While design is deeply embedded in artistic and engineering disciplines, requiring a blend of creativity, technical skills, and strategic thinking, schemes are more about the strategic arrangement of elements to achieve a goal, without the inherent emphasis on aesthetic or creative considerations. Schemes may be designed, but not all designs are schemes.
Design processes typically include research, ideation, prototyping, and testing, focusing on innovation and the creation of new solutions. Schemes, however, may involve detailed planning and the organization of resources, but do not necessarily include a creative or iterative development process.
In the context of projects and products, design seeks to improve functionality, usability, and appearance, aiming to enhance the overall experience of the user or consumer. Schemes, by contrast, are more focused on the execution of a specific plan or strategy, which may or may not involve creative elements.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Creative process of planning and creation
Structured plan or arrangement
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Focus
Aesthetics, functionality, user experience
Achievement of a specific goal
Context
Artistic, engineering
Planning, sometimes with negative connotations
Process
Research, ideation, prototyping, testing
Detailed planning, organization
Outcome
Improved functionality, usability
Execution of a plan
Compare with Definitions
Design
Artistic creation.
Her jewelry design won several awards.
Scheme
Organized plan.
The scheme for the new park was approved by the city.
Design
Creative planning.
The design of the building focused on sustainability.
Scheme
Systematic layout.
The color scheme of the room was calming.
Design
Engineering process.
The bridge's design considered both strength and aesthetics.
Scheme
Blueprint or plan.
The irrigation scheme supported the entire community.
Design
User experience focus.
App design requires understanding user needs.
Scheme
Arrangement for a purpose.
Their scheme involved rerouting traffic.
Design
Iterative development.
The product design evolved through many prototypes.
Scheme
Strategy with negative connotations.
The fraudulent scheme was eventually uncovered.
Design
A design is a plan or specification for the construction of an object or system or for the implementation of an activity or process, or the result of that plan or specification in the form of a prototype, product or process. The verb to design expresses the process of developing a design.
Scheme
A systematic plan of action
"Did you ever carry out your scheme of writing a series of sonnets embodying all the great epochs of art?" (Edith Wharton).
Design
A plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is made
He has just unveiled his design for the new museum
Scheme
A secret or devious plan; a plot
A scheme to defraud investors.
Design
A decorative pattern
Pottery with a lovely blue and white design
Scheme
An orderly plan or arrangement of related parts
An irrigation scheme with dams, reservoirs, and channels.
Design
Purpose or planning that exists behind an action, fact, or object
The appearance of design in the universe
Scheme
A chart, diagram, or outline of a system or object.
Design
Decide upon the look and functioning of (a building, garment, or other object), by making a detailed drawing of it
A number of architectural students were designing a factory
Scheme
To contrive a plan or scheme for; plot
Scheming their revenge.
Design
To conceive or fashion in the mind; invent
Design a good excuse for not attending the conference.
Scheme
To make plans, especially secret or devious ones.
Design
To formulate a plan for; devise
Designed a marketing strategy for the new product.
Scheme
An artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words.
Design
To make a graphic or schematic representation of (something), especially as a plan for its structure
Design a building on a computer.
Design a new car model.
Scheme
(astrology) A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event.
Design
To create or contrive for a particular purpose or effect
A game designed to appeal to all ages.
Scheme
A systematic plan of future action.
Design
To have as a goal or purpose; intend
"Mrs. Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield gentlemen to supper.
But ... she had no opportunity of detaining them" (Jane Austen).
Scheme
A plot or secret, devious plan.
Design
To make or execute plans.
Scheme
An orderly combination of related parts.
Design
To create designs.
Scheme
A chart or diagram of a system or object.
Design
A drawing or sketch.
Scheme
(mathematics) A mathematical structure that enlarges the notion of algebraic variety in several ways, such as taking account of multiplicities and allowing "varieties" defined over any commutative ring (e.g. Fermat curves over the integers).
Design
A graphic representation, especially a detailed plan for construction or manufacture.
Scheme
A council housing estate.
Design
An ornamental pattern.
Scheme
(internet) Part of a uniform resource identifier indicating the protocol or other purpose, such as
http: or news:.Design
The purposeful or inventive arrangement of parts or details
The aerodynamic design of an automobile.
The design of an epic poem.
Scheme
A portfolio of pension plans with related benefits comprising multiple independent members.
Design
A particular plan or method
The party's design for increasing voter turnout.
Scheme
(intransitive) To plot, or contrive a plan.
Design
The art or practice of designing or making designs
Studied design in college.
Scheme
(transitive) To plan; to contrive.
Design
A reasoned purpose; an intent
It was her design to set up practice on her own as soon as she was qualified.
Scheme
A combination of things connected and adjusted by design; a system.
The appearance and outward scheme of things.
Such a scheme of things as shall at once take in time and eternity.
Arguments . . . sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral philosophy.
The Revolution came and changed his whole scheme of life.
Design
Deliberate intention
He became a photographer more by accident than by design.
Scheme
A plan or theory something to be done; a design; a project; as, to form a scheme.
The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.
Design
Often designs A secretive or underhanded plot or scheme
He has designs on my job.
Scheme
Any lineal or mathematical diagram; an outline.
To draw an exact scheme of Constantinople, or a map of France.
Design
A specification of an object or process, referring to requirements to be satisfied and thus conditions to be met for them to solve a problem.
Scheme
To make a scheme of; to plan; to design; to project; to plot.
That wickedness which schemed, and executed, his destruction.
Design
A plan (with more or less detail) for the structure and functions of an artifact, building or system.
The initial design of the park was rejected for being too expensive.
Scheme
To form a scheme or schemes.
Design
A pattern, as an element of a work of art or architecture.
We're working on some new designs for our range of summer shirts
Scheme
An elaborate and systematic plan of action
Design
The composition of a work of art.
Scheme
A statement that evades the question by cleverness or trickery
Design
Intention or plot.
We have designs on winning the league next season.
To be hateful of the truth by design.
Scheme
A group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole;
A vast system of production and distribution and consumption keep the country going
Design
(particularly) Malicious or malevolent intention.
To have evil designs.
Scheme
An internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world
Design
The shape or appearance given to an object, especially one that is intended to make it more attractive.
Scheme
A schematic or preliminary plan
Design
The art of designing
Danish furniture design is world-famous.
Scheme
Form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
Design
(transitive) To plan and carry out (a picture, work of art, construction etc.).
Scheme
Devise a system or form a scheme for
Design
To plan (to do something).
The king designed to mount an expedition to the New World.
Design
To assign, appoint (something to someone); to designate.
Design
To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to point out; to appoint.
Design
To manifest requirements to be satisfied by an object or process for them to solve a problem.
Design
To draw preliminary outline or main features of; to sketch for a pattern or model; to delineate; to trace out; to draw.
Design
To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to point out; to appoint.
We shall seeJustice design the victor's chivalry.
Meet me to-morrow where the masterAnd this fraternity shall design.
Design
To create or produce, as a work of art; to form a plan or scheme of; to form in idea; to invent; to project; to lay out in the mind; as, a man designs an essay, a poem, a statue, or a cathedral.
Design
To intend or purpose; - usually with for before the remote object, but sometimes with to.
Ask of politicians the end for which laws were originally designed.
He was designed to the study of the law.
Design
To form a design or designs; to plan.
Design
A preliminary sketch; an outline or pattern of the main features of something to be executed, as of a picture, a building, or a decoration; a delineation; a plan.
Design
A plan or scheme formed in the mind of something to be done; preliminary conception; idea intended to be expressed in a visible form or carried into action; intention; purpose; - often used in a bad sense for evil intention or purpose; scheme; plot.
The vast design and purpos of the King.
The leaders of that assembly who withstood the designs of a besotted woman.
A . . . settled design upon another man's life.
How little he could guess the secret designs of the court!
Design
Specifically, intention or purpose as revealed or inferred from the adaptation of means to an end; as, the argument from design.
Design
The realization of an inventive or decorative plan; esp., a work of decorative art considered as a new creation; conception or plan shown in completed work; as, this carved panel is a fine design, or of a fine design.
Design
The invention and conduct of the subject; the disposition of every part, and the general order of the whole.
Is he a prudent man . . . that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to the remaining part of his life?
I wish others the same intention, and greater successes.
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow.
Design
The act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan);
He contributed to the design of a new instrument
Design
An arrangement scheme;
The awkward design of the keyboard made operation difficult
It was an excellent design for living
A plan for seating guests
Design
Something intended as a guide for making something else;
A blueprint for a house
A pattern for a skirt
Design
A decorative or artistic work;
The coach had a design on the doors
Design
An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions;
His intent was to provide a new translation
Good intentions are not enough
It was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs
He made no secret of his designs
Design
A preliminary sketch indicating the plan for something;
The design of a building
Design
The creation of something in the mind
Design
Make or work out a plan for; devise;
They contrived to murder their boss
Design a new sales strategy
Plan an attack
Design
Design something for a specific role or purpose or effect;
This room is not designed for work
Design
Create the design for; create or execute in an artistic or highly skilled manner;
Chanel designed the famous suit
Design
Make a design of; plan out in systematic, often graphic form;
Design a better mousetrap
Plan the new wing of the museum
Design
Create designs;
Dupont designs for the house of Chanel
Design
Conceive or fashion in the mind; invent;
She designed a good excuse for not attending classes that day
Design
Intend or have as a purpose;
She designed to go far in the world of business
Common Curiosities
How do design and scheme differ in context?
Design is often artistic and engineering-focused, while schemes are planning-oriented.
Is creativity a requirement in schemes?
Not necessarily, schemes focus more on planning and strategy.
How does design improve user experience?
Through careful planning of aesthetics, functionality, and interaction.
What makes a scheme potentially negative?
When it involves deceit or fraud to achieve goals.
What is the main goal of design?
To create solutions that are aesthetic, functional, and user-friendly.
Are all schemes carefully planned?
Yes, schemes involve detailed planning and organization.
Can a scheme be positive?
Yes, it can be a positive plan or arrangement for achieving goals.
Can design be purely artistic?
Yes, it can focus solely on aesthetics and artistic expression.
Can design and scheme overlap?
Yes, schemes can be designed, but they serve different purposes.
How is user feedback important in design?
It guides iterative improvements and ensures user needs are met.
What role does strategy play in schemes?
Strategy is central, focusing on how to organize and execute plans.
Do schemes always involve complex arrangements?
Often, but not always; simplicity can also be strategic.
How do designs and schemes impact society?
Designs improve life through innovation; schemes can organize societal functions or, negatively, exploit systems.
How does design contribute to sustainability?
By considering environmental impacts and promoting efficient use of resources.
Can a scheme be part of a design process?
Yes, as a strategic component within a broader design project.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
