Designio or diseño

[Glen]

I just heard designio used for "design," where I've only known it as diseño. What's the difference?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

They are two very different things and I think they should never be confused.

The dictionary says that "designio" is the thought or the purpose of thought that your will accepts. So it's a decision, an intention or a plan to do something (an action). The word is very commonly associated with religious thoughts.

- Es por designio divino que estamos aquí.
- El designio de Dios es que vivas feliz.


"Diseño" is a project or a plan, but in the sense of an original idea for (re-)creating an object or a work of art.


The confusion in Spanish may have come from the word "design" in English.

[Julvenzor]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

The confusion in Spanish may have come from the word "design" in English.

¡Que Dios nos coja confesados!

[Glen]

Thanks but the difference is still murky in my little brain. For the moment I'll just keep designio for religious use only, and say diseño for non-religious types of plans. Would that work?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Julvenzor: ¿Qué le vamos a hacer? Al menos no es la norma (todavía).



@Glen: In principle it does, but think about "diseño" more as a "plastic" idea: se diseñan muebles, casas, ropa, carteles, utensilios, herramientas...
Por extensión, se diseñan planes de ventas, estrategias de mercado, campañas políticas...


Pero se designan personas para un cargo o una plaza, un espacio para un propósito específico, una función para algo o alguien...

- Designaron a José Ramón López como nuevo rector de la Universidad de Falfurrias.
- ¿Sabes si van a designar a alguien para ser líder del proyecto o será todo en equipo?
- El administrador del edificio designó la terraza como espacio exclusivo para los fumadores.
- En la antigüedad había cementerios designados exclusivamente para enterrar vampiros, brujas y hombres lobo.
- Esa mesa está designada para poner las tazas del café.
- Designamos al perro como nuevo guardián de la casa.

[Glen]

That helps; I'm getting closer to understanding the difference now

[poli]

The verb design has two meanings. The first is to create an object. There are people who design cars for example. That is the common term.
A design is the creation.(deseño)

The other meaning of the word design has to do with a plan sometimes having something to do with innateness .(designo) A common term is: she has designs on him, or she's a designing woman.
Someone can be creative by design meaning creative by their very nature.

[Thomson]

Let me offer a few thoughts that might be helpful and I will try to incorporate some examples from the lovely Angelica De Alquezar. Then again, I could be completely wrong.

Designio means intention (designated usage or plan)
Is from designar, to designate or appoint
As a noun, means intention, plans.

[from AngelicaDeAlquezar]
Designaron a José Ramón López como nuevo rector de la Universidad de Falfurrias.
They had designated [appointed] Jose Ramon Lopez as the new rector of the University of Falfurrias.

[from AngelicaDeAlquezar]
En la antigüedad había cementerios designados exclusivamente para enterrar vampiros, brujas y hombres lobo.
In ancient times there were only designated cemeteries to bury vampires, witches and werewolves.

Diseño means design
Is from diseñar, to design
As a noun, means a pattern, model , plan

[from AngelicaDeAlquezar]
Por extensión, se diseñan planes de ventas, estrategias de mercado, campañas políticas...
By extension, sales plans, marketing strategies, political campaigns are designed ...

[chileno]

To add to what Thomson said, which is totally correct.

designio = by design

I could be wrong.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Thomson: Thank you.