Design when commonly associated with art is distinct by clearly set purpose. The designing in art is differentiated by someone else other than the artist. For instance, graphic art sets a clear line between commercial art and fine art. Design in arts is often related to applied arts like product design and architecture. Design term and research papers are mainly written in MLA writing style but this can differ depending upon the requirements of word count of the paper.

Design is used both as a noun and a verb in the context of engineering, applied arts architecture and other such creative endeavors. If design is used as a verb then it refers to the developing and coming up of a plan for a structure system, a product or a component. As a noun, it refers to the final solution of this plan or the final or end product of the implementation of this product. This process has also been recently termed as the products of a design as “process design.”

Designing term or research papers often require the student to come up with this process design and demonstrate his or her knowledge of research, modeling, thought and interactive adjustment of the design with the functional and aesthetic aspects of the design project.  Design term and research papers often require the student to employ and implement the design philosophy which is an aid while making choices of costs, ergonomics, functionality, and economics of the design process.