Have you ever walked out of a design awards ceremony feeling inspired, awed, and just a little bit like you needed a dictionary for all those fancy design terms? Design is not just about spaces or products, it’s also about the words we use to convey their essence and the feelings they evoke that bring them to life. Deep vocabulary can make words feel as intricate and tangible as the spaces and products they describe. Over the years, I’ve judged or audited several design competitions across the country, and have attended numerous award ceremonies. While the projects are dazzling, I’m always impressed by the way a well-written concept or design solution can turn a merely good project into a soul-moving phenomenal project.
As a recent judge of the IIDA Georgia Chapter BoB awards and emcee of the IIDA North Pacific Chapter INawards, I was blown away by the attention to detail within the photography and vivid descriptions of each project. I can confidently say that when submitting for awards, judges place a heavy emphasis on how a team communicates their design intent. Choosing words that convey your passion, purpose, human connection, and the project’s environmental or social responsibility is key to communicating the value and vision of the space. Rich, descriptive words can make all the difference, especially after pouring your heart into countless iterations, late nights, and revisions throughout the design process.
I’ve been caught off guard several times lately by new (to me) vocabulary that sounded impressive and elegant but also made my head tilt in surprise. Did I miss a memo on the latest design vocabulary that describes the spirit and complexity of our work? Either way, my curiosity led me to research some of the terms I’ve encountered recently, and I wanted to share the results with you!
Enjoy this collection of playful, non-Webster approved definitions, applied in a design-friendly context. I challenge you to try incorporating a few into your conversation this week – you might surprise yourself!
Palimpsest: (pa·limp·sest) A design term for layers of history beautifully stacked, seamlessly honoring the past while building upon it to strut into the future.
Chiaroscuro: (chiar·oscu·ro) Borrowed from the art world, it’s all about the play of light and shadow that makes a room dramatic enough to feel like a moody art installation by James Turrell.
Trompe l’oeil: (tromp·loi) A word that means “Ha, fooled you!” It’s when a wall looks like it’s got a bookshelf, but it’s just a painting—and now you’re questioning reality and your need for glasses.
Anthropocentric: (an·thro·po·cen·tric) When everything in the design screams, “It’s all about you,” but in a sophisticated, human-centered way.
Ephemerality: (ephem·er·al·i·ty) A poetic way to describe something fleeting yet unforgettable, like a pop-up shop, temporary installations, and moments you wish you could frame forever.
Liminal: (lim·i·nal) That magical, in-between vibe—like the glow of twilight or the feeling of walking on the threshold between a noisy lobby into a serene meditation room.
Morphogenesis: (mor·pho·gen·e·sis) For when a design looks like it was grown in nature’s laboratory, like flowing lines, organic shapes, and the organic evolution of a tree sprouting from a desk.
Synesthesia: (syn·es·the·sia) Perfect for describing a design that makes you feel multiple senses simultaneously, like a ceiling installation that looks like sound waves or a wall texture you can hear or smell.
Were any of these new to you? There is a fine line between sounding pretentious and expanding your knowledge, but I hope this gives you a few new words to deploy if the situation calls for it. A well-placed word or phrase can evoke emotion and highlight your understanding of the nuances of design. Remember that your language should reflect the magic you’ve created and how the work is remembered (and may even land you a sparkly award).
Whether you’re presenting a project, writing an award submission, or just chatting with industry colleagues, I hope these terms might spark some creative conversations, head-tilts, laughs—or even a little awe. At the very least, you’ll walk away feeling a bit fancier and more refined, and isn’t that half the fun?
Maria VanDeman, NCIDQ, Ind. IIDA, is an interior designer, published children’s book author, advocate for equity in the workplace, and Director of Design Strategy at OFS. With a passion for helping people and designing for human needs, Maria strives to make a positive impact on the world through her work and mentorship. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mariavandeman