From computation to curation: Expanding the boundaries of design practice

This perspective paper explores the evolving boundaries of design practice in response to emerging trends, processes, and frameworks. It moves beyond traditional problem-solving paradigms to propose four dimensions that reconceptualize the role of design: 1. Design as Immersive Experience, expanding design's role from artifact creation to experience curation; 2. Design as an Evolving Computational Capability, moving the perception of AI from artificial to anticipatory intelligence; 3. Design as Relational Tension, balancing the design process between ego-driven authorship and empathy-driven action; and 4. Design as an Expanding Field, integrating cross-disciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge. Grounded in foundational theories, professional practices, and case studies, these four dimensions position design as a critical, adaptive, and culturally embedded practice. The paper concludes with the Design for Longevity (D4L) framework, emphasizing sustainability and systemic thinking. • This paper explores the evolving boundaries of design practice in response to emerging trends and frameworks. It moves beyond problem-solving paradigms to propose four dimensions that reconceptualize the role of design. • Design as Immersive Experience , shifting from artifact creation to experience curation. • Design as an Evolving Computational Capability , moving from artificial to anticipatory intelligence. • Design as Relational Tension , balancing ego-driven vision with empathy-driven action. • Design as an Expanding Field , integrating single-disciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge.