Design: A Different Viewpoint

Based on the meanings of design given in the image, we can interpret and discuss this topic at different levels. We can discuss man-made designs, nature’s designs, and the supreme designs of the Almighty. For the sake of brevity and to allow myself to give in to the lure of discussing the more interesting facets of design first, let us have a look only at the latter two, for man-made designs are no match to them. This is not to denounce humans or their designs, but I feel we’ve still a long way to go.

Let us have a look at the term design from a different angle. In this article, let us try to identify the purpose of designs that the Almighty has created. What I mean pertains not only to the tangible designs of nature, but also to the intangible designs of the omnipotent force. The general definitions given earlier are about physical matter. Let us make an effort to compliment the designs of nature, go beyond the obvious meaning, and make sense of the greatest design created by the Almighty—the design of our lives.

Let us deal with the natural tangible designs first. Nature is flawless in its design. Natural designs are perfect in all respects. It is as if nature takes tremendous amount of care while following the designing process. It creates all designs with a purpose and all natural designs serve their respective purposes exceptionally well. No matter how much we might marvel at the creativity of the human mind vis a vis its capacity to design, nature beats us convincingly. Nature proves—time and again—that it is the master craftsman in all things natural. We have always been inspired by nature and it overwhelms us by its nonpareil designs. The sea, the land, and the sky are full of marvelous natural specimens of wonderful designs. The flora and the fauna stimulate us to such an extent that we copy it in an unabashed manner and sometime, claim originality. The biggest of the big and the smallest of the small natural designs has its unique place in nature’s scheme of things. We can quote innumerable examples to prove this point. Flowers attract insects with their lovely colors and fragrances to serve a purpose in the greater design. Mighty carnivorous animals feed regularly on the less powerful ones—with the help of their impeccable designs—again to serve a greater purpose. The Chameleon changes its color to save and feed itself.

Through evolution, nature changes its designs so that the bearers of those designs adapt themselves to the surroundings and continue serving the purpose. No natural design is purposeless; all of them serve distinct purposes.

Having said this, let us now move to the other impeccable type of design created by the Almighty—the design of our lives. All of us, at some point or other, are perplexed by the question, “Is my life because of my choices or is it because of the chances given to me?” At certain occasions, we feel that we control our lives and that our choices wield the greatest influence on our lives. On some other occasions, we feel that we are plain lucky and whatever happens to us is by chance. I sincerely feel that our lives depend on neither of the two. I feel our lives adhere to a design, a blueprint that has already been sketched by the Almighty. The “choice” that we feel we have in our lives in matters personal and professional, is simply a design of the Almighty. Same goes with the “chance” part of our lives. Every choice we make and every chance we get is part of the big design. Every individual life plays a part in the grand design that is the cosmos. We are just specks in the big picture.

We can have numerous examples that would make it clear that the life each one of us lives is predestined. Let us take a moment and think about our past, the choices we have made and the chances we have got. On deep contemplation, it would be somewhat clear—if not crystal clear, for it is not in our capacity to understand the cosmic design completely—that we play assigned roles in the design of the Almighty.