The phrase "are designed to soften" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the purpose or intention behind a particular action, object, or process that aims to make something less harsh or severe.
Example: "The new policies are designed to soften the impact of the economic downturn on small businesses."
Alternatives: "are intended to ease" or "are meant to mitigate".
The chancellor was told the objective of the meetings was "designed to soften up the three big spenders.
Slim's near monopoly of Mexico's phone market has provoked suspicion that his giving is designed to soften his image against regulatory intrusion.
In 1993 she starred in a commercial that was designed to soften the image of Mr. Giuliani, the hard-boiled former prosecutor.
Those Democratic anti-Bain ads, according to Burton, have been designed to soften up the electorate to make it possible to run, in the near future, commercials linking Romney to the Ryan budget.
Nor, they concede, has the humanitarian scheme that was designed to soften sanctions done as much good as had been hoped.The embargo was imposed by the Security Council when the Iraqi army occupied Kuwait in 1990.
The administration has balked at using the reserve because it is designed to soften the blow of another oil embargo or similar energy crisis, not to control market prices.
Despite Mr. Brulte's demurral, many Democrats suspect that the hard-nosed Republican position on the budget has been designed to soften up Mr. Davis for a recall election.
Many senior Iranians are convinced that Mr Bush has decided to try to topple the Islamic Republic; they suspect that the pressure he is applying on the nuclear issue is designed to soften them up.The longer Iran digs in its heels, the less inclined Europe will be to defend it.
If you watch closely, you'll see that the retail version does some weird color/screen warping effect that I'm guessing is designed to "soften" the death visuals.
Made of only six ingredients (such as beeswax and coconut oil), this high-shine pomade is designed to soften hair and control frizz.
