design by

USAGE SUMMARY

"design by" is an expression that is commonly used in written English.
It is used to indicate that something has been created or designed by someone or something. For example: "This website was designed by our in-house design team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Above: Design by John Brownjohn.

The New Yorker

Sound design by Elliot Thompson.

The New Yorker

"One cannot design by committee.

The New Yorker

Cover design by Michael Bierut.

The New Yorker

It's interior design by cultural collision.

The New Yorker

Production design by Mr. Tomsic.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

My kitchen is basically Design-By-Pinterest.

Huffington Post

The high street is designed by designers".

Independent

Designed by O'Donnell + Tuomey.

Independent

Habita Designed by Enrique Norten.

The New York Times

Shafer designs by subtraction.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When crediting a design, ensure you clearly state the entity responsible using "design by" followed by the name of the designer or design team.

Common error

Avoid using "design by" when you mean "inspired by" or "influenced by". "Design by" should be reserved for direct creation and execution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "design by" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used to attribute the creation or design of something to a specific person or entity. Ludwig examples showcase this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "design by" is a common and grammatically sound way to attribute the creation or design of something to a specific entity. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is primarily found in news and media contexts. When using "design by", ensure that you are accurately crediting the responsible party and avoid using it when only inspiration or influence is present. While the expression appears in a variety of source types, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

created by

Focuses on the act of creation rather than the design aspect.

authored by

Highlights the authorship or origination of something.

developed by

Emphasizes the development process and evolution of the design.

conceived by

Focuses on the initial idea or concept behind the design.

planned by

Highlights the planning and strategizing involved in the design.

engineered by

Highlights the technical aspects and engineering behind the design.

fabricated by

Emphasizes the manufacturing or construction aspect of the design.

illustrated by

Focuses on the illustrative aspects of the design, such as drawings or graphics.

produced by

Highlights the production and realization of the design.

formulated by

Emphasizes the structured and methodical nature of the design process.

FAQs

How do I properly credit a designer using "design by"?

Always follow "design by" with the name of the designer or design firm. For example, "Website design by "Acme Designs"".

What's the difference between "design by" and "inspired by"?

"Design by" indicates direct creation, while "inspired by" means the design took influence from something else. If the design is derivative, use "inspired by" instead of "design by".

Can I use "design by" for something I only partially designed?

It's best to reserve "design by" for projects where the credited party had primary responsibility. If it's a collaboration, consider using a phrase like "co-designed by" or "with design input from".

What are some alternatives to "design by" when I want to credit someone's work?

You can use alternatives like "created by", "authored by", or "developed by", depending on the context.