It is also true that developments in art and science have opened our eyes to the presence of designing minds in many specialized fields.
Darwin's theory of evolution was meant to show how the fantastically complex features of organisms — eyes, beaks, brains — could arise without the intervention of a designing mind.
The Parisian-style cafe circuit, backed by an intriguing literary history, is paradise for bookish types and coffee lovers, and the edgy local fashion scene seduces design-minded travellers.
"For my part", he says, "I take my stand in human anatomy"; elsewhere he insists upon "the necessity, in each particular case, of an intelligent designing mind for the contriving and determining of the forms which organized bodies bear".
He's clearly one of the great design minds of our time".
Whoever designed this mind-boggling device must have a good sense of humor.
And Steven Heller, who was art director of The Times Book Review for more than three decades and remains a columnist, received the Design Mind prize for influencing generations of graphic designers.
The awards are given in various categories, including architecture, product design, fashion, interior design, landscape design, corporate achievement, lifetime achievement and "design mind" (for writers and curators as well as designers).
The show closes with the design-mind recipients.
Michael Bierut of Pentagram, widely recognized for his design mind, took the design mind category; Charles Harrison of Sears won for lifetime achievement; Google was recognized for corporate achievement; and Tom Kundig won for architecture.
