whose design

USAGE SUMMARY

"whose design" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used as a possessive relative pronoun; like "who" is used to identify the person, "whose" is used to identify something owned by that person. For example, "She wore a dress whose design was inspired by her ancestors' traditional patterns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The other is its resident costume designer, Jose Coronado, whose design workshop is his kitchen.

The New York Times - Arts

Its designer, Sou Fujimoto, calls the tower, whose design was inspired by the reaching interwoven branches of a banyan tree, a "twenty-first century oasis".

Vice

Behold Building 1, whose design is as artificial as the island underneath it.

The New York Times

Plenty of ranchers still swear by the machines, whose design has changed little in a century.

The New York Times

It's a compact, straightforward camcorder whose design is very similar to that of the Flip family.

The New York Times

Florian, whose design won in a competition against 400 others, expressed confidence in its success.

The New York Times - Arts

Literally in the case of the Macintosh, whose design, he explains, resembles a wonky human face.

The Guardian - Film

"This, my darlings, is by Sol LeWitt, whose design we're going to paint!" she said.

The New Yorker

Inside the crates were canisters whose design indicates the sophistication of the operation.

The New York Times

The products whose design I most treasure have maintained a dignified constancy: Tabasco or Lee & Perrins.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet we have created a transport system whose design principle is profligacy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whose design" to clearly indicate possession or a relationship between a person or thing and its design. Ensure the noun preceding "whose" logically possesses or is associated with the design being described.

Common error

Avoid confusing "whose design", which indicates possession, with "who's designing", which is a contraction of "who is designing". For example, "the architect whose design won the competition" is correct, whereas "the architect who's designing the building" refers to the act of designing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose design" functions as a possessive relative determiner linking a noun to its design. As Ludwig AI highlights, it indicates a relationship between an object or person and the design associated with it. The phrase modifies the preceding noun, providing additional information about its design.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whose design" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate a relationship between a noun and its design. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It functions as a possessive relative determiner, providing additional detail about the subject's design. Predominantly found in news and media, science, and encyclopedia contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences. When using this phrase, ensure the preceding noun logically possesses or is associated with the design in question. While alternatives like "the design of which" exist, "whose design" offers a concise and widely accepted means of expressing this relationship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the design of which

Replaces "whose" with "of which", creating a more formal tone.

of which the design

Alters the word order, placing "design" at the end of the phrase.

the designing of which

Emphasizes the process of designing rather than the final design itself.

with a design that

Introduces a descriptive clause, highlighting a specific attribute of the design.

the blueprint of which

Replaces "design" with "blueprint", emphasizing the technical plan.

that was designed by

Shifts the focus to the designer rather than the design itself.

the concept for which

Substitutes "design" with "concept", highlighting the initial idea.

which features a design

Highlights the design as a feature of something else.

the aesthetic of which

Focuses on the visual appeal of the design.

with its design being

Uses a participial phrase to describe the design.

FAQs

How can I use "whose design" in a sentence?

Use "whose design" to link a noun to its associated design, as in, "The building, "whose design" was innovative, won several awards."

What are some alternatives to using "whose design"?

Depending on the context, consider using phrases like "the design of which" or "with a design that" as alternatives to "whose design".

Is it correct to say 'who's design' instead of "whose design"?

No, "who's design" is incorrect. "Who's" is a contraction of "who is" or "who has", while "whose" is the possessive form of "who". Always use "whose" when indicating possession or a relationship, as in ""whose design"".

What's the difference between "whose design" and 'the design of whom'?

"Whose design" is generally used for things as well as people, while "the design of whom" is usually reserved for people and is much more formal. For example, "the car, "whose design" is sleek," is common, but "the architect, the design of whom is groundbreaking," is less common than "the architect, "whose design" is groundbreaking."