We can easily distinguish and classify types of design is in term of the sense e.g as visual, auditory or audiovisual. Attention must be given to the frames of reference, to whether the development is mostly in two or three dimensions of space or in time.

VISUAL

1-                1- Visual, static, surface design

This type of design can be represented on a flat, curving or polyhedral surface. Its components are: line, color and texture. According to this components there are distinguished some types of design such as arabesque, which involves intricate linear development with or without representational meaning.

In this category there is a subdivision:

a)      a)Strip design

b)      b)Bounded-area design

c)       c)Allover design

a)     Strip design

This design is long and narrow such as ribbons, borders or architectural moulding. It is extended in one dimension, lengthwise. The basic component is called unit, which is repeated or prolonged in either direction. It is developed by addition (adding units) or the division (increasing size and complexity within unit). Some types are: fret, wave, egg and dart, guilloche… Varieties occur in one of the following way:

1-      When the presentative development occur: flat or slightly 3 dimensional such as: jewelling, embossing, repousse, picture form…

2-      A flat design may be suggestively 3 dimensional giving the illusion of solidity, depth or apertures such as cast shadow.

3-      As a result of the presence or absence of representative development. Strip design may be abstract or realistic (Chinese and Japanese handrolls) through linear outlines only. This tends to involve some 3D suggestion, without the use of shadows or perspective.

b)     Bounded-area design

This design is limited within given 2D area and is usually related internally to the size and shape os the area marked off, as a rectangular or circular frame. An approach may be in random scattering of units within the area, without the definite relation of the boundaries. Designs may be flat (paintings) and 3 dimensional (sculptural reliefs). Some painting approximate sculptural relief with the use of raised gilded area. Also some textiles such as using the technique of embroidery are classified as 3D. On the other hand prayer rugs are classified as flat. Relation of the design to the representation is important. When the framework is thematic or decorative as in Persian carpets, units are repeated and arranged arbitrarly to make a pattern. Units may be representational or nonrepresentational. The outline of the small unit may provide a subordinate representational framework.

c)       Allover design

This design is bounded in two dimensions with tendency to indefinite repetition or prolongation in 2 dimensions and 4 directions. Termination is sudden and arbitrary. The internal decoration does not have to relate to the outside shape of the wall. The proliferation of the design tends to flow from one side to another side of the area, ignoring edges and corners. Units are arranged in 2 coordinates. Conventional types: figured, flowered, stripe… The design may be flat or 3D, both presentatively and suggestively. Units are repeated all over the surface, and they seem to merge continuously.

      2) Visual, static, solid design   

This design is 3 dimensional and has extend in thickness or depth, length or breadth. We se the use of solid masses, voids and surface shapes, in addition to line, color and texture. Also this category is subdivided:

a)      Exterior design

b)      Interior design

c)       Combination of two

d)      Intermediate

a)      Exterior design

Exterior means viewed from the outside (sculpture, jewelry, furniture… ). The objects represents different designs according to the point of view (opaque, different arrangements in solid parts, overlapping…). Primitive Negro sculpture tends to divide the figure into definite solid parts, which present variations (cylinder, cone…).

b)      Interior design

This design means surrounding or partly surrounding the observer (in a room, an enclosed city square, garden…). For example Gothic cathedral represents different parts (ribbed vaults, horizontal balcones, clustered piers, windows, painting…) as one moves around and changes the angle of vision.

c)       Combination of two

Combination of interior and exterior design, as in the cathedral. The rose window is considered as an exterior design for someone who views the cathedral from the outside, and this window contributes in the design of the façade, meanwhile it functions as an interior design for some who enters the cathedral and sees the luminous color. The same thing we can say for a palace surrounded by a garden: outside the palace, noting thematic relations between roofs and various side and on the other hand noting the landscape design. Another example is Dioramas and stage tableaux.

d)      Intermediate between surface and solid design is sculptural relief, which varies in the amount of 3D development.

1)      When the relief is low and applied into a flat panel, it tends to be perceived as static surface design with a bounded area.

2)      When the relief is high and partly detached from the background, it approximates static solid background.

3)      Visual, mobile, temporally developed design

a)      Mobile surface design

This type comprises visually presented thematic development in time, as well as change of motion in determinate sequence, mostly in 2 dimensions of space. Examples: motion pictures and shadow plays represent flat images on flat surface.

b)      Mobile solid design

Presents actually solid figures in more or less determined motion. It is developed in 3 dimensions of space and time. Examples: dance (ballet), marionettes, acrobatics, swimming… All can be developed by thematic motion, by repetition and variation of certain movements.

AUDITORY

1)      Musical Design

2)      Word-sound design

3)      Verbal-musical design

1)      Musical design

This is based on thematic development of rhythm, pitch, timbre, consonance etc., and of developed components such as melody, temp, meter, dynamics, chord structure and progression and orchestration. Conventional types: Suite, rondo figure, sonata, symphony… Musical design is mostly developed through the use of instruments and human voices.

2)      Word-sound design

This type of design is presented aurally when literature is spoken, and it resembles to music, because of the rhythm and rhythmic phrasing.

3)      Verbal-music design

As in song, opera and oratorio, is a combination of musical and word-sound themes and patterns.

AUDIOVISUAL DESIGN

This type involves some temporal change because of the evanescence of sounds. There are 2 categories: 

1)      Audiovisual surface design

Mobile visual patterns combined with music, word-sound or both, is found in motion pictures and shadow plays with incidental music and spoken verses.

2)      Audiovisual solid design

It is produced by combining mobile solid patterns with auditory ones, as in dance and ballet music.

SUGGESTIVE THEMATIC DEVELOPMENT DESIGN

The foregoing list distinguishes types of design mainly on a basis of presentative development, according to the sense primarily addressed and the way in which the presented factor is developed in space, time or both. It should be emphasized that such factors are capable of elaborate thematic development. In literature, especially prose, thematic development is mostly suggestive. So, it seems like references to ideas and emotions such as war and peace, joy and sorrow, selfishness and unselfishness, and every type of image derived from the scenes, can be arranged into patterns.