Short answers, pulled from the story.
Design refers to something that is or has been intentionally created by a thinking agent. A design is expected to have a purpose within a specific context, typically aiming to satisfy certain goals and constraints while taking into account aesthetic, functional and experiential considerations.
The historical development of the discipline of design history coalesced in the 1970s when interested academics worked to recognize design as a separate and legitimate target for historical research. Early influential design historians include German-British art historian Nikolaus Pevsner and Swiss historian and architecture critic Sigfried Giedion.
Institutions for design education date back to the nineteenth century with the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry founded in 1818 followed by the United Kingdom's Government School of Design in 1837. Konstfack opened its doors in Sweden in 1844 and the Rhode Island School of Design was founded in the United States in 1877.
Herbert A. Simon independently developed the rational model alongside two German engineering design theorists Gerhard Pahl and Wolfgang Beitz. The rational model posits that designers attempt to optimize a design candidate for known constraints and objectives.
Ecological design prioritizes consideration of environmental impacts over a product whole lifecycle. This approach falls under values and approaches that include conscious design which is an intentional systems-aware approach prioritizing long-term impact on human well-being and ecological health.