Design for Meaning Making

Why this and why now

I receive a lot of connection requests on LinkedIn. Most are polite and functional. But a few days ago, I received one that stood out — because it came with a single, thoughtful question.

It read:

If you had the chance to leave one timeless design principle on every product roadmap, what would it be?

That question stayed with me. It didn’t just make the connection feel personal and intentional — it struck a deep chord with me as a designer and as a design leader. It made me reflect not only on how we build products, but on how we build relationships. It reminded me that good networking, like good design, is about creating meaning.

It instilled in me a sense of responsibility and accountability. It also motivated me to finally write something that I had been contemplating for some time.

The principle

For years, I’ve believed that creating emotional connection between users and products is the ultimate goal — the holy grail of great design. But over time, I’ve come to realize there’s something even deeper. Something that sits one level above emotion. Something that gives design its soul and makes it timeless.

Let me explain.

Reflecting on the products and experiences I truly love — and listening to others talk about theirs — a pattern becomes clear. We tend to fall in love with things that reflect something deeper about ourselves. Our values, beliefs, dreams, and sense of identity. When that connection happens, it’s not just admiration — it becomes a bond. An emotional link that’s hard to break.

Timeless, classic designs endure not just because they’re beautiful or functional, but because they mean something to the people who love them. (Credit: Midjourney)

Think of the Eames Lounge Chair, the Porsche 911, or the Leica M camera. These designs endure not just because they’re beautiful or functional, but because they mean something to the people who love them. They feel personal. Like an extension of who we are. That, to me, is what gives a design its timelessness.

And so, I believe one of the most powerful and often overlooked principles in design is this:

Design for Symbolic Resonance Create products, services, and experiences that act as meaningful symbols for users — reflecting their values, aspirations, and identities in ways they are proud to show the world.

Why this matters

Humans don’t just use things — we use them to say something about ourselves. In a socially connected world, everything from UI themes to brand associations becomes a canvas for self-expression. When users see your design as a symbolic extension of who they are (or want to be), they develop deeper emotional bonds and social loyalty.

How can we apply it

Principle Element	Actionable Guidance
Know the Identity Gap	Understand the aspirational self of your users — not just who they are, but who they want to be seen as.
Enable Self-Signaling	Design affordances, styles, or artifacts that allow users to signal beliefs, values, or affiliations.
Use Visual and Cultural Cues	Leverage typography, color, language, and symbols that align with user archetypes or cultural identifiers.
Leave Space for Customization	Allow users to personalize, remix, or represent themselves through your platform or product.
Be Authentic, Not Performative	Avoid gimmicks. The symbolism must feel earned, authentic, and respected by the community.
Design as Social Language	Think of your product as part of a social conversation. What does using or showing it sayabout the user?

Where does this come from

I am building on the concept of symbolic representation of the self. It refers to how individuals use symbols and meanings to define and express their identities, both to themselves and to others. This concept is central to symbolic interactionism, a sociological framework that emphasizes the role of social interaction and interpretation of symbols in shaping behavior and meaning. 

Key aspects

• Symbols as expressions of self: Individuals use various symbols to communicate aspects of their personality, values, beliefs, and aspirations. These symbols can be both conscious and unconscious.

• Social construction of self: The self develops through ongoing social processes and interactions. Self-concept is shaped by how people believe others perceive and judge them, known as the "looking-glass self".

• Internalization of social expectations: As individuals interact with others, they internalize norms, values, and expectations, which contribute to self-concept. The "generalized other" represents the collective understanding of society and serves as a reference point for behavior.

• Symbolic self-completion: This theory suggests that individuals seek to acquire and display symbols to achieve or reinforce a desired identity, especially when they perceive a lack or incompleteness in that area. For instance, someone striving for a particular identity may use products or behaviors associated with that identity to feel more complete.

• Dynamic and evolving nature of self: The self is not fixed and can change and evolve through continued social interaction and the interpretation of new symbols and experiences. 

Examples

• Clothing: The way people dress can be a powerful symbol of their identity, communicating aspects like autonomy, attention-seeking, and maturity.

• Names and nicknames: Names serve as personal labels and identity symbols, reflecting one's role in their family and social groups.

• Speech: Speech patterns can offer clues to an individual's personality and self-perception.

• Success and achievements: Individuals may use symbols of success, like educational achievements or material possessions, to communicate their self-definitions and gain recognition from others.

• Material goods: Products and brands can become symbols representing desired qualities or social status, allowing individuals to align their self-concept with the meaning of the good. 

In essence, symbolic representation of the self is a multifaceted process of meaning-making through which individuals navigate their social world, construct and maintain their identities, and communicate their desired selves to others.

Theory

Rooted in symbolic interactionism (Mead, 1934), this principle emphasizes that identity is shaped not just by internal feelings but by social meaning. People “perform” identity through symbolic acts and artifacts.

Individuals may use symbols of success, like material possessions, to communicate their self-definitions and gain recognition from others. (Credit: Midjouney)

Why this is hard

But creating this kind of resonance doesn’t come easy. It’s not fast. And it doesn’t show up on a quarterly dashboard. It takes depth, thoughtfulness, intention, and lots of time. Unfortunately, in the race for speed, scale, and profit, we often lose sight of it. Which is why so many products today feel disposable — and why true emotional loyalty is increasingly rare.

We need to bring this principle back into our design conversations. Not just to create better products, but to create meaning — the kind that lasts.

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References and Credits

• https://easysociology.com/sociological-perspectives/symbolic-interactionism/the-symbolic-interactionist-concept-of-self-concept-in-sociology/

• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002224296703100405#:~:text=As%20the%20fashion%20declines%20in,in%20the%20social%20interaction%20process.

• https://easysociology.com/sociological-perspectives/symbolic-interactionism/the-symbolic-interactionist-concept-of-self-concept-in-sociology/#:~:text=Symbolic%20interactionism%20is%20a%20theoretical,and%20expectations%20of%20their%20society.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolic_self-completion_theory#:~:text=Key%20concepts-,Self%2Ddefinitional%20symbols,important%20to%20their%20self%2Ddefinitions.

• https://triumphias.com/blog/understanding-self-concept-through-symbolic-interactionism/#:~:text=It%20not%20only%20plays%20a,other%20participants%20in%20the%20game.

• https://upscsociology.in/according-to-mead-the-idea-of-self-develops-when-the-individual-becomes-self-conscious-explain/#:~:text=Mead's%20Theory%20of%20Self,entities%20within%20their%20social%20environment.

• https://medium.com/indian-thoughts/the-role-of-symbols-in-your-life-d813cb163e15

• https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/persona-and-symbol-of-self/232664825

• https://www.scribd.com/presentation/42961950/Symbols-of-Self-Ppts#:~:text=The%20document%20discusses%20various%20symbols,way%20of%20thinking%20about%20themselves.

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