Design can apply to many aspects of life. Design is the planning of an object or system. For example architecture is a form of designing buildings. If you are developing a system or plan you are creating a work up that can be followed by personnel to complete the assignment.
Design is one component of strategic innovation. In strategic innovation the employees on the project are coming up with a new product that will be released to answer a need consumers will have in the future. To accomplish the goal there is a design plan needed. The plan will tell the employees what the product or service is to fulfill the need. It will also explain the time frame that each part needs to be completed, how it will be created, and what the finished product will look like.
Building is a good example of implementing a plan. In construction there are plans which outline where the walls go, the size of the windows, etc. It is this design that will eventually become the finished product.
For strategic innovation a person comes up with a solution based on the design of the program. Ideas are first thrown out in a timely manner. At the end of this time the best idea is then taken and implemented. In order to complete a project the implementation period must have a successful plan and team. The difference between designing and innovation is that designing is part of the process, rather than the whole process.