This article discusses the meanings of "design" and "creativity." First, the authors provide a historical review of the terminologies of "design" and "creativity" used in the field of design research. On the basis of this review, they aim to formulate a fundamental perspective of design for our future society that does not focus on the notion of efficiency and is not restricted by the framework of a problem-solving process. Next, they redefine design as the process of composing a desirable figure toward the future on the basis of their classifications of design as drawing, problem solving, and pursuit of the ideal. Finally, they identify the meanings of such a new definition of design in order to find the essential areas of research for design in the future post-industrial society.