The dissertation is devoted to analysis of historical and methodological foundations of design investigation as the factor of harmonizing the relations between the society and personality. The concept of the design as an integral phenomenon has been developed which includes the following: the methodological foundations of analyzing design in the context of social philosophy; the modern scientific approaches to design interpretation in historical retrospective; principles and methods of philosophic analysis of design as the factor of harmonization of relations between the society and personality; the categorical system of design investigation in the context of which it has been proved that design is the process of personality development under conditions of harmonization of relations between the society and personality. The attention is drawn to design analysis as a social phenomenon: ontological, gnosiological, instrumental, normative role, communicative, system which let consider design as an integralphenomenon. It is proves that categorical system of design social and philosophical paradigm is formed on the basis of the social-historical practice, which includes: the main forms of historic activity, categories and concepts of social and philosophical thinking, forms of historic self-consciousness, based on people's historic activity in the process of temporal changes of people's living space. To analyze design as an integral phenomenon it is important to use such categories, as design architectonics, design development, environment design, form-construction. The dissertation presents the theoretical analysis of design phenomenon and its social functions, which includes: genesis of design activity and its innovative character; the essence and content of design practices, as well as forms and functions of design. It emphasizes, in particular, that meaning of design concepts reduces to foundation of rational activity, aimed at the formation of harmonious environment and the creation of decent conditions forhuman existence. The new design functions are analyzed - informational, heuristic, coordinative, integrating, ontological, phenomenological, psychoanalytical, which gives the possibility to make a conclusion that design is one the matrixes of personality cultural correlation with the society, environment, transmitting the temporal character of time and space. The dissertation has viewed the formation of contemporary design conception as the factor of personality self-realization, in the context of which design activity in the system of "personality-society" relation; the essence of design creation as the specific way of personality self-realization; the role of design in the development of social freedom and self-perfection of the society and personality; the specific character of personal self-realization in design activity are investigated. The dissertation has disclosed design evolution from technocratic design to conception of "human spirit" as a result of paradigms change of civilization development in the context of which it has explored: design as the cultural universalism of civilization; the concept of technocratic design; axiological element of design essence; anthropological basis of design. The dissertation has analyzed contemporary tendencies of design development, in particular: the formation and development of design as spiritual and practical phenomenon in the informational and cultural area; directions of optimization of new forms of contemporary design; the role of native design traditions in self-development of the Ukrainian society; urgent problems of design in modern philosophical discourse. Thus, in the dissertation for the first time in national philosophy design has been specified as peculiar social and cultural phenomenon, which may be represented as essentially design, creative and transforming activities, directed to the objective sphere of existence with the purpose of forming of harmonic human attitude to nature, to the world and to himself. It was determined, that design is an area of transformation and self-perfection of personality. Design is spiritually-practical process which meets necessities and interests of human being in the conditions of the global world.
