design vs plan

design

verb
  • To plan and carry out (a picture, work of art, construction etc.). 

  • To manifest requirements to be satisfied by an object or process for them to solve a problem. 

noun
  • A plan (with more or less detail) for the structure and functions of an artifact, building or system. 

  • A pattern, as an element of a work of art or architecture. 

  • The art of designing 

  • The shape or appearance given to an object, especially one that is intended to make it more attractive. 

  • The composition of a work of art. 

  • Malicious or malevolent intention. 

  • A specification of an object or process, referring to requirements to be satisfied and thus conditions to be met for them to solve a problem. 

  • Intention or plot. 

plan

verb
  • To design (a building, machine, etc.). 

  • To create a plan for. 

  • To intend. 

  • To make a plan. 

noun
  • A drawing showing technical details of a building, machine, etc., with unwanted details omitted, and often using symbols rather than detailed drawing to represent doors, valves, etc. 

  • A subscription to a service. 

  • A set of intended actions, usually mutually related, through which one expects to achieve a goal. 

  • A method; a way of procedure; a custom. 

  • A two-dimensional drawing of a building as seen from above with obscuring or irrelevant details such as roof removed, or of a floor of a building, revealing the internal layout; as distinct from the elevation. 

How often have the words design and plan occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )