A language of design in products by analogy

Understanding the products and artifacts as part of a system of meanings analyzed within the field of Semiotics, this article intends to contribute to the paving of the epistemological reasoning pathway for Design, by taking it as Language. This paper is discussed in addition to the application of semiotic theory, the possibilities of using metaphor in product design. The objectives were to propose theoretical relationships between Linguistics and Design, to build analogies that would allow to give new light to communicative aspects of Design, and to clarify the various ways in which a product metaphor can be projected. While these classifications emphasize the enormous potential of metaphors, we also describe the risks and pitfalls associated with their use. With this clarification, it was intended to raise designers' awareness about the communicative possibilities of metaphors and expand the theoretical discussions of Design as Language.