Standards are not blueprints for products (at least as far as consumer products are concerned), so they do not replace the need for experienced designer(s) with the technical education, experience, and creativity to specify functional capabilities, materials, form, size, tolerances, appearance, and user interfaces. They may impose constraints on designers, but only as much as is necessary for the good of consumers—typically to ensure appropriate performance in relation to factors such as safety, usability, and inclusivity.

VDI 2221 is about product development processes . VDI 2222 is about conceptual design.