Design is a quality of the material world and refers to the production of objects and the processes used to make them. In the physical world, design refers to form and function. In the digital world, the construct of design embodies meaning making. Immersed in a digital world, the ability of individuals to fully participate in contemporary society is significantly impacted by their ability to derive meaning from their interactions with multi-modal digital texts. Understanding, using, and producing knowledge in the digital world requires literacy competencies beyond those needed for the traditional reading and writing. ‘Design' is therefore an essential literacy for the 21st century. In the present article, the authors trace the evolution of the concept of design literacy, frame design literacy as a human-centred literacy, and argue for the imperative of the inclusion of design literacy in higher education.