The Design label was launched in 1957 as a subsidiary of Pickwick Sales Corp. An article in Billboard (15 July 1957, p. 51) announced the entry of Design into the market with its first 24 releases. The next set of records was released at the end of Dec. 1957, according to Billboard (23 Dec. 1957, p. 17). The last release that year was catalog number DLP-56.

Until 1965, all Design releases were mono. Some early releases incorrectly state 'STEREO SONIC SOUND'. Stereo versions were released on its sister label Stereo Spectrum Records.

Early Design label versions show a colored logo on top with white wording across. There are versions with white and yellow rim wording, and with yellow-only rim wording below the horizontal white line across the label. Later versions do not have the colored logo on top anymore. They are pure black and white instead. By the middle of the 1960s, labels had changed to a red design.

Like many other budget labels, Design Records used its in-house staff to write songs and perform generic orchestral arrangements. Lou Reed appeared as a singer and guitarist as well as a songwriter on several mid-'60s Design compilations and albums.

Later releases mention the parent company as Pickwick International, Inc., which was launched in the early 1960s. The label existed until 1970.