There is a common misconception that human needs exist primarily independent of designed products, services, and systems available in the built environment. A more nuanced examination of need, however, reveals that sometimes the opposite is true – solutions do indeed drive our goals as well as the needs required to fulfill these goals. In this paper, the author explores the relationship between human need, goals, and the designed world. The author then explores the implications for design practice, reframing the discussion for design professionals through a theoretical framework for integrating need identification, understanding, and validation throughout a holistic design process.