Met to design symbol (5)
I believe the answer is:
totem
'symbol' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'met to design' is the wordplay.
'design' indicates anagramming the letters.
'met'+'to'='metto'
'metto' with letters rearranged gives 'TOTEM'.
(Other definitions for totem that I've seen before include "token" , "Symbol, emblem" , "family emblem" , "Sign" , "Animal as emblem" .)