Sets idly disposed are given a distinctive designation? (8)
I believe the answer is:
stylised
'given a distinctive designation?' is the definition.
(styled or named a certain way)
'sets idly disposed' is the wordplay.
'disposed' indicates an anagram.
'sets'+'idly'='setsidly'
'setsidly' anagrammed gives 'STYLISED'.
'are' is the link.
(Other definitions for stylised that I've seen before include "Of conventional form" , "Traditional" .)