I shared these the other day.
Left: Drawings by artist Roy Morita.
Right: Character design by Charles McElmurry.

It's a pretty clear depiction of the difference between drawing and design. Both were importantly a part of the character's *creation*, but only one is the design.

Drawing is figuring things out. Trying stuff. Working out ideas.
Design is making clear decisions. No more it could be this or that, or it's roughly this. It's *this*. This is the design.

Design doesn't necessarily mean *clean* in terms a rendering style. It simply aims to represent a clear model of purposeful decisions around how a characters looks and works. Showing multiple views.

Good example here from the 'art of' book for
'The Tale of The Princess Kaguya'

Compare the designs to the film. You'll see those () aren't just loose concept drawings. They are clearly formed design ideas put to direct use in the film.

Left: Early drawings of Squidward by Stephen Hillenburg
Right: Squidward character design (turnaround and construction guide)

The design examples appear to be from different seasons. The turnaround from 2004, and I've seen the model sheet below dated to 1997-98

It's pretty common as a character designer (by trade) to get someone else's rough drawings to build a complete and considered design around. Where you're making the *official version* of a character idea.

Something to keep in mind if you're considering it as a profession.