The phrase 'empathetically-designed' is formed from 'empathetically' (adverb form of 'empathetic', from 'empathy') and 'designed' (past participle of 'design'). 'Empathy' comes from the Greek word 'empatheia', meaning 'passion' or 'state of emotion', and 'design' comes from the Latin 'designare', meaning 'to mark out'.

'Empathy' entered English in the early 20th century from German 'Einfühlung', and 'design' has been used in English since the late Middle Ages. The compound phrase 'empathetically-designed' is a modern construction, reflecting contemporary focus on user experience and emotional intelligence in design.

Initially, 'empathy' referred to the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, and 'design' meant to plan or create. The phrase 'empathetically-designed' now specifically refers to products or systems created with empathy for users.