Design and Art
On Design and Art
Are they the same? Are they different? Are there similarities?
Words matter tremendously, and as you continue your way into a discipline, there becomes a threshold where, (I think mainly out of laziness or ignorance), people get lackadaisical with their terminology.
Today’s article addresses my issue with the interchangeable and often synonymous use of the terms ‘design’ and ‘art’. 🎨
A bit of personal context: for the majority of my professional career, and even throughout the interview process, I’ve been consistently asked by marketers: “design is such a personal and artistic thing; how do you handle feedback?” This question accurately summarizes how most people view design: a primarily artistic pursuit. And because of this, most of the feedback I received was given in subjective territory: "I like this” or “I don’t like that”. This was frustrating from my perspective. If I’m working in the context of a business which has metrics they’re trying to achieve (if run by competent leadership), shouldn’t my work be measured on the success of those metrics being met?
Context aside, there is also a blurring of the lines with digital art being confused with graphic design because both do work on screens and use much of the same technology. And while the tools and applications might overlap, the intent and motivations of a graphic designer and digital artist are completely different, and I would say, mutually exclusive.
We also fall into the trap of defining design through the narrow lens of our 9 to 5 jobs, rather than remembering that graphic, or web, or architectural, or environmental design, or interior design—they all have a common thread or goal: the solution should communicate and discoverable and understandable interaction and functional purpose for users.
Which brings us to intent.
The design of something needs to work; art can simply exist and be observed. A designer’s goal should be to design aesthetic things for others that intuitively communicates an understandable and pleasing interaction with it. An artist’s creation does not need to communicate a functional interaction or outcome for it to be successful. Art can be open to interpretation without consequence; design definitely can’t get away with that! While both use a creative process and both possess aesthetic qualities, the intention and final result, are completely different.
N.G.