What is Design: a Comparison to its

Cousin Art

So what are we talkin’ about?

What in the name of Neptune’s beard is design? How is it different from art? Design and art are closely related, but there are some key differences. We shall explore them. This article will attempt to help clarify what design is by comparing it to art.

Definitions

Lets first lay a groundwork by articulating what these two concepts mean independent of each other.

Design

: to plan and make (something) for a specific use or purpose

: the way something has been made : the way the parts of something (such as a building, machine, book, etc.) are formed and arranged for a particular use, effect, etc.

: the process of planning how something will look, happen, be made, etc. : the process of designing something

Art

:the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

Discussion

What is similar in both design and art? What key things are different?

Similar

Both design and art require the “…the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination…”

Both are often represented “…in a visual form”

Different

Art is made “…to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” Design primarily is made to fulfill a specific purpose for another individual or group.

Huh?

Let’s elaborate on that last point some more. Art is primarily made at the direction of the artist’s desires and intent. Design is primarily made at the want or need of another group of people. Before we jump further into this concept, lets look at a few examples so we have something to talk about!

Examples

Design:

Art:

Back Again

Is that a little clearer? In design the key objective is providing a more tangible help to the user. In art the key objective is communicating an emotional message.

For the sake of more specific elaboration lets compare two specific examples that the videos brought up.

Design: The Ipad

Art: Painting

Both end products seek to enhance the life of the people that will come in contact with them. The art piece is meant to elicit an emotional response. The Ipad was made to be a tool to it’s users, a tool that facilitates other emotional experiences in the persons life.

The painting was most likely made at the will and desire of the artist with the hope of making a connection with another. The ipad was made to adress specific and tangilbe problems and wants of a community. The artist creates to express what they feel is important,to create an emotional response, to create something meaningful to them. The design creates to adress the specific needs and wants of others.

Conclusion

Design and Art are closely related. Both require creative thought and articulation. Both often seek to make the lives of others better.

Design is more focused on addressing specific and tangible problems and wants of others. The motive and spark of creation is most often outside the deisgner. Art is primarily focused on creating beauty and creating an emotional response. The motive and spark of creation for art often begins within the artist.

Cheers.

References

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/design

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=what%20is%20art

http://cdn.toucharcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/apple-ipad-mini-pr.jpeg

http://www.imgion.com/images/02/Fantasy-painting-of-ocean.jpg