ART VS DESIGN
This was a simple term I used to help me define the creative categories that i was working in when I was younger. I believed that Art & Design are a lot more different that most people assume ( especially outsiders, masters are acutely aware of the differences) but from a generalist point of view, art & design are bundled together - often the same faculty in organisations/education.
I had a strong interest in both, and realised that if you wanted to create anything of value in both, that a clear appreciation of the boundaries needed to be understood. You can have a certain amount of overlap in art/design (design objects as fine art for example) but more often that not - there is a fundamental rule set that i developed to make sure i create work that is of value in both fields. This is the origin of the term Art vs design.
It is a reminder to me that Art and Design are fundamentally different creative approaches with different outcomes and goals. What you are trying to achieve in either discipline is different.
As my practice evolved I found that the term was not just a good reminder for myself in what i was trying to achieve, but it was a good way to frame my practice.
Art vs Design represents the push and pull dynamic between two disciplines.
Defining art is a controversial and somewhat useless endeavour, but every artist needs to have their own - if only as a reminder. The definitions I like for Art & Design are :
Art:
The expression of human creative skill producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
Design
Design is arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose.
(Adapted from Charles Eames)
The key thing to notice here is the difference in the desired outcome. Design is striving to create something to suit a particular purpose. You are working towards something, starting at the end and working backwards even. Often to solve a problem, design will supply the solution. In short, design starts with a destination and desired outcome.
Art on the other hand exists primarily to be a platform to express creativity. Art should not be created with the outcome in mind. Art does not need to fulfil a requirement to any end user, it only has to exist because the artist wants it to. That it is the beauty and power of art. It is enough, just by existing. Art should be free expression for the artist, if it finds an audience and inspires others - that is a bonus.
Design is looking to accomplish a particular purpose, whereas art is not, and should not.
Although both creative pursuits, I treat them as opposites in a sense - conflicting against each other in many ways represented by the “Versus”.
Versus.
The versus element serves as a means for how i describe the themes i explore and the mediums i use.
Art vs Design. Analog vs Digital. Paint vs Pixels.