Design is not art (except when it is)
Since we’ve talked to many students lately, we thought sharing this age-old debate would be interesting. It’s common and perfectly logical that people are steered toward design because they are creative or artistic. Nothing wrong with that! The following excerpt is actually how we begin the Design Career Handbook:
We must start with one of our all-time favorite discussions: design is not art. We have this opinionated point of view because our undergraduate study was traditional industrial design. At the time, the discipline was predominantly concerned with physical products. In human factors, a core aspect of the curriculum, we learned to focus on the psychology and behavior of the people who use products. So, for us, design has always been about what someone needs to accomplish. On the other hand, art is about the artist and what they want to express.
Design is objective—it has a goal that is either accomplished or not accomplished. Art is subjective—those who experience it can have different interpretations and reactions, none necessarily wrong.
That being said, design and art are intrinsically linked. Professional design absolutely benefits from a creative mindset. In fact, many designers we know also practice art as an applied skill in their jobs or as a creative outlet—including illustration, photography, painting, pottery, jewelry making, and music. The key is knowing what amount of your artistic point of view and creative skill is pertinent to a given design project and your responsibilities.
One can be both a designer and an artist.
For the record, we love art! The books, paintings, and framed prints in our home, frequent visits to museums and maker events, social feeds full of creators that inspire us, and the numerous art and craft making tools we own attest to this.
We also love beautifully made products. In the best case scenario, physical objects and digital services fulfill their functions while providing joy in their use or simply because of their level of craft.
(Someday, I’ll have that Eames Lounge Chair!) 😀
Late in our book, we discuss how strong design sense and good taste result from developing a critical eye and intuitively discerning quality.
We’d love to hear about your relationship to design and art. Let us know in the comments or message anywhere you find us online.
It’s been a while! Here are a few things we’ve been up to since our last update:
We could always use your help spreading the word about our book. Please share with anyone interested in design. It also contains plenty of advice, tips, and stories for working designers.
If you already have it, thank you! We’d be grateful for your review on Amazon. ✏️
Don’t have it yet? The Design Career Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Get a Job and Be Successful is available now in paperback and Kindle ebook.