Clarifying the idea of Art and Design

The debate discussing whether art and design should be considered the same or if there is a different between the two has raged on for a number of years. In the past, writers and contemporary artists disagreed often about whether the two were similar and should be treated as the same entities. While some would attest to the fact that there is a connection between art and design which makes them the same, there are those who disagree with this notion stating that the two have nothing in common and that they should be viewed separately. While defining either of the two or determining whether they are connected or not will have little, if any impact on how they are approached, clarifying the idea of art and design is essential to people as it will help them to have a better understanding of what art and design represent, their purpose and the role they play in society.

Whether or not art and design have similar qualities, there are various differences that exist between the two. When artists create art, their purpose is to present something creative that will establish an emotional or intellectual bond with those who see the art . Designers’ purpose, on the other hand, is to send a message or convey ideas that are already in existence so as to achieve a specific goal. While the purpose of a design is to get people to engage in actions such as using a service or buying a product, art focuses more on getting emotionally attached to the work itself (Irwin, 1991). Clarifying the idea of art and design is essential because it will help the two to meet their purpose. If people think art and design are the same, they may fail to respond the way it was intended. Some may view design as art and fail to get the message or act accordingly. Others may look at art as a design and not be inspired intellectually or emotionally connect with the artist despite their creativity.

Another reason why clarifying art and design is important is because it will go a long way in helping people to receive the message being communicated. When artists create their work, they often try to convey some emotion, viewpoint or feelings through their art. While the artist may want to evoke a certain reaction, the art does not limit the audience’s interpretation. They are at liberty to interpret the art differently depending on how they view and connect with it. Design, on the other hand, is more direct and for it to be successful, the design must be interpreted the way the designer intended and communicates the message that the designer wanted. If people think art and design are the same, their purpose would be greatly undermined. People may view a design as a piece of art and end up with different interpretations that lead to different messages being received and this will defeat its purpose.

On a professional level, clarifying art from design would help people in deciding what field to pursue depending on their talents and capabilities. In the case of art, being good at it has more to do with talent than learning . Although art is taught, those who excel in the field possess the natural talent needed to put what they learn to practice. Most people are born with these skills and learning just shows them how to use what they already possess. Design, on the other hand, is something that people can learn regardless of whether they are talented or not. Even without natural talents, anyone can learn how to be a designer and do exceptionally well in the field (Trochut, 2016). Clarifying the idea of art and design is, therefore, important as it will help prevent people venturing into art with the hope that they will excel especially when they lack the natural talent to do so.

Even though the two are very different, there are occurrences where design ends up becoming art without the intention of the designer. Although the purpose of all designs is to communicate a specific message that with provoke a specific action from the audience, this does not necessarily mean that it cannot be viewed as art. There are ways that design can be seen as art depending on how people view the end product of the designer. Since people are at liberty to determine how they view both design and art, some may see the artistic value in design and view it as more of a piece of art. Although this will mean that the design has failed to meet its purpose, it does not mean that the design evokes the reactions that art does in the viewer’s eyes. Such scenarios are what results to some designers considering themselves as artists (Elimeliah, 2006).

While it is possible for a design to be viewed as art, it is very hard, if not impossible for art to be viewed as an art. Designs are intended to communicate a specific message that will evoke an action from the viewer. However, this cannot be achieved through art as the message it communicates is draws attention to the art itself. By clarifying the idea of art and design, people will be in a better position to understand the difference between the two, their purpose and what approach to take when dealing with either art or design.