Is Design Considered Art?
A big debate I’ve seen in the design community is whether design should be considered art. The arguments on both sides are valid, which makes it hard to come to a conclusion. First I’ll define each word to provide some sort of beginning point. The definitions come from Dictionary.com and I’ve chosen the most relevant definitions.
Art: The quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.
Design: The purposeful or inventive arrangement of parts or details
In a sense, design can be considered art. The best argument for this is the fact that a designer brings his or her experiences and influences to every item they design. The design comes from the designer’s imagination, and no two designers would come up with the same final product. A designer usually also tries to create something that is visually appealing, which goes back to the definition of art.
The argument that design is not art is much stronger in my opinion. A design is created for a specific purpose, to communicate a concept visually. Normally a designer is creating something to help a company achieve a goal: more sales, better branding, marketing, etc. The personal expression that goes into a piece of art is left out of a design for a client. The designer may not even have a say in the aesthetics of a piece, they might only be the technician putting the parts together.
The argument becomes tricky when the two overlap. There are times when a designer has full control over the piece he or she is creating and allows their personal taste to influence the final product. But even then, there is still a purpose for the piece beyond expressing personal emotion.
