What’s the big difference - and does it matter?
On a recent radio show, I was asked questions about creativity from the perspective of an artist. I didn’t know what to say - because the artist in me is now all about building violent volcanoes and drawing strange animals to inspire my children. But that’s not what I do for a living.
I design. All of us at brandform design. We design solutions for our clients’ problems. Sometimes we use art. More often, we use strategy. All to solve a problem, tell a story or effect a change in behavior.
Art and design are often considered related fields, but they have some important differences. Art is typically defined as the expression of creativity and imagination through visual media such as painting, sculpture, and drawing. It is often considered to be a form of self-expression and is not necessarily intended to serve a practical purpose.
Design, on the other hand, is focused on creating functional and aesthetically pleasing products or experiences. It involves the use of visual elements such as color, shape, and form to solve problems and communicate ideas. Design can be applied to a wide range of fields, including architecture, product design, graphic design, and fashion design, among others.
The key difference between art and design is the purpose behind the creation. Art is often created for its own sake, while design is typically created to serve a specific purpose or solve a problem.
I use art to inspire creativity in my children and that’s a useful application of my ‘artistic’ capabilities. But as I create art, I always take the opportunity to inspire design thinking, set goals, find solutions and ultimately, enjoy the journey.