Art | Design

art n.
1 The creation of something beautiful and expressive; paintings and sculptures.
2 (arts) subjects other than sciences; creative activites (e.g. painting, music, writing).
3 a skill.

design n.
1 a drawing that shows how a thing is to be made; a general form or arrangement; a decorative pattern.
2 an intention; planning.

v. prepare a design for; plan, intend.

-Oxford English Dictionary

These four sub-categories can be a way of organizing opinions. The high-end design world may seem out of reach and unreasonable but sometimes it’s inspiring, refreshing and candy for the senses. These two opposite opinions call for an exploration of what lies in between.

Art & Design

Capitalizing the letters A and D somehow gives designers a space with a license to do anything. For example, Max Lamb’s turned concrete cylinders have received much acclaim for reasons that are not in line with my beliefs. I don’t see how its inefficient use of material was worth exploring such repetitive and mundane forms for the sake of him directly being part of the manufacturing process. Nevertheless, he pursues his philosophy like we all want to see our visions materialize. That’s what it means to design. Individuals wanting to make a statement initiated this A&D scene. In comparison, here we are, individuals gaining tools through education and stacking them until we will feel comfortable enough to stand alone (or in a team) to make an impact in the world. I think that part of what makes the Design scene feel like an ant intruding a city of skyscrapers are the Big Names. A student graduates from a design school, armed with her portfolio, and builds her identity to present to manufacturers or firms so she can be represented by them. These include manufacturing companies like Vitra, Herman Miller, and Ligne Roset. French designer Inge Sempé, for example, has her work with Ligne Roset. Ligne Roset is a family-run company manufacturing furniture and brainstorms possible (new) ways to make the product or alter designs with the designer. It’s a cool place to be. You have one-on-ones with the Big Names. You become an in-house designer. You’re linked in or in the loop, however you want to see it.

art and design

Strip away the pretention, white backgrounds and head-to-toe black clothing and look at the sketchbooks. What happens when art inspires design? When a functional design draws inspiration from fine arts or the process of fine art making the results can be very harmonious and subtle. The journey does not have to be about climbing the ladder instead understanding the ground you stand on. Some designers will choose to make products in a limited series. That scarcity may mean that demand and prices will increase but it also means that more thought and care is put into the making of objects.

Art vs. Design

Why do we make what we make? This is a question seen too frequently but not answered quite as well since we make a lot of junk. Is it for Art’s sake? Is Many designers on the ID history blog use scarce materials freely, to make a statement, provoke a thought or just make you laugh like Blendie. Emotions are triggered while holding a glowing jar or while sitting and knitting in a deep, plush, high-backed chair. It’s a similar interaction with paintings and the associations you make with objects (refer to my Meaning vs. Saying essay). This differs greatly from the utilitarian designs that serve a function and a function only. Think of Velcro and match sticks that are in the same category of industrially designed objects. Art vs. Design even a debate worth watching? Maybe art feeds or inspires design. In the Laws of Simplicity John Maeda mentions that ‘simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful’. Similarly, many featured designers from our last class, like Tobias Wong, have removed or repurposed obvious functions from objects and use them as symbols to carry their meanings.

Art of Design(ing)

What is my intention? What will my plan be to make it happen? In the process of designing my second chair I recognise a familiar pattern in the way I start. It is frustrating to see myself fall into the same potholes but I know that recognising that I do that is already a step closer to understanding my design process. I slowly establish my methods and values in my design process. With that set, I can look at Max Lamb and know that I don’t like his work. Having a consistent opinion is a weapon in the Design World. Since design and intention are synonymous, your art of design matters a lot: but first ask WHY you design before re-evaluating how you design. During the Better World by Design conference a speaker said that architecture is a political act because buildings are placed on this planet. The same weight of accountability applies to designers who make things that are extracted from the earth, made and used on the earth then left on or in the earth. Understanding why you do things and supporting other designers sharing the same beliefs as yours may dictate what the next big design scene will be.