Art vs Design

My biggest struggle thus far, never minding learning a new language, adjusting to a whole new life, going back to school as one friend said, "while we are middle aged" (yes, it is ok to snicker), learning the woes of winter, blah, blah, blah.... the biggest struggle thus far has been how to be an Artist vs a Designer.

Yesseriee, I am quickly learning there is a difference. And even more so, I had no idea how much I think like a designer. Who would have thought after all these years of running away from architecture that it is so embedded in me.

Now you must be wondering what could possibly be the difference, right?! After all, both designers and artists are creative. Both can produce beautiful things. Well, here are some answers that I have heard thus far, but mind you, I am still quite defiant on this subject and have not yet conceded to the differences. Nonetheless, it has been explained to me that a designer creates objects with function. Of course, why else would you do something?! An artist, on the other hand, is all about conceptualizing (please feel free to insert the word "bs"ing).

Ok, I realize I may sound a bit bitter, perhaps bias, but note that it is an eye opener for me, quite unexpectedly, and I am determined to break through the walls of design and learn how to think like an artist. Just so I can.

Of course, the next obvious question is "HOW???!!!" I had one tutor say to me, "just create something silly, even ugly." Much harder to do than it sounds (at least for a designer).

His comment was in response to our last project. The theme, Time and Space, was to create a work of art that was site specific. I had a great idea from the get go. My thought was to stretch colorful fabric between the branches of the naked winter trees. Why? Easy. I wanted to add color and volume and create a beautiful space for people to enjoy in the nearby park. Sounds neat, eh? Well, guess what?! That IS design. It is something an architect would do. I did not even realize it until the last hour. Hurriedly, I abandoned the idea and decided to do something "silly" (can't quite do the ugly thing yet).

And so, just days before the deadline, I switched gears, and went to work making bunches of origami. I made lotus flowers that would float in the dreary pond at the park.

Everyone loved it.

Strangers got involved in floating the flowers.

Classmates giggled.

The pond, for that moment, became alive with what I dubbed as "color and whimsy."

Woohoo! I did it. I created art.








That moment was short lived.

One of my tutors was disappointed that I was so blase about it all.

I felt like I was doing something silly. Something quite simple. What is there to say really?!

She felt that it was beautiful but it could have had many connotations attached to it, perhaps religion, or honoring of sorts, I do not know, it was not something I gave thought. Her point was by searching for the meaning, the project could further develop into something conceptual. To top it off, another tutor chimed in that although it was wonderful, it was simply decorative. And guess what ... that too, apparently is design.

Confused yet? Well so am I.

So here is my question, "Is it art only when the piece has meaning?" and even more so, "Is it meaningful if you can talk the talk?" I mean, what if I were to make something up and say that I did this array of origami in the color of easter eggs to celebrate Semana Santa. Would that have made the project conceptual? I don't know, you tell me.