Comments on: Art From Data. Or Is It Design? http://alignedleft.com/blog/2008/04/art-from-data-or-is-it-design/ Exploring digital culture and dynamic media Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:34:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Scott http://alignedleft.com/blog/2008/04/art-from-data-or-is-it-design/#comment-167 Scott Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:49:42 +0000 http://alignedleft.com/blog/?p=187#comment-167 <p>Thanks, Jason. I wanted to share this new definition of art, from Peter Schjeldahl in the latest <em>New Yorker</em>:</p> <blockquote> <p>"Art" has become the promiscuous catchall for anything artificial that meets no practical need but which we like, or are presumed or supposed to like.</p> </blockquote> <p>So maybe design is design because it meets a "practical need," whereas art is impractical? That doesn't really help, but it is interesting, at least.</p> Thanks, Jason. I wanted to share this new definition of art, from Peter Schjeldahl in the latest New Yorker:

“Art” has become the promiscuous catchall for anything artificial that meets no practical need but which we like, or are presumed or supposed to like.

So maybe design is design because it meets a “practical need,” whereas art is impractical? That doesn’t really help, but it is interesting, at least.

]]> By: Jason http://alignedleft.com/blog/2008/04/art-from-data-or-is-it-design/#comment-166 Jason Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:10:33 +0000 http://alignedleft.com/blog/?p=187#comment-166 <p>I too have been thinking about the distinction between art and design. I have come to the conclusion that while there is a meaningful distinction in my own practice, it is difficult to make any kind of universal distinction. </p> <p>Art is always self expression first. If I create an art work and it speaks to someone else that's great, but if it fails to speak to someone else that's fine too. Often the result of the art making process is a new language forged from personal reflection. </p> <p>In Design, I always put the needs of my user first. I generally try to use widely accepted rules and standards (not invent new ones)to assure clarity in communicating to my audience. If I design something that fails to speak to my user, that is a failure of design.</p> <p>These are two very separate modes of creation for me. I am consciously working towards breaking down the walls although there will always be elements that a classify as belonging to one or the other. Curious how others feel about this in their own practice versus trying to define it in universal terms.</p> I too have been thinking about the distinction between art and design. I have come to the conclusion that while there is a meaningful distinction in my own practice, it is difficult to make any kind of universal distinction.

Art is always self expression first. If I create an art work and it speaks to someone else that’s great, but if it fails to speak to someone else that’s fine too. Often the result of the art making process is a new language forged from personal reflection.

In Design, I always put the needs of my user first. I generally try to use widely accepted rules and standards (not invent new ones)to assure clarity in communicating to my audience. If I design something that fails to speak to my user, that is a failure of design.

These are two very separate modes of creation for me. I am consciously working towards breaking down the walls although there will always be elements that a classify as belonging to one or the other. Curious how others feel about this in their own practice versus trying to define it in universal terms.

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