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Hamlett 1
Liberty University
Art vs Design
Taylor Hamlett
Professor Abbott
ARTS 209-01
11 March 2022
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Hamlett 2
Art and design are often words that are intermixed whereas in reality, they have separate
definitions and purposes. Although both important to the creative process and an artist’s journey,
their distinct characteristics are what helps an individual separate the two. According to Tsion
Avital, author of “The Confusion Between Art and Design: Brain-Tools versus Body-Tools,” he
claims that, “Art acts directly on our consciousness through symbols… [whereas] design and
more so technology, operate on reality by means of the tools” (Avital, 229). This definition is one
of the best that I have found, and by far agree with more than the article written by Craig A.
Elimeliah. Elimeliah claims that art is purely emotional and soulful, completely original whereas
design is defined by its commercial use and has a calculated process.
Although having valid arguments, I believe that Avital’s distinction of the two holds more
accuracy than Elimeliah’s. Avital references how art is implicative, and design is applicative,
perfectly encapsulating the two. When an artist begins the process of creating a piece, more than
likely their goal is to make the viewer either appreciate or ponder what has been produced. Often
times, the viewer is encouraged to find their own meaning in a work of art rather than solely
depend on what the original idea had been. This is not the case with design. Avital admits that the
purpose of design is applicative, and if a viewer or user is lost to the idea of the design, the piece
has failed. The main difference between art and design comes down to the purpose and how it is
to be interpreted.
There are often cases of overlap, however, which Elimeliah references several times.
Many artists create well-made designs, such as legible company logos with great readability, and
designers by nature can create art. An architect who makes blueprints may find a love for art that
involves perspective and cityscapes, creating this for the simple purpose of pleasure. Although
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Hamlett 3
art and design have several overlapping similarities, knowing the differences between the two
can inspire new works in the search of creating specifically art and separately, designs.
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Avital, Tsion. The Confusion between Art and Design: Brain-Tools versus Body-Tools. Vernon
Press, 2017.
