CREATE FOR AN AUDIENCE OF ONE
"Creativity doesn't wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones."
-Bruce Garrabrandt
In order to attain a BFA in Graphic Design from my university I was required to take 27 hours of studio art and art history courses in addition to my design courses. This made sense to me as an amateur, I was a talented artist in high school and the career path of graphic designer was recommended to me as a way to make money from my art.
Before college I believed that design and art were synonymous, but as I pursued my degree my feelings changed.
I began to notice a difference between my studio art classes and my design classes, specifically how my peers and professors conducted critiques of creative work.
Art critiques are centered around the question being raised by the work. What does the work ask us to examine? How does it make you feel? Why does it make you feel this way? Success is often judged by the quality of the conversation created by the work or the boundaries it pushes.
Art is an expression of individual freedom.
Design critiques are centered around problem solving. What is the goal of this project? Is this the best solution? What new problems arise when this one has been solved? Success is judged by how effective the solution to the problem is.
Design is an expression of empathetic consensus.
Of course it would be absurd to pretend that these are the only definitions of art and design. In fact, the line between art and design is perhaps blurrier than ever. The truth is that art and design borrow from each other and the most successful creators can oscillate between the disciplines.
The most moving and engaging pieces of art are not haphazardly thrown together without intention, they are designed to elicit a reaction. Similarly the most revolutionary design solutions are not joyless mind control devices, they touch our human souls and anticipate our needs.
This revelation begs the question; am I an artist or a designer? The answer is both.
For most of us, the days of the clear career path, the rigid job description and the tenured position are gone. We have to be adaptable and revolutionary in our creative work. There are many interpretations of Michelangelo’s depiction of the creation of Adam, but I have always seen the fresco as a metaphor for creative inspiration.
By creating, we tap into the Godhead and become a vessel for divine revelation.
This process has never felt optional for me, I need to create in the same way that I need to breath, eat and drink water. Creativity is a part of my religion and I create my work for an audience of one: myself. If other people appreciate my work that’s great, but ultimately my art is for me.
I encourage all young artists and designers to create for themselves because at the end of the day even if everyone hates your work at least you haven’t betrayed yourself.
#sunandiron