One note, however: I think it’s dangerous to imply that art is a passive creation ( I know you use music as your example, but to make a point I’m pretending you said art): “music [or art] is appreciated, it’s listened to, it’s enjoyed, but it doesn’t fall under the “used” category.” Since when?

Just think of how the White House runs: power is conveyed through the careful crafting of a Presidential image.In homes, people cover their walls in expensive local art to convey their role in society.In the TV show American Chopper, corporate sponsors line up to purchase choppers which are given artistic flourishes that outweigh the functionality of the bike, and the brands profit because they’re embracing the core market’s values and appreciation of creativity.

All the protagonists in these situations would say that they’re using a mix of design and art. Music and any other art form is capable of conveying a message or making a difference in the social, business and political worlds.

I feel like the main point of your article was to identify that design is simply the rethinking of other things that have been designed. What was the last designed thing you discovered that was truly new or fresh, by your definition? I’d argue (I think like you would) it’s hard to find anything new in design or art, but that that doesn’t make what’s created any less admirable, easy-to-use or moving.

Just wanted to say I enjoy your article. From the point of view of one doing both painting and design, I face very different challenges in each field. I have very limited knowledge of Jazz, and so your article is much more relatable.

thanks

It could indeed be argued that artists these days are “designing” songs rather than composing them, but that still doesn’t affect my earlier distinction between art and design.

Jeff’s original article tries to explain the process of appropriation using a medium (music, jazz in particular) that does not closely relate to ours (design, web in particular). My addendum is simply an attempt to bring the process closer to home for the majority of readers in this context.

I’ve always considered most pop music to be more “craft” than art (and I say this as a rock musician). There is no doubt that without the great bands of yesterday, the sounds of today would not exist… they all build on what came before. I view design in a similar fashion: it might not be art, but in my mind, design is certainly a craft that is informed (however unintentionally) by previous creative work.

Maybe I’m off base, though… after all, what we consider classical music today may have been the pop music of its time. However, I think there was kind of a seedy underbelly of minstrels and folk music throughout Western culture, even back then.

Well said, I agree. No more art comparisons.