People tend to like discussing the differences between art and design, and point out that art serves no function while design does. I don’t know about that, but I would rather live in a world surrounded by art than surrounded by apps and ads.
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I think the problem is lack of grey area. Great design is usually masterfully mashed with art (at very least artwork). But art always serves a purpose even if it’s just to express one’s feelings. I tend to think that design serves needs of many while art serves the artist first.
Also Sagmeister has a saying: beauty as function. I feel like that tells a lot about the place of art in design.