Design versus Art

Eames said that design is best when it serves a particular purpose. Logically, this makes sense. The purpose of a civil engineer is to design the safest roads and highways that function for the sake of the society it serves. Architects design buildings and homes to shelter people and living beings from natural hazards. Fashion and clothing designers construct apparel to keep people warm.

At least, this is the most literal way of view their work. Obviously, there is an element of beauty and precision that makes design not just simple design. The element of aesthetic value and visual appeal results in a design as a work of art. So it may be true that the architect builds houses to keep people sheltered, but once they add in detail and deliberate attempt to create a pleasing overall result, it is necessary to consider the artistic character of their design. They could just as easier design an ugly, box for a house and that would merely be considered a design (or a bad design), but it is the intention of the designer that sets apart their work as art.