artist & designer (what is the difference)
polycounter lvl 14
what is the difference between an artist & a designer?
ps: they are not the same, isn't that right?
ps: they are not the same, isn't that right?
Replies
A designer makes decisions, trail blazes and organizes. An artist takes that direction and produces something.
At least that's how I see it. I don't have game industry experience yet, but I do work full-time in the field.
The designer and artist are quite broad titles. Artists can be designers in the sense that they build concepts, bring functionality to a game/layout/website etc. For example, many graphic designers also work as illustrators, or need to create artistic assets for the site they are working on. This is where the artist and designer title blend.
I'm asuming though, that you are talking about the artist and the designer in the gaming industry. This is where you see quite a difference in the two. Usually artists or the art team can be made up of UI designers, animators, concept artists, 3D modelers, etc. Whereas the design team may be made up of level designers, creative directors, game designers, a dash of programmers, etc.
Essentially, the game designers work out the nuts and bolts of how the game works. The who, what, where, why and when of a game. The mechanics and hows it's played. Is it a 2D, 3D, flash based game? What sort of assets, programs, tools are needed to make and play the game. How to make the game functional and entertaining? Artists can be part of this too, but they basically make the game look pretty. Very pretty.
Design is art itself though. Never forget it. The programmers and designers build worlds like architects.
There's probably more to this, feel free for anyone to correct me or pitch in!
It's a great question!!
some places, the designer doesnt actually build anything. more of a word guy. types up stuff, goes to meetings and designs the game. talks with others about what the game should look like, game play elements, story overview. that sorda thing. where artists actually do art.
in my studio, however, our "design team" is made up of one of the owners (who does all HR, accounting, press, phone calls, etc), 3rd in command (who does video editing and UI elements normally), art director (who normally does all concept art, level blockouts, and does modelling and texturing as well), and 2 of our TESTERS.
so, as you can see, it varies... but when it comes down to it. designers talk about the game to come, where as the artists build their vision
An "artist" might be a concept artist, an asset artist, or a tech artist. All very different responsibilities, with varying roles.
A "designer" could be a game designer, a GUI designer, a graphic designer, a mission designer, a level designer...
Art is more broad and fluid. It can also have certain goals and practical background, but it does not have to.
As for artist vs designer kind of thing, it really is pretty vague question.
\level artist : work for visual beauty.
level designer : work for gameplay
Artist starves. Nuff said.
But seriously, I think design usually has purpose, art doesn't have to really, it's all about that I guess.
- designer --> someone who produce something for a client
- artist --> someone who produce something for himself
I've learn this in my class.
With videogames, all an artist needs to do to show you their work is use a controller to move you around whatever they've done.
A designer needs to give YOU the controller for you to really understand what they've done.
For the most parts, it's about purpose. Say you were making a racing game, and it would be a yearly release, and have a 'hero' vehicle.
The artist would make it look like a F1, sound like a F1, or alternatively make something cool.
The designer would go back through history, pick up cues from the Lotus 80 and Chapparals of the late sixties, cough up something like this:
The iterate it every year based on what worked for the players and what didn't. Maybe it needs a cleaner wake, maybe it needs more grip, etc.
uncle good description man. In a broad sense, designers tend to work for a purpose, artists for an aesthetic, but the lines are very very blurred when you get into the kind of context we use them, 'graphic designer' or 'concept artist'.
There is a difference between Art and Design for a reason.
Art is subjective.
Design is Objective .
When we design, we do so to facilitate SPECIFIC GOALS, when we create Art we do so to communicate subjective emotions. The combination of the two is what allows us to do what we do for studios, audiences, & clients.
This explains why I often wake to walking into the wall whilst wondering where my paycheck is.
designers make the sticky label indicating how much the picture is worth.
Artist builds it WITH HIS BARE FUCKING HANDS.
I hate when job listings confuse the role though and drop my role into lots of different sub-categories, such as Art, Design, Marketing, New Media and sometimes even Programming. Fffffff!
and still do the same work and are underwaged ^^