I have to agree with what Matt wrote below. I remember being half awake in an early morning two dimensional design course one morning and being interrupted half way through my presentation when the professor said he thought I must not consider myself an artist. He said this based on how I was presenting my work. I agreed completely, and remember getting a few weird looks for my answer from other graphic designers in the course.
Most of the work I do all day would be considered information design — charts, timelines, presentations. The graphic designer in me takes the information and makes it easier to understand. I could see someone who specializes in logo design to say their work is more artistic than what I do. I guess there is a spectrum, and in the middle you have graphic artists (to bring back an old term).
A simple poll posing the question “Is graphic design art?”
I’ve always separated the idea of art and design in my own mind. I’ve always considered myself to be a designer rather than an artist, and I would rather be referred to as such. The distinction I feel should be made is that design is visual problem solving, communication, and attempt to serve more than just the designer. Vignelli designed the New York Subway system, not to hang on a wall, but to serve the good of those who travel on the subway. Adrian Frutiger designed Frutiger so that you could find your way to the gate your plane is departing from, not so it could be sold at auction for millions.
As a student at a college with both Art and Design in the title, I’ve debated the question “What is art?” many times. I’ve always come to the conclusion that there is no solid answer. You get very similiar answers to questions like “What is pornography?” So of course the question can’t really be answered, but in short, do I think of graphic design as art? No. I find it to be beautiful often times. Some design work I find stunning. But I’ve always thought of design and art as serving two very different purposes. I don’t think it’s a slight against graphic design to say that, no, I wouldn’t consider it art. It’s a visual form all it’s own.
