In my opinion, this all depends on where you draw the line between art and design, so I'm going to start with that questionDo you see any difference between design and art?
While there are many ways to separate these two, I do so according to the motivation that led to the creation of the design/art. Design is being done because of a need from outside the creator, whereas art is being done because of a wish from inside the creator. A little more controversial example to demonstrate: If someone paints a painting in order to have something he can sell so that he has something to eat, even though the buyer intends to hang it on his wall as "art" it actually is design, because the creation was triggered by the need to eat that came from outside of the creator.Would you consider a game interface an art? Why yes/not? If yes, can you show/tell any examples?
Generally speaking: No, since it's clearly being created because of the need to have interaction between the player and the game. However, games themselves are much more likely to fall under my definition of art (not all of them of course), so if you take an artistic game like Today I die
where game and interface are pretty much the same, yes, you might argue that the interface is art.Do you have any background in arts – university/hobby…?
In arts? No. But I am studying interaction design (design of user interfaces and, to a lesser degree, user experiences).Can you imagine a sole game interface hanging/running as a video in a gallery at some point in the future?
No. Just as a still image cannot convey an artistic movie, a video following a predefined course cannot convey the interactive nature of an artistic interface. I could, however, imagine hand-on-exhibits, on a small scale of course.To what extend do you think is game interface an integral part of a game?
I know not many will agree with me on that, but theoretically speaking are the interface and input about as important for the player-to-game channel as visual style and aesthetics are for the game-to-player channel. Actually they're quite similar; both are mainly noticed as dissatisfiers (you notice the unbelievably ugly character design of a sidekick or the impossibly counterintuitive button-layout), but if done exceptionally well they may define the entire atmosphere and experience of the game. Yes, I know, interfaces are kinda lacking on "exceptionally well"-part, but I do believe it is possible or else nobody would have ever bothered with the Wii and all the other stuff that came after that.Do you consider a game art an art?
Given my definition of art and design, that depends on the individual case. I'd say both can be found in current game art.
---If you work as a user interface designer/game designer/artist, could you also please answer some of these questions:
I'm just a university student, but I'll do these as well if you don't mind.Where do you work? (company name or just industry is fine enough)
Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd ("University of design" Schwäbisch Gmünd), in GermanyWhat is your process? (do you think it is closer to a designer or an artist)
I'm definitely a designer. The process we use most often is a semi-standardised model consisting of research - concept - design - prototyping - evaluation and many iterations back and forth between the different stages.Have you ever been mistaken for an artist if you are a designer (or vice versa)?
Fortunately not, but I'm pretty sure I'll be in the future. Other common misconceptions we have to deal with are that every designer does fashion or marketing.Have you ever considered you could express yourself with user interface? How did it go? Can you show/tell me?
Most of the time we deal with design assignments. I did try to insert personal preferences in there before, but those experiments have shown that that's not an advisable approach. If the problem comes from outside the designer, the solution should be based out there as well.
However, I have at least one private project of which I chose the goal myself and that is certainly an expression of my own desires, even though it still covers an (admittedly not all that common) need.
Hope I could help you with your paper,
Edited by Tobl, 02 November 2012 - 06:02 PM.
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