APPLIED ARTS

Applied arts are the application

of design and decoration to everyday
objects to make them aesthetically
pleasing.

-wikipedia
 The term "applied art" refers to the
application (and resulting product) of
artistic design to utilitarian objects in
everyday use.

-visual-arts-cork
 Applied art embraces a huge range of
products and items, from a teapot or chair,
to the walls and roof of a railway station or
concert hall, a fountain pen or computer
mouse.
 FINE ARTS VS APPLIED ARTS
• Fine art is art developed primarily for aesthetics or
beauty, distinguishing it from applied art that also has to
serve some practical function.
• Works of fine art have no function other than
providing aesthetic or intellectual stimulation to the
viewer, works of applied art are usually functional
objects which have been "prettified" or creatively
designed with both aesthetics and function in mind.
 FINE ARTS VS APPLIED ARTS
• The fields of industrial design, graphic design, fashion
design, interior design, and the decorative arts are
considered applied arts. In a creative and/or abstract
context, the fields of architecture and photography are
also considered applied arts.
• In practice, the two often overlap.
 WHAT DOES APPLIED ART
INCLUDE?
For the sake of simplicity, works of applied art comprise
two different types:

1. Standard machine-made products - which have a

particular design applied to them, to make them more
attractive and easy-to-use
2. Individual-made products - aesthetically pleasing but
mostly functional, craft products made by artisans or
skilled workers
 HISTORY OF APPLIED ART

• Architecture
- The first applied art to be practiced in a major way.
- From the Egyptian Pyramids, the Ziggurats of Sumer
and the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, to the
precisely organized proportions of Greek temples and
the enduring engineering quality of Roman viaducts
and bridges, architects combine aesthetics with
mathematics to design a functional but pleasing
structure.
 The Temple of
Artemis Ziggurats of Sumer

Roman Viaduct
The Great Sphinx of Giza Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World
 HISTORY OF APPLIED ART

• Commercial Design
-Aside from architecture, applied art received its
biggest boost from the growth in commerce during
the 19th century, following the Industrial Revolution.
-Competitive manufacturers and service providers
needed to ensure that their products and services
"looked good" as well as functioned properly.
 HISTORY OF APPLIED ART

• Commercial Design
-Later, as the range of products multiplied, and new
printing techniques appeared, they were joined by
fashion designers, graphic designers and most
recently computer graphics designers.
COMMERCIAL DESIGN
 HISTORY OF APPLIED ART

• Decorative Arts
-Art that is meant to be useful as well as beautiful, as
ceramics, furniture, jewelry, and textiles.
-Early examples include Chinese pottery (from 18,000
BCE), Jomon style Japanese pottery (from 14,500
BCE), as well as jade carving (from 4900
BCE), lacquerware (from 4500 BCE) and Chinese
porcelain (c.100 BCE onwards).
Chinese Pottery

Lacquerware

Jade Carvings
Porcelain ‘Jomon’ Pottery
 SEATWORK
• Differentiate fine arts/visual arts and applied arts.

• Do you agree that fine arts/visuals arts have no function

other than providing aesthetic or intellectual stimulation
to the viewer? Why?