difference between designers and stylists
Mar. 7th, 2002 03:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anotheranonInteresting (if old - I'm just catching up) article.
To sum up: Designers create something that solves a problem and is concerned with the good functioning of the final product. Stylists do not worry about solving problems and have little concern with the successful function of the final product.
Further sum up: designers make things that are useful. Stylists make things that are shiny.
I can see how there are designers and stylists in most artistic disciplines.
A (admittedly flawed and possibly somewhat uninformed) fashion example: Armani designs a suit that deals with the usability concerns of good fit, ease of care, durability, timelessness, comfort, etc. (Note: I do not own an Armani suit, but aspire to one day, even if its just A/X Exchange).
Retailer in UK whose name I don't remember makes skirt. It is not timeless (fishtail hem with neon orange topstitching), durable (seams are rather weak), or particularly comfortable (the fabric does not breathe - wear with tights at your own risk). I suppose it does do the job of keeping you covered, but that's about it. But damn, it looks SLICK. (I actually own this skirt).
Not that there's anything wrong with either approach, just one is more concerned with looks-before-function and the other more concerned with function-before-looks.
This author argues that we need to make a distinction between "designers" and "stylists", or at least not use the word "designer" to describe absolutely everyone that makes stuff.
Not sure that I'm quite that adamant about the distinction but I can see the diffference the author is talking about...
To sum up: Designers create something that solves a problem and is concerned with the good functioning of the final product. Stylists do not worry about solving problems and have little concern with the successful function of the final product.
Further sum up: designers make things that are useful. Stylists make things that are shiny.
I can see how there are designers and stylists in most artistic disciplines.
A (admittedly flawed and possibly somewhat uninformed) fashion example: Armani designs a suit that deals with the usability concerns of good fit, ease of care, durability, timelessness, comfort, etc. (Note: I do not own an Armani suit, but aspire to one day, even if its just A/X Exchange).
Retailer in UK whose name I don't remember makes skirt. It is not timeless (fishtail hem with neon orange topstitching), durable (seams are rather weak), or particularly comfortable (the fabric does not breathe - wear with tights at your own risk). I suppose it does do the job of keeping you covered, but that's about it. But damn, it looks SLICK. (I actually own this skirt).
Not that there's anything wrong with either approach, just one is more concerned with looks-before-function and the other more concerned with function-before-looks.
This author argues that we need to make a distinction between "designers" and "stylists", or at least not use the word "designer" to describe absolutely everyone that makes stuff.
Not sure that I'm quite that adamant about the distinction but I can see the diffference the author is talking about...
