What is art? And why talk about it on an engineering blog? It is my job (as author of this post) to convince you that there are immediate and deep benefits to considering your role as a “*er” (coder, teacher, lawyer, etc.) from the perspective of an artist.
Consider that art, as a philosophical reduction, exists to communicate that which cannot be communicated in another way. It is the job of an artist to bring attention to, affect, and realize an understanding of something that is otherwise ineffable.
This is in contrast to craft, which is the application of skill to a measurable goal. “Craft” is frequently used in reference to the creation of a physical thing – a wood table, a scrapbook, a sword. In this case, I’m referring to any service or product, whether you’re a paralegal drafting a will, a chef poaching a pear, or a programmer writing a module for an application.
Visualize your dentist. Your dentist has many opportunities to demonstrate proficiency of their craft. They can use their tools to take x-rays, measure your gums, check for cavities, clean your teeth, and perform restorative work. If your dentist is skillful, they will be able to maximize the effectiveness of your visit. You want to have a skillful dentist.
A dentist who is artful communicates empathy for your experience as a patient. You want to feel safe, comfortable, and respected when you are at the dentist. This is an difficult task during an interaction many people associate with uncertainty, pain and financial distress. If you have a dentist you love to visit, they are probably communicating with you in an artful way, letting you know they care about you as a person, in a way that is real to you.
The absence of art is invisible. If I take my car to a mechanic and they fix it, but they ignore all my questions about their shop and only provide me the minimum amount of information needed to complete our transaction, the only thing I will get out of our interaction is a repaired car. It would make no difference to me if they fixed my car or a robot did it. But if they slow down and take the time to share their expertise and understanding of my problem, I might feel a real human connection which transcends the application of craft.
Similarly, the presence of craft is invisible. If I get my car back in perfect condition, I might have no idea how those repairs were completed. But, if they forget to tighten one of my lug nuts and it falls off on the highway, I will absolutely notice the absence of skill.
I encourage you, in whatever your professional role is, to make your interactions with others artful. For coders, make your comments artful. Remember there is a human (who is sometimes, but not always you) reading those comments. Strive to communicate effectively. Empathize with the student, intern, colleague reading those comments 2 years from now trying to understand you.
Working artfully takes practice, and requires you to flex muscles you don’t always need to use to get the job done. Artful interactions frequently involve slowing down from your normal rhythm and taking time to explain the story of why or how you are doing something. Does the person I am communicating with feel that I care about their health, happiness or success?
I hope you will find opportunities to transcend your role as a “*er”, to deliver to your clients and colleagues not only rigorous craftsmanship, but also humane artistry.
This blog post is written in preparation of my capstone project at OSU, to help me set the appropriate frame of mind for delivering both a product and experience I can be proud of.
