Final answer:
Product design involves both design and style. Design refers to planning the look and function of a product, while style includes broader considerations like visual appeal and formal attributes. Both design and style are crucial in articulating the unique characteristics of a product and its communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
When we talk about product design, we refer to both the aesthetic appearance and the functionality of a product. Design relates to the plan or arrangement that articulates how an object or structure will look and function prior to its creation. It includes the development of detailed design from a design concept, taking up the majority of the time in a design project and also impacting its success significantly.
Style, however, encompasses a broader range of considerations. It refers not only to the visual appeal or formal aspects, which includes things like typography and decorative patterns but also captures the distinct characteristics recognized within certain periods or by specific people. When applied to writing, style pertains to the clarity and logic with which ideas are expressed, debunking the myth that good writing style is about complexity. In the context of art and visual communication, style can refer to formal attributes common to a time, place, or artist, a vehicle of communication that may convey a coherent set of qualities.
Furthermore, the design process culminates in the development of design architecture, assigning functional elements of a product to its physical components. Contrary to 'fine art', graphic design has to convey a specific message to a targeted audience. Thus, while both style and design are crucial in the creative fields, they serve different functions and are recognized for different aspects of the creative process and its outcomes.