An artist do whatever he wants.
A designer do what client wants.

Artists express.
Designers execute.

Artists feel.
Designers think.

An artist work to see your tears.
A designer work for money.

Most of the artists create.
Most of the designers innovate.

Great artist talks about originality.
Smart designer talks about efficiency.

Artists are dreamer, they drifted in the tides of destiny, florish when he meet the rain, silence when he meet the dread arid season.
Designers are business man, better geared and proficient in surviving.

A master piece from an artist consist of an excellent work well carry out, perfect in the art style and resolve with his own philosophy. It's essence often involve the artist's experience in the progression.
A master piece from a designer consist of a great work that well execute and acknowledge by the world. It usually has a strong bone with the culture, originated from the culture and has the power of changing the culture.

Great Website talks about this issue too! [link]

There is a reason I work on this research. Both designer and artist may work on the same thing or different in the industry, but in the end, they enjoy a very different SUCCESS.