How to Create a Unique Design Style When It Feels like Everything Else Is Taken
Ahem—scrolling through Pinterest can sometimes feel like a never-ending cycle of seeing the same stuff that everyone else is seeing, so of course we’re all making work that looks the same! It's easy to get caught up in design trends and feel like you have to conform to be "relevant." But here's the thing: the magic is in the nuance! It's time to embrace your one-of-a-kind style and break free from the [yawn] binary that the TrEnD PeOpLe want.
The binary is often our brain’s way of choosing an easy solution so we can move forward to solving the rest of life’s problems. And design trends are created for exactly that! They’re easy to follow and give us a guidepost for “what’s in” so you don’t have to think as much about what you should do. But! Here's the truth: you are so much more than a trend! Your entire personality and interests can't be boiled down to a single aesthetic. Maybe you’ve always been into 70s-inspired type design, goth-inspired themes, intricate floral patterns, and have a passion for clean geometric shapes. Embrace all the things that make you, well, you! Use them to create work, a style, a brand, that no one else has made before.
So, how can you create a unique design style when it feels like everything else is taken? Here are some tips:
Don't be afraid to challenge norms
Trends often dictate what "goes together”. But if you think about it, the trend setters are the ones that dare to put new things together, and go against the norm. Don't be afraid to challenge the norms and put two things together that others might not expect. This is how you'll create something truly unique and memorable.
Create outside the box
Don't be afraid to think outside the box and try new things. Mix and match styles and themes that inspire you, reflect multiple parts of who you are, and see what unexpected combinations you can come up with. When you put things together that others haven’t before…hot dang! That makes you an innovator—a trend setter, not a trend follower.
Embrace what makes you, you
Your unique combination of qualities and interests is what sets you apart from everyone else. Start by asking yourself what visual themes you were inspired by as a kid that you’re still really into today. Then, try and see how you can visually communicate all parts of your personality in your work. Embrace all facets of yourself and let them shine through in your work. You! are! more! than! one! thing! So let it reflect in the work you make.
So listen here my little baby doll, don't let design trends and societal norms hold you back. Embrace your unique combination of qualities and interests, and use them to create something no one else has seen before. It's time to break free from the binary snoozefest and let the nuance of your true self shine through in your work!
Interested in taking your style further?
My Find Your Style online class is a step-by-step workshop to help you find a unique personal design, wardrobe, or home decoration style that only you can have!