It’s tempting.
You open Dribbble, Behance, Instagram — and suddenly, everything looks the same. Glassmorphism here. Oversized type there. Another color-drenched hero section with a cute cursor effect.
Trends are everywhere. And they move fast.
But for me, staying creative means stepping outside of all that.
Not to reject trends out of pride — but to protect my originality.
Here’s how I keep the spark alive without riding the wave.
Notice Trends — Don’t Chase Them
Yes, I still look. I keep a pulse on what’s out there.
But I don’t build with it.
Trends are signals — they show where the crowd is going. That can be useful. But if you build only from that, you’ll always be late. You’re echoing something already popular, already seen, already fading.
Instead, I ask:
What’s this trend trying to solve? And is there a more interesting way to do it?\
Pull Inspiration from the Edges
I don’t scroll for inspiration. I hunt for it — in weird places.
Old books and packaging
Early software UIs
Indie films and strange music videos
Vintage advertisements
Architecture, street signs, childhood memories
When you pull from places that don’t speak “design” directly, your work starts to feel fresher — because it’s rooted in something real.
The best ideas come from crossing signals, not echoing them.
Focus on Ideas, Not Aesthetics
Trends tend to focus on how things look.
I stay creative by focusing on what things mean.
Instead of “What’s the hottest style right now?”
I ask:
What’s the most honest way to show this idea?
What would this look like if no trends existed?
What would I make if I wasn’t trying to impress other designers?
Creativity lives in concept, not just in visual finish.
Final Thought: Creativity Doesn’t Expire
Trends move fast. Algorithms reward sameness.
But creativity isn’t a sprint — it’s a rhythm.
If you want to stay creative, don’t just design more.
Design slower. Design smarter. Design from truth.
That’s how I stay original —
without chasing what’s cool this month.
It’s tempting.
You open Dribbble, Behance, Instagram — and suddenly, everything looks the same. Glassmorphism here. Oversized type there. Another color-drenched hero section with a cute cursor effect.
Trends are everywhere. And they move fast.
But for me, staying creative means stepping outside of all that.
Not to reject trends out of pride — but to protect my originality.
Here’s how I keep the spark alive without riding the wave.
Notice Trends — Don’t Chase Them
Yes, I still look. I keep a pulse on what’s out there.
But I don’t build with it.
Trends are signals — they show where the crowd is going. That can be useful. But if you build only from that, you’ll always be late. You’re echoing something already popular, already seen, already fading.
Instead, I ask:
What’s this trend trying to solve? And is there a more interesting way to do it?\
Pull Inspiration from the Edges
I don’t scroll for inspiration. I hunt for it — in weird places.
Old books and packaging
Early software UIs
Indie films and strange music videos
Vintage advertisements
Architecture, street signs, childhood memories
When you pull from places that don’t speak “design” directly, your work starts to feel fresher — because it’s rooted in something real.
The best ideas come from crossing signals, not echoing them.
Focus on Ideas, Not Aesthetics
Trends tend to focus on how things look.
I stay creative by focusing on what things mean.
Instead of “What’s the hottest style right now?”
I ask:
What’s the most honest way to show this idea?
What would this look like if no trends existed?
What would I make if I wasn’t trying to impress other designers?
Creativity lives in concept, not just in visual finish.
Final Thought: Creativity Doesn’t Expire
Trends move fast. Algorithms reward sameness.
But creativity isn’t a sprint — it’s a rhythm.
If you want to stay creative, don’t just design more.
Design slower. Design smarter. Design from truth.
That’s how I stay original —
without chasing what’s cool this month.
It’s tempting.
You open Dribbble, Behance, Instagram — and suddenly, everything looks the same. Glassmorphism here. Oversized type there. Another color-drenched hero section with a cute cursor effect.
Trends are everywhere. And they move fast.
But for me, staying creative means stepping outside of all that.
Not to reject trends out of pride — but to protect my originality.
Here’s how I keep the spark alive without riding the wave.
Notice Trends — Don’t Chase Them
Yes, I still look. I keep a pulse on what’s out there.
But I don’t build with it.
Trends are signals — they show where the crowd is going. That can be useful. But if you build only from that, you’ll always be late. You’re echoing something already popular, already seen, already fading.
Instead, I ask:
What’s this trend trying to solve? And is there a more interesting way to do it?\
Pull Inspiration from the Edges
I don’t scroll for inspiration. I hunt for it — in weird places.
Old books and packaging
Early software UIs
Indie films and strange music videos
Vintage advertisements
Architecture, street signs, childhood memories
When you pull from places that don’t speak “design” directly, your work starts to feel fresher — because it’s rooted in something real.
The best ideas come from crossing signals, not echoing them.
Focus on Ideas, Not Aesthetics
Trends tend to focus on how things look.
I stay creative by focusing on what things mean.
Instead of “What’s the hottest style right now?”
I ask:
What’s the most honest way to show this idea?
What would this look like if no trends existed?
What would I make if I wasn’t trying to impress other designers?
Creativity lives in concept, not just in visual finish.
Final Thought: Creativity Doesn’t Expire
Trends move fast. Algorithms reward sameness.
But creativity isn’t a sprint — it’s a rhythm.
If you want to stay creative, don’t just design more.
Design slower. Design smarter. Design from truth.
That’s how I stay original —
without chasing what’s cool this month.
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