The Consumption of Consumption: Why Original Design Matters
Design is one of the most human things we can do. It’s the subtlety behind everything we interact with and imagine. True design is a conversation between intention and reality, a way of translating who we are into something others can experience.
For all the complexities modern life brings, it also gives us the ability to tell stories, create experiences, and carve out a point of view that reflects how we each individually see this chaotic, beautiful world. Despite that potential however, much of what surrounds us feels disappointingly flat and homogenized.
To be clear: I’m not arguing against simplicity. There‘s merit to minimalism, clean lines and functionality. In a world that’s overwhelming and overstimulating, simplicity can feel like a calm breeze. It helps people navigate their lives without friction. The issue is that the baseline of thoughtful, functional simplicity has eroded. We’re left with a system where everything looks like a thoughtless, recycled- yet worse- version of everything else. Too often, brands aren’t creating, they’re consuming the work of others. Not in a way of admiration or inspiration, but in a formulaic loop of “this sells, so let’s duplicate it.” The whole point of design and existing as a standalone brand gets lost. We stop offering people anything worth feeling. If the supposed creator is just a consumer, what is the point?
This isn’t just an aesthetic issue; it’s one of meaning and longevity. A huge reason emerging brands fail is the absence of an authentic voice. Without a viewpoint, without a story, a brand becomes another quiet blur in an already crowded landscape. With our existing environmental and overconsumption challenges, a brand existing just to exist is irresponsible, for its own survival & our ecosystems.
Design, when it’s done well, is an act of connection. It considers how someone thinks, how they move, how they feel, what they hope for and what they value. It respects the emotional intelligence of real people. We’ve become far too comfortable skating on the surface of most things. We outsource decision-making to whatever yesterday’s viral brand was doing. The result? Thousands of near-identical products, aesthetics that expire in six months, hollow interactions, and industries drowning in waste we can’t manage or justify. We’re creating faster than we’re thinking and people can feel that.
Good design is a thoughtful, slow burn. It’s built on trust that the creator put care into what they’re offering, trust that the experience is worth someone’s time, money, and attention. If a brand wants to exist with any kind of longevity today, that must sit at its core.
Design should help us feel more connected: to ourselves, to each other, to our environment and to the stories we want to keep alive. It should ask questions and offer meaning, not just mimic. We don’t need more noise. We need more intention.
If you’re building a brand rooted in purpose and story, I’d love to help bring it to life. Reach out to get started.
