How do you create your own unique style in design? An insane number of spears have been broken over this question. Some sincerely believe that you absolutely must have your own special outward style. Others are convinced that a universal design style will help reach a wider audience. In reality, both camps are mistaken. And here is why.
Relevance
Sometimes it feels as if most designers consciously ignore this simple but very important principle. We develop a new style not for ourselves or for our own recognition in the world of design. First and foremost, we create a style for the needs of the client. And these are not always connected with insane creativity and wild imagery. In reality, it is easy to lose the thread of meaning and slide into the search for vivid images, but without relevance they will remain merely bright pictures.
It is quite hard to find an example here. The closest is probably eco-advertising. It would not occur to anyone to place images of smoking factories and oil slicks in an advertisement for an eco-product. So when you are looking for new images, just make sure once again that they really do carry an important meaning.
Understanding
Relevance often follows from an understanding of the client's tasks and the essence of their business. You are unlikely to manage to create something that fits perfectly into their business processes if you have not understood well enough what they actually do.
It is precisely here that each designer can show their own style - their approach to studying, searching for and analyzing information. Some start to collect a mood board, others study the brand book and scattered materials, while still others practice studying the industry from scratch. In reality, it is not so important exactly how you gather information, what is important is how you analyze and apply it. Designing blindly gives the client the wrong result, and makes your work irrelevant.
Craftsmanship
This is exactly the thing that designers begin to think about when they hear the phrase "your own style". Ideally, our implementation of the design should correspond to how deeply we have worked through the client's topic. If we have studied the question well enough, the design will turn out significantly simpler.
Keep the quality at a high level. The details will give away the places where you decided to cut corners. What could be worse for a project than turning an excellent concept into a raw, unfinished layout? This, by the way, also applies to the organization of layers in the source file - do everything cleanly and neatly, and you will be able to be proud of your work!
Passion
Gradually, we are getting to subtler things. Style should be a reflection of the designer's beliefs. Not even beliefs, but of what they sincerely believe in.
As you fill out your portfolio, you will be able to see your path in dynamics. This, by the way, is a great way to understand what your personal style is formed from.
On this matter there is a cool saying by one of the modern authors on design, Frank Chimero: "I think that style should reflect your beliefs. However, if your style does not coincide with your thoughts and ideas - then you are merely playing dress-up. Imitating someone else's style is the same thing as wearing a Halloween costume all year round. But if you truly enjoy being who you are, if your work reflects your principles at their best, your style ceases to be a style. Now it is simply you, doing the work that only you can do."
Uniqueness
In reality, we all possess our own unique style from the very beginning. We all solve the tasks of projects in our own way. Every process of every designer differs from others. However, sometimes we begin to imitate others without even realizing it. The secret is to make your design your own. You will come to this through the previous 4 points. Rock the boundaries of your comfort zone in every project and you will find your uniqueness.
In conclusion
Complacency is the worst thing that can happen to a designer who wants to develop their style. Instead of discussing other people's work from the point of view of trends and fashion, try to look at it from the point of view of the 5 principles of unique design.
Let your style simply become a reflection of your passion, your hard work and the craftsmanship that you put into your work.
