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Media overload is causing design “generification”

Why does everything look the same?

Michael F. Buckley
UX Collective
Published in
4 min readNov 9, 2023

a white couch with a screen behind it
A bland couch in a stark living room | MidJourney

The notion that contemporary design is becoming generic, homogeneous, and just plain boring is not a revelation. Numerous designers, including myself, have extensively discussed this topic. However, it remains uncertain whether anyone has truly unraveled the definitive reasons behind this phenomenon, or if it is simply a matter of perception.

There are numerous explanations for why many believe design has become bland:

  1. Globalization: The internet has made design accessible worldwide, leading to the sharing of design styles.
  2. Corporate Branding: Some companies opt for safe designs to avoid controversy, resulting in similar designs.
  3. Lack of Creativity: Hesitation to take creative risks leads to uninspired design.
  4. Design by Committee: In larger organizations, designs aim to please everyone, risking originality.
  5. Social Media Pressure: The pursuit of viral content can sacrifice uniqueness.
  6. Educational Influence: Design education can favor specific styles, leading to homogeneity among new designers.
  7. Copy-Paste Culture: Easy copying can stifle diversity and originality in design.

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Responses (5)

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I rarely comment on anything but I found this to be a fascinating post. Thanks for sharing.

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Some good thoughts on this theory Michael. As a cultural anthropologist, they resonate. Part of the challenge is that we use to have time and space between cultures. The internet closed that gap and so experiencing different cultures is no longer…

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Thanking you for this piece.

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