Nov 1, 2024
How (not) to do it
The culture of "how to" tutorials in visual design has become ubiquitous, offering a wealth of resources for anyone wanting to learn new skills. On one hand, "how to" tutorials democratize access to knowledge, allowing people to quickly acquire technical skills in a rapidly changing technological world.
But are we losing something fundamental in all this? The superficiality of knowledge is one of the main challenges that the tutorial culture brings, at least for the purposes of this discussion. The works may be visually attractive but lack solid conceptual foundations. Copying instead of creating – this is the problem of our times. We cannot escape inspiration, remixing, or patterns, but it's about authentic analysis and conscious play with them. The same means, set in a different context, can constitute a completely different value and message. The homogenization of visual culture and the reduction of stylistic diversity become inevitable. Unfortunately.
Superficial understanding of the structure and essence of the design problem leads to unoriginality. Unreflective duplication of patterns – is this not a symptom of our everyday life? Creating becomes a celebration of fulfilling a duty; we reenact a ritual that belongs to our social and professional roles. Creativity, which was supposed to be an expression of reflection, becomes a signal of status and aspirations. The everyday life of each of us is a creation.
Tutorials often focus on specific techniques, omitting theoretical foundations and, most importantly, the context of design. There's a lack of creative rebellion, experimentation, or even attempts to respond to design challenges. They provide ready-made solutions without encouraging critical thinking and experimentation. Most available tutorials are created in the context of trends and standards, promoting solutions based on fashions that can quickly go out of style, instead of focusing on timeless design principles whose exemplification becomes concrete execution in a project.
Alright, I concede – the approach to using "how to" tutorials in visual design can also be positive, provided it is properly directed. The key is to consciously use the available resources, treating tutorials as a starting point rather than a finished recipe. Experimenting and adapting techniques to one's own needs, going beyond the patterns, regular experimentation – this helps designers grow and avoid stagnation. The true value in design lies not only in the ability to create visually attractive works but in the ability to create original, conceptually solid, and emotionally engaging creations.
Therefore, even in an era of instant access to knowledge, the most important thing is to nurture one's own creative thinking and develop a unique vision. This is the path to true mastery in visual design.