Design Trends

Trends in popular design should be collections of things that we should not be doing. Or things we look at and say, "ok, I see what they're doing, how can I do it better, what's the next step in the evolution of the trend, or how can I take what's good about what they've done and integrate it into my own personal style."

Take the CSS Zen Garden Oceans Apart. Now this is gorgeous design, don't get me wrong. It is the culmination of a design trend that began back with Golden Mean, combined with the now trendy dropshadow borders. But it has been some time since Douglas Bowman came out with his golden design and it's time for the next new innovation. And don't tell me it's post modern eclectic, that is nothing new by definition.

There are some days when I wish I was still working with Claudia Palmira. She was always one step ahead of the mob. She would do something, and then a few months later you'd see it in a major national advertising campaign. Too bad she alienated everyone she worked with in the Northampton/Amherst area and crawled back to her parents in Manhattan.

Slightly related note, just read a Blog Survey on Expectations of Privacy and Accountability (via SuperfluousBanter). I guess I am of the do not give a flying fuck philosophy, using full names and saying whatever I want by default, only censoring when it comes to work related stuff so as not to get fired.

Getting back to my subject, it's time for a-symmetry, raggedness, unique colors, and texture. I'll point out good examples as I find them. And when Mister Jon finally gets his site up he will enlighten us with a more intelligent and focused discussion of design trends.