Pinterest is the WORST

Pinterest is the WORST!

Ok, not really… when it’s used properly, it’s just fine.. Pinterest has been around for some time and is a great place for inspiration and instruction. I very often go to Pinterest when searching for information, even before I use Google. Why? There are visuals. I can see what I am looking for. Most anyone will find it useful.

So why is it the WORST?
First, my frustration is not with Pinterest but more in designers relying too heavily on Pinterest. I am guilty of spending hours scrolling for “inspiration” instead of creating my own art. I have noticed designers spending more time looking to be inspired instead of working through the blocks and allowing the ideas to come naturally. I have watched designers making an effort to replicate a style that is not appropriate for their given content. Pinterest has been a great reference for me. I can easily save color palettes or design pieces that have a unique approach, but it is important to see these things as additions and not the whole piece. We should find what we like but be clever enough to put our own spin on it. We can find parts to appreiciate and apply, but our designs and art need to be our own.

There is an opportunity to find inspiration in more surprising places. When I started in Graphic Design, Pinterest was not a thing. When I was first taking art classes, ideas did not come from Google. We had to go out into the world and see what was going on. Visit museums, libraries and parks. I had folders, real pocket folders, of items I had collected. Brochures, magazine pages, photographs and business cards. Those folders were my “boards”.

You may be thinking, “Who cares? Technology is different, it is the way of the world.” I agree, using social media outlets such as Pinterest and Instagram allow us to share our work, build communities and be inspired by people from all over the world. If you spend enough time on Pinterest, you will start to notice that you are seeing the same things over and over. If all designers are using the same inspiration, then what sets us apart? Pinterest can help us through creative blocks, but we have to have our own starting point.

In the office, we often have creative meetings where we come together to share designs we like based on a particular guideline such as title treatments, color layout and so on. We had to implement a “no Pinterest rule.” We were getting the same samples and seeing things we had all seen a millions times in our own searches. We were not finding anything new. We found it to be a waste of time.

Lastly, DO NOT copy! I should not have to explain the issues around copyright or using other people’s work as your own, but it happens. I don’t know if social media makes stealing easier or easier to spot, but it is happening. There seems to be a bit of disconnect with using something as inspiration and copying it completely. I once received a resumé that looked familiar… I had seen the exact design on Pinterest. I checked into it and the owner of the resumé was not the owner of the artwork. Seriously.

I am guilty of relying too heavily on Pinterest too. As its popularity increased, I was hooked and spent more time than I care to admit scrolling and pinning. I remember thinking how great it was and feeling like this would have been amazing for me if it was around when I was a new designer. My cautious attitude started with my own habits. I started collecting ideas of what I wanted my art to look like and was frustrated when it didn’t happen. I was forcing styles that were not natural to me and it often caused me to stop working or feel adversely about my talent.

There seems to be a bit of pushback in social media lately. I think as a whole we are starting to see that a focus shift is necessary. With that and the increase of hand drawn appeal, it would be fun to extend this to our “boards”. Take pictures or collect your own found inspiration. If you find yourself constantly scrolling with little to show for it, I would challenge you to take a step back. Take a break from Pinterest or any other social media outlet that could be having a negative effect on your creativity and get to work the old fashion way. What do you think? Do you need a break? Let us know how it goes. Maybe you don’t agree with me. I would love to hear your thoughts there too.

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Kristin Resch