How does social media affect design?

As a creative designer, I have very definite ideas about what will affect my designs on social media.

Let's take a step back and first understand what social media is and what it’s actually used for.

Social media consists of websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.

So, in other words, social media is the ability to share creative images, photos, opinions, events, etc. in real-time. It would be fair to say that this has transformed the way we live and also the way we do business. Because, let's face it, social media is used for business (as well as so much more) in a very VERY real way right now.

Social media depends on great graphic design which boosts engagement, improves user experience, and makes advertising more effective.

Let's not confuse graphic design with creative design. Graphic design is literally designing from the ground up everything that surrounds the look and feel of the business itself. Creative design literally looks at the creative manipulation of elements to add value to a set of words which in its own right will add value to your content.

Does social media influence creativity?

We all have our own ideas on what influences creativity. Creativity to me is a very personal thing. Creativity for me is being able to articulate my thoughts in a visual format. This is also the reason why I have turned to design because my thoughts are better showcased in picture format. It sounds silly to say it like that and to have it in words written in front of me like this, but, it's really how I feel.

When you are having a bad day and you're very emotional you’ll to be more drawn to emotional images. Memes that play on your emotions … you will be more drawn to that sort of thing. Whereas when you're in an upbeat mood and everything is just absolutely perfect in your life; you'll be drawn to something that is vibrant and that is full of life and full of visual noise.

To me this is how social media influences creativity.

Does social media kill creativity?

I think a better question would be asked to ask is can social media kill creativity?

That really depends on the person who's actually trying to be creative. If I'm being creative; and I have very definite ideas on what an image should look like, I will possibly look at elements that can add value to the message itself that accompanies the message.

I don't think that social media actually kills creativity I think it adds value to create to your own personal creativity in that it would give you ideas on what works and what really doesn't work.

People who are creative and have new and fresh ideas to the world still do it and it's because they have a bottomless well that keeps bubbling up new ideas. And that's why I don't believe that social media kills creativity.

As long as people and businesses do their best to create something new and exciting, social media will never kill creativity.

Who benefits from social media?

Social media helps business to benefit.

As a very real example: Customers can contact a customer service representative faster and far easier using social media than ever before and this is really the power of social media.

So imagine your social media platform, let's use Facebook as an example, has absolutely no images. Nothing, absolutely nothing; do you think your (prospective) audience will stop or look at anything of yours, or do you think that they're just going to close it and go on to something else; something shinier than what you have. Not that yours is tarnished in any way, it's just that it's not attention-grabbing enough for them.

Social media also helps individuals to benefit by providing a searching & learning platform.

We are no longer reliant on libraries or newsrooms for information. We have it at the click of a mouse and the flip of a finger on a smart screen to take us to the next section of information.

This is how social media affects design.

Social media needs images

Social media needs video

Social media needs design to stand out

And this is why design will always be important in social media.

Work with me

It's not every person's cup of tea to create their own designs and therefore it is my pleasure to let you know that I could very possibly help you to STAND out and be VISIBLE.

Simply comment below, or send me a DM. It's as easy as that.