✨ **When Design Influencers Go Full Performative:** 🎥🌟 The Race to Hover Over Your Work ⚠️
So, let me spill the beans on this thing about design influencers nowadays. It’s not just the usual #inspo you see online; it’s the whole shebang. Designers are no longer sharing their work for authenticity or creativity—they’re performing a never-ending act of self-promotion to land that next shot in the Insta feed.
Think about it: these influencers are out there, flipping through their phones, doing a quick edit, and saying something like, “You know how I feel about this color? Let me show you.” And before you can say, “Oh, nice!” they’re already asking for captions or reels. It’s a never-ending loop of validation—because, really, who doesn’t want to be seen as the ultimate design authority?
But hold on, there’s a dark side to all this spotlighting. Let me break it down for you:
1️⃣ **Tokenism and Micro-Influencing:** Every time they share themselves or their workspace, they’re putting their faces, bodies, and sometimes even their children (hello, intern!) out there. And the platforms? They’re not exactly hiding behind invisible walls—these days, algorithms are more adept at spotting micro-trends than ever before. The more they perform, the more they get sucked into this performance trap.
2️⃣ **The Pressure is Real:** Designers who don’t have it all together are starting to feel the pressure from their feeds. They’re constantly being asked for captions, reels, and even the chance to explain their process in a way that’s just not always fun. It’s like wearing a badge of honour just to be seen—except when you actually want to do something creative, it’s almost impossible.
3️⃣ **The Double-Edged Sword:** Designers aren’t the only ones affected by this trend. For those who grow up in big cities or have to juggle visa applications and media buzz, it feels like a double-edged sword. While it can help boost their careers, it can also lead to harassment or tokenism if they’re not careful.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Design influencers are turning into walking ads for their work. It’s exhausting, but let’s be real—everyone does it for validation. And as much as we love a good shoutout, there’s got to be a line drawn somewhere between performance and authenticity.
If you’re still here after reading this, I’ll leave you with one final thought: it’s not about the views or the likes—it’s about whether you can find joy in making something real without feeling like you have to constantly perform for your own benefit. Because honestly, when you boil it down, there’s only so much an Instagram reel can show before it starts to feel hollow.
Stay genuine out there, and don’t forget to keep that creativity flowing. Until next time… 🎨