I’ve never liked the term “blogging”. It sounds a bit buzzy but I guess it’s becoming more acceptable these days. I still refuse to use the word “tweeting” in real life conversation without following it up with “I can’t believe I said that”. Ignoring the vocabulary blogging and tweeting have become a big part of my professional life since leaving University.
While studying design it’s easy to get trapped inside a small world. It takes time and realisation to understand and really know the industry you’re planning to work in. A good work placement is enlightening and the first year in a job gives you a perspective on the design community as a whole. Design conferences, talks and networking are all great, but let’s face it there’s not nearly enough time or money for enough of those things.
I guess what I value most is first hand opinion. The way I’ve learnt to connect to the design world is through that much loved phrase “social media”. Following personal and professional design blogs and tweeting designers is hugely beneficial to gaining design knowledge, inspiration, motivation, perspective and critique. In fact, I’d say it’s essential.
Why I blog
For those reasons I blog about design myself. I write my personal ideas here at dbushell.com and @dbushell, and I write about other peoples ideas at Design Heroes. All of these websites have transformed over the last year in the way I use them but the aim remains the same – to share, discuss, inform (hopefully) and promote.
Ego trip aside writing a design blog is a powerful tool in self-education. It engages your brain into thinking about design and encourages research. Writing about design you like forces you to open your eyes further than normal. Simply browsing showcases and portfolios isn’t enough. When you write about design you are forced to think about what makes it so special instead of just thinking “that’s pretty”.
I could go on but Take a Journey of Inspiration by Alex Charchar says it far more eloquently than I ever could.
Despite the social stigma from people who don’t “get it”, Twitter is an amazing way to communicate with fellow designers. From design news to the latest hot topics, to the upcoming events and everything in-between Twitter guarantees you’re up to speed. At the same time you’re making casual connections to designers around the world. It’s also a nice feeling when a senior creative with far more experience than yourself choses to follow you. It’s important to remember that Twitter isn’t your Facebook status; meaning people may actually read and care about what you’re posting (note to self).
From the feedback I get on this site and my other online ventures blogging continues to be a immensely rewarding experience. You could say it’s an extension to my profession as a designer.
I encourage you all to blog about design!
(and delete your Facebook account – Facebook is a truly evil company!)
8 Comments
Chris Valleskey
I also have a really hard time using the word “tweet” in normal conversation, especially when talking with people who don’t use Twitter. Aside from that, I love how Twitter allows for complete transparency between its users; Many “famous” designers can be seen having conversations with people who are just starting out with design.
Thanks for sharing why you choose to blog about design. You may have inspired me to do the same! :)
Design Informer
I’m glad you’re blogging cause I’m really enjoying reading this blog and Design Heroes as well. Keep up the great work!
David Bushell
@Chris cheers mate! I look forward to seeing more on your site. It certainly is great how twitter makes it so easy for designers to converse.
@DesignInformer – thanks for the kind words! It makes blogging worthwhile :)
Dan Le
For the past few months, I’ve been having problems on what to do online wise, whether to start an already done before design/inspiration blog, or try to write a daily journal about my life. In the end, I always feel like “it’s been done before” and I never fully can find a reason to blog or even use twitter (outside of inspiration, tutorials, and resources).
I’m glad I’ve read this little snippet of your reasoning, as I never really thought about my reasons/purposes that I blog other than the fact that I see a lot of designers/people do it. You definitely got me thinking about using it as an extension to further myself as a designer.
First time here, adding this to my collection of blogs to read. :)
David Bushell
Thanks Dan! Best advice I’ve read a few times regarding design blogs is keep it personal. Maybe what you do has “been done before” but your personality and opinion definitely hasn’t! Where a lot of design blogs fail is that they have no original content, especially the galleries. My Design Heroes blog started out like that but after recently transforming it the feedback has been very positive. Very early days though so I’m no expert, but it is fun to blog and see what happens :)
Jin Yang
Only when you try to teach someone something, that’s when you truly realize if you know the subject matter well. That’s the beauty of having a blog. When we write about a topic, the act makes us to research deeper than what we already knew. Also writing is not easy. Putting fragmented thoughts into one coherent article that flows well, informs and entertains is hard work. Blogging helps us to improve our writing skill, which is essential for a designer IMO.
Lastly, I wouldn’t worry about being embarrassed about “blogging” or “twittering.” After all, they’re just words.
Rachel
I have to admit I use the word “blogging” and “tweeting”, though only when talking to others that I know are also on Twitter and only when it’s about the blog or Twitter itself.
I’ve always wanted to start up my own blog, but like Dan I’ve always thought “What more can I do or add?”. This has made me see that it’s important to blog to try and extend yourself, and push yourself. I’ve recently started writing blogs for the agency I work for, and find it’s something I’m really enjoying.
I think this has been the push I needed to definitely make my mind up about eventually starting my own blog. Thanks David :)
Ryan
I’ve had a website for a good few years now as a portfolio, but I haven’t updated it in a long time, not properly anyway. Over the last few months I’ve been thinking long and hard about it, and really interrogated it’s purpose. It’s only recently that I’ve come to the conclusion that it should be a blog. Not a this is cool, type of blog but rather a personal blog with a design focus. I just need to get my finger out and get it up and running now.
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