This is a question I’ve begun asking myself recently as it seems I am stumbling across a newly-created website donning this title every few days. With the growing success of online endeavors in the design realm, it is beginning to appear as though every designer must have some type of blog or design-related website if they stand a chance at establishing a name for themselves, and even more so if they are looking to simultaneously create some manner of passive income.
I’m not sure where it started, nor do I particularly care. I am a fan of many design blogs, and I am indebted to many more because of their contribution to my continuing growth and education as a web and graphic designer. There is definitely a need for quality design blogs, and in many ways the abundance should promote a healthy competition to provide a high standard of content.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
In fact, there are a plethora of websites that purport to be contributing members of the design community but instead are merely regurgitating the content that someone else’s hard work has produced.
Yes, there are already countless discussions and debates about the dreaded list posts, roundups and so forth, and while this rant of mine may enter that arena a bit, I am more interested in finding a way to move forward that encourages and celebrates those design blogs that put in the time to fashion high-quality tutorials, interesting and passionate proposals, ideas and philosophies, and all in all work toward improving and challenging the way we design in an effort to make the design world a better place.
So how do we do it?
Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate and redefine what makes a website deserving of the term ‘Design Blog’. I realize this can be a very subjective path, but here are some of my ideas for you to consider. I believe a design blog should:
1. Provide insight and direction for a better way to do things
2. Challenge the status quo of current trends and theories, not just for the sake of argument but to pursue progress and improvement
3. Share personal perspective of the author on an idea, a design process, or other matters
4. Invite and encourage community discussion
In contrast, there are a number of elements that many so-called ‘design blogs’ integrate in what appears to be some formulaic road to success. I believe a design blog should NOT:
1. Regurgitate or showcase others’ content without some meaningful, original addition and direction of the author’s own
2. Blatantly display a priority of high visitor traffic (translate: advertising sales) over quality content
3. Refrain from including any insight into the designer behind the blog itself
4. Strive to have more pictures than text unless dictated by the post itself
5. Be maintained and moderated by someone who is not a designer of some type themselves
To be fair, I subscribe to hundreds of design blogs that fit into both categories. I even benefit from and enjoy many posts that are obvious roundups of someone else’s work. So I am not suggesting we throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead I am thinking out loud about how we look at what we ourselves and others are doing, what the motivation behind these things are, and navigate toward a better understanding of what is what when it comes to blogs within the design community.
Why bother? Who cares that there are plenty of design blogs that may be harshly categorized as ‘imposters’? Why not let them do what they do and ignore them if what they are doing bothers you?
For me, the issue arises when the value of amazing design blogs is diluted by the sea of others who produce such an inferior product.
I want to see the hard work and passion of the purists recognized. I want to celebrate and rejoice when the design community congregates in rigorous discussion around the thoughtful post of a fellow designer. I want to see designers hunger for more of those types of posts, spurring on their creation, rather than relegating ourselves to filling our RSS readers with the latest roundup of the hottest this or that and post titles full of overused, over-dramatic adjectives.
And I want to write those passionate and pure posts myself.
In case you were wondering, I’m not sure if I would call this blog a ‘design blog’. I talk about design here, and I am a designer, but I also share a lot of other things. The primary purpose of this blog is not to make money with advertising, or to generate amazing traffic numbers, or to showcase anything other than my own passions and pursuits in hopes that somehow others will be inspired or assisted in some way.
Maybe that’s a method that could be used for deciding what website should be dubbed a ‘design blog’. Maybe, rather than setting up shop and announcing to the world that I’m the next greatest design blog on the block, someone else should place that crown. Maybe design blogs should be categorized as such by their readers.
In the end, I’m not really sure if I have a major point here. I’m also not really sure if I am even the one that should be raising the question. I mean, who am I to ask these sorts of things? There are other, far more recognized and respected members of the design community who could command a far greater audience and perhaps start a movement toward progressive thinking in this area.
But this is my little corner of the interwebs, and it’s my soapbox of the moment that you have chosen to take the time to gather around and listen. So at least in this moment, in this place, perhaps our little band of thoughts could spark the fire that burns down the status quo and raises up new ideas in its stead.
What do you think?
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Comments ( 28 )
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Should We Reevaluate, Redefine or Continue Regurgitating The ‘Design Blog’? | pro2go Designs Blog added these pithy words on Apr 22 10 at 8:57 amI think you make a damn fine point. One that is not confined to “Design Blogs”.
Useless content exists all over the internet. I choose to ignore it, counting on information from useful authors to point me in the direction of quality content.
As an author with a point of view and an audience, you have the opportunity to lead by example. Talk about those blogs that meet the standards you’ve outlined above and encourage your readers to broaden their horizons by checking them out.
Continue the discussion you’ve started, both on this site and wherever else it makes sense across the interwebs.
Bottom line is – people are online looking for value. If they find that value in a pure “design blog” or “seo blog” or “[pickyourfavoritetopic] blog” they will pay attention. If they find it in a hack roundup of unoriginal mush, they will pay attention.
I’m definitely paying attention now.
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Ironshef added these pithy words on
Apr 21 10 at
12:28 pm
Great post!!!! I subscribe to a very limited # of blogs now b/c I was finding a few had repetitive posts which I find annoying. There was no thought provoking insight into the post, just a blatant copy and past. I have no problem with repurposed content, but it definitely needs to have some unique angle and I think too many are forgetting that! Thanks for writing about this…great topic!
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bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:51 amThanks for your input, Jill. I see we share a desire for originality and thoughtful postings. Hopefully we can push for change.
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Jill C. added these pithy words on
Apr 21 10 at
9:28 pm
I am sitting here nodding my head at your post. You indeed make sense and as the first comment suggests should continue by making suggestions of which blogs work for types of discussions.
I always find myself returning to just a few blogs and e-mags and using Twitter to learn of new ideas and designers.
Thanks for your thoughtful post
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bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:52 amThank you for stopping by, Rita. It’s good to know there are others like yourself who share some of the same sentiments.
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Rita Lewis added these pithy words on
Apr 22 10 at
1:12 am
Yes, yes.
I find myself irritated with those sites that have a single sentence and link to someone else’s hard work. I make a point of tweeting the original poster’s url and not the regurgitator.
IMO, it’s not a real design blog if there hasn’t been some sort of real effort at examining some aspect of design and providing the blogger’s original thoughts and discoveries about it.
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bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:53 amI completely agree. Thanks for adding to the discussion!
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vbdietz added these pithy words on
Apr 22 10 at
9:00 am
This was an awesome, and extremely well written article, Brian. I couldn’t agree more. Just this morning I posted a comment on article that was actually promoting WordPress plugins for autoblogging. As a blogger who works to provide awesome content for my readers, it always irks me when I find my posts and articles rehashed on some other crappy and poorly implemented blog, which clearly exists only to drive advertising or some affiliate marketing efforts.
I also think that the term “design blog” is becoming painfully diluted and almost meaningless. I wonder if there’s anything that can be done? Maybe setting up an association or network of the best design blogs, which demands a certain level of quality and uniqueness? Readers could then be assured that the content on any blog from the network would be quality, original and meaningful work.
Just kind of thinking “outloud” here…
Anyhow, thanks for the great, thought-provoking article! Keep it up!
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bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:58 amMatt, first let me say I am honored that you read and commented. I subscribe to your blog and it is one of my favorites due to the fact that you don’t fall into the trap I’m talking about here. You always share original and insightful posts, and I believe I have read and retweeted almost every single one since I found your blog.
I like your idea of some type of network or association that creates standards. Not sure who or how this could be done, but I like the way you’re thinking.
Combine that with Bryon’s comment above, and its apparent to me that we – the design community and/or the readers – create the demand. If we refrain from visiting the content-less sites, maybe by voting with our feet they will either have to change or else end altogether.
Interesting thoughts…I’m beginning to sense a ‘design blog revolution’.
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Matt Ward added these pithy words on
Apr 22 10 at
9:54 am
I totally see where you are coming from. As I started to use Twitter as an ‘easier’ way to follow designers/bloggers/others, I quickly got frustrated at all the same topics coming up over and over again. I had to trim and edit who I was following so to get to the real source of the information and find the people who really had the insight into the topics that were being discussed.
I started my own blog about being in business for yourself as a designer to start sharing some of my own experiences. I hope my personal experience provides enough depth to make my articles meaningful. However, I also do it as a hobby, so sometimes I do link to other sites because I found something that I think would be valuable for my readers to see (who, so far, aren’t many to be completely honest) so I still think there is still some value in that. For example, had I not read a Retweet about your posting, I would have never found your blog in the first place. The person retweeting you didn’t come up with the content, and especially on Twitter, provided no additional insight because there is literally no room for it. And I’m glad I did see it, because I found this site as a result.
The truth is, if as a community, as Matt Ward suggested above, we start to create a ecosystem of real content with real value, then I think it would draw readers in, and the ‘forward’ sites will fall by the wayside.
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bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 11:03 amGood points, Carlos.
Obviously, I am not suggesting that on Twitter we should not share others’ content without adding our own insight or content. 140 characters would never allow it! But in the blogging context it seems to me many have reshaped what a blog is supposed to be and turned it into regurgitating content – not just for the sake of sharing great resources, which I think there is a place for, but more for the sake of a quick, effortless way to drive traffic, increase numbers and sell advertising.
It sounds like you have all the right intentions in your own blog, writing in an effort to help others and share your own insights and experiences. That’s what I personally would prefer to read and share and interact with. Of course, I’m not saying my way is the way all things should be. I’m just sharing my own thoughts and wondering if anyone else is thinking anything similar.
I appreciate your comment. I’m on my way to check out your blog now.[Reply]
Carlos Perez Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 11:10 amYeah – I suppose Twitter isn’t the best example. I guess the problem is the blogs that really are just acting like Twitter. In a forum where they can actually provide some perspective, they choose not to, and that’s what’s creating all the clutter.
I hope you enjoy my site!
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Carlos Perez added these pithy words on
Apr 22 10 at
10:47 am
great insights here!
As a blogger myself who has a “design blog,” this is something I am blatantly aware of, because i am not only a content creator – but also consume from many different sites in this niche. (Like yours!)
I’ve done a few “round up” posts here and there and I see their appeal to both blog readers and owners – they are easy! Easy to consume and easy to create. Sometimes I get so busy that I will open my Reader and just skim over headlines, on these days a list post can be quickly entertaining. But, as a content creator, I’ve been consciously working to distinguish my blog by making the content more focused on my personal experiences, lessons and opinions. Since focusing on on that, I’ve found less traffic on these posts as appose to some of my “round up” posts that are 2 years old and still get heavy traffic. BUT, my readers who appreciate my more targeted/ authentic/ original content are of a higher quality – they give more feedback, comment, interact and generally make the blogging process more rewarding.
Seeing those big numbers on your stats and the $ from ads is nice, but getting a good dialog with your community is what REALLY gets this gals blood pumping!Thanks again for another insightful post, Brain!
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Liz added these pithy words on
Apr 22 10 at
12:15 pm
Brian, this article leaves me with some thoughts. Firstly, we might argued about the uselessness of list/roundup post but there are reason for their existence and survival. It’s not only designers who visit design blog, normal less design savvy readers visited them too. They are more in numbers and they would appreciate the list post.
Alot of the new “design blog” are not finding their foothold. Most of them are run by a single designer and they can’t be possibly be generating great though-provoking content all the while. Yet almost all of them dream to have a successful blog and earn some passive income like you have mentioned.
“I can sense that we are calling for the need of a hero, a design hero to stand up and put an end to all these. But who will do it or can do it? The community is more tilted towards self-indulgences and selfishness which make it really hard.”
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bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:03 amAidan,
I think you summed up my post in your opening line: “This article leaves me with some thoughts.” THAT’s what I’m talking about. I guess I’m looking for something to distinguish between the roundup showcase posts and the thought-provoking, idea-challenging posts. Maybe we don’t even need to do that, but I just hate to see the hard work of others overlooked because it’s quicker and easier to put together and visit a regurgitated roundup and drop a “Great post!” comment than it is to read, think and interact.
Good points, though, and I appreciate your input in the discussion.[Reply]
Aidan added these pithy words on
Apr 22 10 at
11:33 pm
Funny, guys, you got Cyrillic letter in wrong positions on that photo
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bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:04 amHehe…it’s just a stock photo I grabbed. But thanks for pointing that out!
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Dmitry added these pithy words on
Apr 23 10 at
2:01 am
Thanks, BKMac. A lot of good points, and I would side on the part of “Who cares?” I know what’s important to me but if I see someone else having success off of “regurgitating” maybe I should explore why. Obviously, there’s an audience for it.
I’m in the middle of planning my own blog and I hope to have it up by June/July and I’ve been planning out enough articles that get me through the first couple months. I can’t bring myself to completely “regurgitate” but I do have some “lists” and “round-ups” of my own that I’m planning to make because I feel like when those are done well they’re actually very helpful. They’re like tutorials that you don’t have to follow completely and that you’ll actually make use of (if I could be so cynical but honestly, who hasn’t bookmarked a tutorial and NEVER gotten to it?).
Anyway, this is a topic that I have quite a bit to say on but I haven’t exactly laid out what I want to say so it’ll just come off as rambling, so I’ll just conclude by saying that, I agree with you. I don’t want to blog because it will make me money. That’d be nice, and I’ll try to make some money off of it if I can, but I really want to be a part of, and have a voice in, the design community. I want to educate myself, and exercise my communication skills.
Anyway, those are my two random, rambling cents.
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bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 28th, 2010 at 6:10 amHehe…I appreciate your thoughts, Travis. Especially the “Who cares?” statement. I realize there is an audience for the roundups, and even enjoy checking some of them out myself. Heck, if they weren’t out there I’d have significantly less tweets per day! I guess my biggest concern is the progression towards ‘dumbing down’ the design blog to the point of pretty pictures and little or no substance that requires reading, compels interaction and spawns discussion. As long as the two distinctly different types can coexist and thrive, and as long as the design community continues to challenge its own thinking and grow, then I have no issues whatsoever. I am just concerned that the popularity of the design blog that is a quick skim over some nice pics of which many have been seen elsewhere could eventually bring down quality standards as well as expectations. I think this would not be a good thing and want to be proactive about preventing it.
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Travis Ulrich added these pithy words on
Apr 23 10 at
3:45 pm
Hi Brian,
This seems to be a big issue now that the internet is becoming saturated. Designers are striving to reach the top by blogging and generate extra income by selling ad space. Many of us are a product of design blogs. Much of my knowledge is gained from reading what great designers have shared online even though I have a BFA. I’m a very new design blogger, and I have made the mistake of trying to follow directly in the steps of other designers. I think the most important goal is to always try and stay relevant. Provide original content, but don’t forget that it’s ok to borrow information. Take an existing idea and write about it again with your own words. Just hope you can sing a cover song better than William Hung. I’m a big fan of the top 10 lists, but I also think its important to take the time to make your own contribution by writing a quality article from your own experiences…otherwise just stick to Twitter if you want to pass on links.
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bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 28th, 2010 at 6:11 amThank, Blake. Sounds like we’re in the same mindset. I appreciate your thoughts!
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Blake McCreary added these pithy words on
Apr 26 10 at
12:04 am
The Sartorialist is all photos and it’s my favorite all time fashion blog. I’m not so sure I agree with your points, but your position is interesting and I enjoyed reading it.
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bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 28th, 2010 at 6:17 amThanks for reading and commenting, Heather. I have never visited the Sartorialist (yet) but I am wondering if the majority of their photos are brought in from elsewhere. That’s really my point in this post: those design blogs that round up tutorials or screenshots or whatever from other blogs, place them in a list without any original commentary, and then pass them off as new and exciting content, primarily as a means to draw traffic and sell advertising. Is that what The Sartorialist is doing? If so, then I would not be a fan, but it’s absolutely fine if you or anyone else is. This is just my own personal preference. Thanks again for sharing! (now I’m off to check out The Sartorialist)
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Heather Fonseca added these pithy words on
Apr 28 10 at
12:02 am
I used to subscribe to a few of the aggregate sites about design. It got pretty annoying once I started seeing a roundup of other roundups.
I don’t write as much as I’d like to on my own blog. Mainly I don’t have the time that I’d like to dedicate to an article. I prefer to write lengthy prose exploring most avenues of a topic. I currently have one brewing that should top about 5 printed pages.
I also would like to write up some CSS tutorials, but most have been covered. The ones you’ll see on my site are born from the fact that I couldn’t find an existing solution on the net, so I wrote my own.
Thanks for bringing this subject to light.
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Jason added these pithy words on
May 04 10 at
1:19 pm
Add a Comment
bkmacdaddy Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:49 am
Glad I got your attention, Bryon (did you know your name is spelled wrong? hehe…)
I like what you said about value and its subjectivity. I guess as long as people continue to find value in the regurgitated, unoriginal content the supply will continue to grow.
Which is, in a sense, my point (I think). We need to stop creating the demand and call the slop what it is. Hopefully this will happen…
[Reply]
Ironshef Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 11:28 am
I believe that the change will happen. Perhaps not to the ultimate end of stamping out the slop, but if folks like you and me make a conscious effort to direct people toward value – as we perceive it, and assuming they see it the same way – the popularity of the hacks will wane.
You might consider doing two things:
(1) Create an official “design blogs” roundup that calls together professionals in your space to point out “the good guys”. Come to some agreement within your community on the standards by which sites will be “judged” and then serve them up directory-style. This may sound counterintuitive to your original concept of not regurgitating unoriginal content, but I think if you make the purpose of the site clear and don’t pawn it off as something other than what it is, it may serve a valuable purpose. Not being deeply involved in the design community, I don’t know if this already exists. Of course, since original ideas only exist for 7 seconds, if there wasn’t one already, there is now.
(2) Create a site similar to Marketing Douchebags or Social Media Douchebag and shine the searing hot light of internet justice on the Design Douchebags. Hurry! designdouchebags.com is still available!
Oh, and it is still in its infancy, but in response to all of the oppression, criticism and misspellings, I have recently formed the Global League of Bryons, G.L.O.B. for short, in an effort to protect the interests of my people worldwide.
Keep it real, brother. I dig your stuff.
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