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How to find your style?

I found out, as I had my dream internship, that I am really not the creative type. I can't formulate creative and innovative ideas. Everything seems to be benchmarked or derived from someone else's formula.

I am too traditional. My eye for design is proper and pleasing to the eye. Somehow bland and strict and not sassy and popping colours or the genZ way.

business technology internships design careeradvice professionalgrowth innovation creativity selfdiscovery graphicdesign ui-ux designthinking visualdesign learningbydoing classicstyle minimalistdesign
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Sanjana’s Answer

Hi Shaina,

I relate to this so much! I’m a UX/UI designer, and I’ve learned that being creative doesn’t necessarily mean having a distinctive personal aesthetic or constantly producing quirky, never-before-seen visuals. In product design, creativity often shows up in how you understand a problem, simplify complexity, and create an experience that feels intuitive—not just in making something visually unexpected.

Benchmarking and drawing from familiar patterns don’t mean you lack creativity; they’re important parts of the design process. Users rely on established mental models, so good UX often builds on familiar conventions rather than reinventing everything. A visual style that feels clean, structured, and pleasing is also a strength—not every design needs bold colors or a trendy Gen Z aesthetic.

That’s one reason product design feels so well suited to me: it sits at the intersection of creativity and problem-solving, often within an existing brand or design system. You don’t necessarily need to “find your own style.” Being able to adapt to different styles while identifying and solving meaningful user problems can be far more valuable.
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Pierre’s Answer

Being trendy isn't the same as being creative. Trendy means mixing things up in new ways or taking bold risks. Early in my career, I realized I'm not the one to make trendy stuff. Instead, I create innovative things that fit what a company can and wants to do.

For nearly 20 amazing years, I worked at a top party goods company, taking trendy ideas and adapting them to existing products. My creative gift is thinking outside the box to invent new things within given limits. I also spot potential issues before a product reaches production. This makes me a great problem solver while staying creative.

This shows there's a place for everyone with different skills in any job. Even though I didn't study product, packaging, or graphic design (I majored in animation), I've had a long, creative career. You may have unique skills to bring to any job, whether it's managing people, working with clients or vendors, or having practical skills. Trust the process and keep your creative dreams alive.

Wishing you the best!
Thank you comment icon I will use this advice as I prepare for my career. Bm
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Sian’s Answer

Your post hit so close to home for me because this was literally my exact experience.

I graduated with a degree in graphic design, and the feedback I constantly received was that I was too rigid and straightlaced with my ideas. My instinct was always to pick one solid, safe idea, lock into it, and execute it neatly. I felt completely out of place among peers who seemed to naturally pump out bold, trendy, "out-there" concepts.

What shifted everything for me was my professors forcing me to re-evaluate my initial ideas and push my boundaries. It was uncomfortable at the time, but it taught me something crucial: design wasn't about pulling wild, flashy art out of thin air—it was about critical thinking. Learning to look at a clean, traditional layout, question why it worked, and push it just a step or two further gave me a framework for solving complex problems.

I actually ended up transitioning out of graphic design and into tech. But to this day, I maintain that the skills I learned through my design degree—that combination of structured, pleasing discipline and critical evaluation—are the exact reason I have such a strong skill set and became an expert in my field.

So my advice to you is this: don't write yourself off as "not the creative type" just because you don't design with loud colors or Gen Z trends. Having an eye for order, propriety, and clean execution isn't "bland"—it’s structure, visual hierarchy, and restraint. Almost every great solution builds on existing benchmarks and formulas; creativity is synthesis, not magic.

Your style right now is clarity and precision. Lean into that discipline, use critical thinking to test your ideas beyond your first draft, and trust that this grounded foundation will serve you infinitely better in your career than any temporary design trend ever could.
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Candelaria’s Answer

Hey Shaina! Hope you're doing good!!

I actually think you do have a style! Minimalism is a style. Clean, structured, timeless design is a style. Not everything has to be bold, full of popping colors, or follow the trend//latest Gen Z aesthetic.

Benchmarking is great for inspiration, but don't stop there! If you want to explore or rethink your style , try looking beyond digital products. Pay attention to textures, patterns, packaging, architecture, magazines, exhibitions, etc. things from the **physical world**. You'll be surprised how many ideas you can translate and mix into your work.
Try stepping outside your comfort zone. Experiment, make crafts, play around with materials, draw, build things. Sometimes you'll hate the result, but other times you'll discover something that inspires you and pushes your work further...

Creativity isn't something you're simply born with it's a skill you train, just like a muscle at gym. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to make unexpected connections and come up with original ideas.

At the end of the day, design should be something you enjoy. Don't put so much pressure on yourself to fit a certain aesthetic. Focus on exploring, having fun, and your own style will emerge naturally.

Best,
Cande
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Taylor’s Answer

Early in my career, when working at a creative agency, I got burned out trying to come up a fresh and creative design for every project. I found a home in UX design, which is about understanding people’s problems and goals, and designing software to be easy for them to understand and use. For that purpose, a straightforward approach is often best, and creativity shows more up in how you solve problems, as opposed to being flashy or expressive. So your disposition maybe a natural fit for UX design.

Having said that, you should ask yourself what draws you to a more “traditional” approach. If it comes from a strong conviction that that’s what’s best for what you’re designing, that’s great. If it comes from a fear of inviting criticism or getting something wrong, that’s worth interrogating. (For me it was a bit of both, and pushing past that fear of failure has led to some rewarding growth, both personally and in my career.)
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Emily’s Answer

Before you label yourself as "uncreative," let's look at what's really going on. You might be comparing yourself to a version of creativity that doesn't exist in the professional world.

Professional design relies on proven methods: In reality, creative work involves using established patterns to solve problems, not just coming up with new ideas from scratch.

Timeless design is better than fleeting trends: Flashy trends fade fast. A focus on order, structure, and polish creates lasting trust and usability, like Apple or luxury brands.

Organization is a creative skill: Creative teams need people who can refine and build with discipline and clarity, not just those who come up with wild ideas.
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Margaret’s Answer

Hi! There's no set way, and you can always rediscover your style and keep modifying it until you feel comfortable. I found a way by finding things that genuinely excite me, a la Marie Kondo (things that "spark joy"). From there, I added books and mementos from friends and vacations to my workspace to see what puts me in a good mood. For topics, I look at past accomplishments and projects I've had fun doing. For general templates, you can play around with Canva or Word, etc., to find out what you enjoy most.
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Emily’s Answer

I would focus on cultivating your taste and point of view. Style is not just coming up with new idea but bringing together existing elements in new ways, with a distinct point of view. If your dream internship was in the creative space, I'm guessing there is something you are drawn to around style and design. Focus on what resonates with you and see how those things come together.
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Akasha’s Answer

Hey Shaina! Your "proper eye" is a massive superpower, not a weakness. What you call "bland and strict" is what the professional industry calls clean, timeless minimalism (think Apple or Muji).In design, clarity and function always beat loud, temporary trends. Furthermore, "benchmarking" is exactly how real pros work—we iterate on what works rather than reinventing the wheel.Instead of forcing a trendy style, double down on your strengths. You are perfectly built for UI/UX design, design systems, and minimalist branding where structure, order, and readability are highly valued and highly paid. Embrace your precision!
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sarvestha’s Answer

Hey Shaina, don't be so hard on yourself.

It's easy to compare ourselves to others, but remember, everyone has their own style. You don't need to make bold, colorful designs to be a great designer. If your work is clean, elegant, and timeless, that's your unique strength.

The best designs come from being true to yourself, not from following trends. So, embrace what feels right for you. Your style will grow with experience, but it should come from you, not from comparing yourself to others.

Believe in yourself. The design world needs all kinds of styles, and there's definitely a place for yours.
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Marco’s Answer

Hi Shaina, start by understanding the problem you want to solve and write it down. Then, turn it into a question like "How might we...?" to spark ideas. Check how others tackle similar issues for inspiration.

Remember, creativity isn't just about art. It's a skill useful in any field. Generating and refining ideas is challenging but important. If you find it tough, explore "design thinking" tools. Stay persistent, but also remember to take breaks and recharge. Good luck!
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Wong’s Answer

Hi Shaina. What you described does not necessarily mean you are not creative. It may simply mean that your strengths are different from the type of creativity your internship expected.

Many successful professionals are not known for creating bold or trendy ideas. Instead, they excel at being organized, detail-oriented, and creating designs that are clean, practical, and easy to understand. Those are valuable skills in many industries.

If you naturally prefer structure and traditional designs, you may enjoy careers that focus on consistency and precision rather than constant innovation. Fields such as business, project management, operations, user experience (UX), administration, finance, or marketing strategy may be a better fit than highly creative design roles.
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Kelly’s Answer

Hi Shaina! Creativity shows up in so many ways, sometimes it’s not about ‘popping colors,’ but about seeing solutions or details others miss.

Maybe that internship just wasn’t the right fit, like being a triangle in a square world. You’ve got a unique perspective, and sometimes you just need to find the space or audience that values it.

Remember, creativity is in everything, how you solve problems, how you interpret the world, even how you reflect and reach out like this. So don’t give up!

Keep exploring, and trust that your creative style will resonate with the right place. March to the beat of your own drum!
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Gaurav’s Answer

It’s okay not to be an innovator because everyone doesn’t like to create new formulas. Try out the ux (user experience) or ui designing part in technologies because this side of technology is more colourful and good looking, specially for someone who wants to play with colour, text and page layout designs.
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Kris’s Answer

Don’t be too hard on yourself if your style doesn’t seem to match what is trending in the moment. Having an eye for style that is classic or pleasing to a more traditional audience can be just as valuable, and may even stand the rest of time better. It doesn’t mean you can’t still be creative and innovative. It may just mean you haven’t found the role or organization that can leverage your strengths yet.
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Jamie’s Answer

The only way to find you style is to gain inspiration. Next, you try out what you like and don't like. Then, you practice until you're comfortable. Best of luck.
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Alberto’s Answer

Hi Shaina, great question!

Creativity can be tricky. Sometimes ideas flow easily, and other times they don't, and that's perfectly okay. It's also great to look at what others have done to learn and grow. For example, when Picasso was young, he copied different art styles until he found his own. Remember, the problems often stay the same, but the solutions can change. It's not just about finding your style; it's about discovering new and exciting ways to solve problems. This takes time, and you'll get to explore and try out many different ideas. That's the fun part!
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Tyler’s Answer

I wouldn't overly focus on style. When starting out in your career it's best to focus on the fundamentals and best practices of design, these are skills that sharpen with each project or job you take on. As you build confidence you can begin experimenting and bending the rules. Building a "personal style" is often difficult to do and designers known for, and hired for, their personal styles did not get there overnight. I would argue that most designers adapt their style for the needs of the job. Some will have very strict guidelines, others will allow for more creativity and experimentation. Some will push you out of your comfort zone. Style should largely be defined by the product/company you are designing for, the intended audience, the campaign goals, and so on.
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Jessica’s Answer

It sounds like you already have your style, it's just that your style is different from your peers and the field that you were in. You already know the things you are good at making. What you need to think about is what fields prefer designs that are more traditional and toned down. What sort of audiences are you targeting?

Think about it like this. Your style wouldn't work when making box art for a company like Mountain Dew. However, it may be perfect for a brand of organic tea. And perhaps the branding you make is better for an older audience.
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