How to Discover Your Creative Style as a Designer
Design is inherently subjective — as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But when it’s your profession, it’s essential to identify and embrace your creative style so you can set your brand apart from competitors and connect with your ideal clients.
Sure, it’s easy to show up with designs inspired by the many looks on Pinterest — but that approach will ultimately leave you struggling to stand out in a sea of sameness.
That begs the question: How does one determine their creative style?
Let’s dive into the answer so you can start harnessing your unique eye for design and step into the market as the creative pioneer your dream clients want to book.
Review your portfolio
We spend a lot of time creating portfolios to market our businesses, but when was the last time you actually perused your own? You can gain a lot of insight into how far you’ve come as a designer, comparing the styles you’ve loved with the ones that you learned weren’t quite your thing.
For instance, perhaps you felt in your zone while producing a minimalist gala several years back, whereas a recent Hollywood-themed wedding went far too over the top for your liking. Look to your past experience for guidance in where to go from here — your intuition will tell you where your talents are best used!
Spend time seeking inspiration
Most entrepreneurs are constantly fighting overflowing inboxes, juggling client meetings, marketing new services, and—somehow—doing the actual creative work. But in that busy schedule, there’s no time to source new inspiration. (And I’m not talking about scrolling through Pinterest on your lunch break!)
Creativity requires space — both in your schedule and in your mind. It’s hard to innovate new ideas when your phone is buzzing its way off your desk! To discover your design style, you must be intentional about creating the space you need to research and reflect.
Try carving out time meant only for inspiration-seeking. It could be one day a month, a few half days sprinkled throughout, or a weekend filled with new experiences. I encourage you to look beyond your usual sources.
Turn off your social media notifications and get out there! Stroll through an art gallery, window-shop at the mall, or grab lunch at the trendy new cafe downtown. The whole point is to step outside of the same old, same old so you can notice fresh concepts and figure out what ignites your inner fire.
Lean into experimentation
Success is built upon trial-and-error, yet so many business owners let a fear of failure hold them back from achieving their full potential. In reality, every “mistake” is only pushing you closer to what you enjoy! Don’t be afraid to try new things, even if they seem risky or outside of the “norm.” Forget the status quo — nothing remarkable happens there!
As a designer, it’s your job to push boundaries and wander outside of your comfort zone to test the limits of what’s possible. So the next time a client comes to you with an off-the-wall idea, turn that hesitation into enthusiasm because you’ve been given an opportunity to bring a groundbreaking idea to life.
Don’t get me wrong — there will always be room for traditional design. But there’s no reason to define your business, brand, and creativity by what’s already been done. Think about it: At one point, somebody came up with the idea for a doughnut wall for the first time. Now, we laugh and think about how passé it is — but that person was a true trendsetter in the very definition of the term.
So with all that said, consider this your permission to go out and live. Absorb all the inspiration you can, parse out what doesn’t click, and cultivate what’s left behind — because that’s where your creative design prowess lies.
Eddie Zaratsian is the visionary behind Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design, a full-service event design and production studio based in Los Angeles, California. With over 25 years of experience, Eddie’s creativity and passion is evident in every aspect of his work, and his ability to imagine and actualize events is unparalleled. Named as one of the top five international florists by the London Financial Times, Zaratsian has built a reputation as a visionary artist, and his work has been celebrated and featured by Martha Stewart, Harper's Bazaar, Grace Ormonde, E! News and Glamour, among others. Now, through guest lectures and classes globally, as well as private workshops in his spectacular LA Design Studio, Eddie generously shares his extensive business, design and floral expertise.
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