JT::
FOR ME?? wave = design and web trends, its not so much apparent in print design but its everywhere and always will be, the ATTIK and VIR21 started one in the nineties with all the geometric shapes and extreme photoshop - then we saw fukin thousands, Designers republic started another with modern illustrations, again we saw it everywhere. I know its also driven by the technology we use EG: CSS, but surely we can use different imagery at least??? and maybe style the logo without using leafs as a topic which has nothing to do with the content of a portfolio or personal site.
I mean why leafs, I have seen so many sites that have a tree or a leaf in the top bar but they have nothing to do with anything organic or even green, its because they have seen it alot somewhere, no thought about why, just "I see a lot of these I think I have one". LOOK AT netdiver, they do top bars the way a design site should be, they have been designed as an individual piece of art and its always different, whether its typography or an illustration
I know design IS fashion and it is about trends and you are right attractive is attractive, but narrowing it down to a a subject matter like a bloody leaf is just straight up copying. And are we as designers not meant to innovate as well, its not just about being pretty
In my opinion web design especially is GUILTY of ripping off each other mainly due to the vast amount of reference out there (whether its visual or code) and self taught designers. This as you said is ALL personal opinion but I do feel strongly and when I do my college visits and lectures I say the same thing to them, "look at and use the trend yes! BUT AT LEAST put your own visual stamp on it! (if its a personnel project!)
sorry to go on but you did ask
