Is the work you create a genuine reflection of who you are as a person? Could someone else easily replicate it? Could AI produce something similar? In a world increasingly shaped by technology, these questions are more relevant than ever.
AI has transformed how we live and work. It can generate artwork, write code, or even plan a vacation. With every advancement, the capabilities of AI continue to improve, often raising concerns about how humans can stand out.
As automation takes over more jobs, people are increasingly looking for unique ways to make a living—something that aligns with their passions and interests. The creator economy is booming, and more individuals are turning to it for autonomy and income. It's accessible, requiring only an internet connection and a mobile device. However, while getting started is easy, truly standing out is a different story.
Everyone is competing for attention online. Many choose to follow trends or mimic what works, hoping to find success. This is not a new phenomenon; artists have been influenced by each other for centuries. Yet, only a select few have managed to be remembered through the ages.
This struggle to stand out isn't limited to the art world. It's true in design, fashion, and any creative field. Fear of rejection can discourage creatives from fully expressing themselves—leading them to produce safe, predictable work that lacks originality. Over time, this approach drains their creativity.
At Design Zindagi, we believe in the power of originality. We want to help you tap into your unique interests and curiosities and express them through your work. Your authenticity—what we call your "niche"—is what will set you apart.
Understand your authentic self
To do truly original work, you must first understand your authentic self. This is the version of you that aligns with your values, morals, and desires. It’s the ideal version you strive to be, reflected in everything from your personality to your career.
Being authentic also means pursuing things that genuinely bring you joy. One way to uncover your authentic self is through your niche interests—those quirky passions, obscure hobbies, or unique skills that give you a fresh perspective on the world.
Your niche interests are more than just hobbies; they can be the secret ingredients that elevate your work from ordinary to extraordinary. Here’s how:
Unique Perspective: Your niche interests provide a unique lens through which you see the world.
Deep Knowledge: The time you've invested in your passions translates into expertise others may not have.
Genuine Enthusiasm: When you incorporate what you love, your work radiates authenticity and passion.
Exploring Mediums of Expression (For Your Niche Interests)
A "medium of expression" is how you choose to express yourself, whether creatively or professionally. It could be computer programming, creative writing, music, dance, design, filmmaking, or even entrepreneurship. Your niche interests will shine most brightly when paired with the right medium.
Identify which mediums feel natural to you and use them to channel your inspirations. The right medium allows you to leverage your niche interests and share your work on a larger scale. This ties in well with the idea of leverage, which we discussed in this article.
Leveraging your niche interests
Once you discover your medium of expression, it's time to get creative. Find ways to combine your passions with that medium in ways that are uniquely yours. This is where creativity truly flourishes—in the unseen connections between your interests and how you express them.
Consider Steve Jobs as an example. He wasn't an electronics engineer by training, but he was curious, business-savvy, and had a passion for calligraphy. His interest in typography shaped the design of Apple's early computers, giving them a distinctive aesthetic that helped set them apart. This was something only Jobs could have done, based on his unique experiences.
"The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting."
This experience would go on to influence the types of fonts used on the Apple Macintosh, paving the way and setting the standard for how typography is done on computers:
The original fonts on the Macintosh (Source: Wikipedia)
Jobs described it as such:
“None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But 10 years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts.”
This is something that can’t be easily replicated as this was a result of Steve’s unique experiences that came from his niche interests making him unique in his own right.
Finding your niche
You can take a similar approach by:
1. Listing your top three niche interests.
2. Identifying 2-3 mediums you are skilled in or want to explore.
3. Brainstorming ways to combine your interests with those mediums.
4. Choosing your favorite idea and starting a project based on it.
This framework will help you escape mediocrity through the originality within you.
We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for new projects! Share them in the comments below.
Until next time,
The Design Zindagi Team
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