Is Creative Snobbery Holding Us (Me) Back?
A frank look at creative gatekeeping
A few weeks ago, Russell and I were chatting about design tools—picking apart how different people use them, what they mean for creativity, and whether they're actually making things better or worse. Then he dropped the word "snobbery" into the conversation.
It stopped me in my tracks.
Because I'm guilty of it. That subtle eye-roll when I spot a Canva-built logo. The slight grimace when someone shares a Google Slides presentation instead of a polished Keynote deck. That instinctive judgment when I see a template-based design rather than something crafted from scratch in Illustrator.
The tools don't lie. You can see the difference between something made with complexity and control and something made with ease. But then I stop myself, because what if this is just creative gatekeeping in disguise?
The Old Guard vs New Tools
Remember when becoming a designer meant years of training? You'd learn the principles, master the software, and slowly develop that eagle eye for kerning and composition. It was a proper craft, that.Now? Anyone with a laptop and a lunch break can whip up a decent-looking design.
And here's the kicker: sometimes their work isn't half bad.
When Tools Get Too Clever
I love zenning out in Illustrator. Always have. There's something beautiful about the precision, the ability to refine and obsess over every little curve. But even I struggle with how complex it's become.Layers, filters, obscure settings buried under menus, do I need all of that to draw up a great logo? I've always thought there should be an 'Illustrator Light' mode, something that strips it back to just the core drawing tools.
And it's not just Adobe. Look at 3D programs, Cinema 4D, Maya, these tools are incredible, but they're also daunting. Opening them feels like stepping into the cockpit of a fighter jet.
Compare that to Canva, Google Slides, and Figma, which strip away complexity in favour of speed and collaboration. Keynote is smooth, polished, built for refined presentations. Google Slides? It's basic, but it's truly collaborative. That's why, as a business, we lean towards it, because our team isn't just designers, and we need something that works for everyone, wherever they are.
The Money Question
Over the last few years, budgets have been shrinking. When a client has say £50,000 for a campaign, should they spend half of it crafting the perfect brand identity? Or should they distribute that budget across marketing, social ads, and PR to ensure people actually see it?Sometimes, brands with designers over-design and under-market. A beautiful identity means nothing if no one sees it.
It reminds me of that old NASA story: They spent millions designing a pen that could write in space. The Russians? They just packed pencils.
It's Not Just Us
This isn't just about graphic design. AI tools are revolutionising video production, creating motion graphics from still images. Bedroom producers are using Logic Pro and Ableton to create records that rival studio productions. AI writing assistants are transforming how content is created.
But does that mean filmmakers, musicians, and writers are being replaced? Or is creativity simply evolving?
The Startup Wake-Up Call
"Done is better than perfect" used to make me cringe. Coming from a background where craft was paramount, it felt like sacrilege.
But a decade of working with startups has completely changed my perspective. In that world, getting something out quickly, testing it, and improving based on real feedback is more valuable than endless refinements in isolation.
That's why we've shifted how we work—creating flexible, easy-to-use templates with built-in guardrails to keep designs on-brand, giving clients the ability to make edits while still ensuring quality. It's a balance between craftsmanship and usability.
Looking Forward
Maybe we fear that if creativity becomes too accessible, it becomes less valuable. But I don't think that's how it works. The best creatives will always push boundaries, regardless of their tools.Because at the end of the day, it's not the tool. It's the hand that wields it.
And maybe that's not such a bad thing.