THE RISE OF ‘BLANDING': WHY BRANDS MUST STOP DESIGNING FOR MACHINES

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

Many brands are becoming visually indistinguishable by adopting minimalist, system-friendly identities that prioritize digital scalability over personality—a trend often described as "blanding." Research shows that distinctive branding improves recognition, pricing power, and emotional connection, while brands like Burberry and Liquid Death demonstrate the commercial value of embracing unique identities. As AI-generated design becomes more common, the challenge will be using technology to amplify originality rather than accelerate visual sameness.