Whilst I know how great the internet is, and what it provides is pretty much immeasurable, I think there is also negatives that come with it, particularly in the design sense.
The internet has quite literally liberated and democratised the graphic design community, where one is no longer limited by the country that they live in (very fortunate for Australia).
However with all of the blogs and design communities out there, I don't think there has been a greater time where it is as difficult for designers to find their point of view, particularly with the emergence of blog trends and fads.
Donald Horne's book "The Lucky Country", written at a time where no one had even considered the internet, outlined that Australia in it's taste and design sense was quite literally doomed, and constantly accuses us of never having a mind of its own. Some would argue that the internet has clearly changed this, however I would argue that the internet may have done otherwise for design...
Vince Frost, owner of Frost* Design even stated in a video I watched of him: "There is more of an international look to things today, it's no longer an English or an American or Japanese look."
My point therefore is this: whilst I can definitely appreciate what the internet provides, it can also create a division of "sameness". I suppose with all of the design blogs and graphic material out there, it isn't surprising that junior designers starting out struggle to find their point of view, and furthermore feel intimidated and down on themselves as they are constantly exposing themselves to the output of long running studios.
I think we just need to put our head down, bum up, ipod on and pay no attention to what our global or local neighbours are doing, because otherwise we just go round in circles copying each other.
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