Where Did the ‘Graphic Design Is My Passion’ Meme Originate?

One of the more in demand jobs today is graphic design. With humans being highly visual creatures, it makes sense to employ one in every industry, be it in marketing, construction, editorial, manufacturing, or IT.

Graphic designers bring plenty to the table. From making important design decisions (e.g., fonts, color schemes) that a company or brand will use, to working with other creative team members in producing inspired content. They can be a little overworked and underappreciated at times.

Enter memes. One of the ways graphic designers blow off a bit of steam is by making witty quips: about their job, their clients, and fellow creatives. A good example is an old favorite – the ‘Graphic Design is My Passion’ meme.

History of Graphic Design is My Passion Meme

According to KnowYourMeme.com, the original ‘Graphic Design is My Passion’ meme was posted on July 7, 2014 by Tumblr user, Yungterra. Tumblr was a popular micro-blogging site that began in 2007 and has since gained millions of users with their no-rules (except an adult content ban in 2018), no-standards approach. The meme had a cartoon frog from Classroom Clipart against a grey, cloudy sky background, and the ubiquitous phrase ‘graphic design is my passion’ in red Papyrus font.

It can be interpreted in two main ways. The first is that, the meme is meant to make fun of mediocre graphic designers (or those who want to become one) who create unexceptional projects. The funny bit is because so many people often say something is their ‘passion’ even if they lack the aptitude for it. The second is that, the meme jokes about how creatives usually get so focused on design that the UI ends up not making sense to actual users.

The ‘Graphic Design is My Passion’ meme has taken on new forms after going viral years ago. While there are countless variations, they’re usually characterized by: poorly cropped illustrations or the use of clipart; tacky background (e.g., rainbow gradient or cloudy skies); and includes a font typically hated in the design community (comic sans, papyrus, etc.).

Meme Merchandise and Variations by Other Graphic Designers

More than 7 years later and the meme is still as relevant as when it came out.

There’s the ‘Graphic Design is My Passion’ phrase using only different types of WordArt (gaudy and flashy text styles that came with earlier versions of Microsoft Office applications). There are memes made of crude drawings using Microsoft Paint software. Nowadays, you’d also see badly-edited Photoshop examples with the same catchphrase. And yes, there are GIFs.

No viral thing is complete without merch. When keeping a folder of your favorite memes isn’t enough, you can wear them as t-shirts for afternoon strolls, or to induce giggles at an office party. Aside from apparel, there are stickers, keychains, mugs, and buttons – all inspired by the clever concept.

Don’t be put off by this meme if art and design truly is your passion. Hey, we love graphic designers and creatives everywhere. We’re thankful for the work they do and for making the world a brighter, more aesthetically pleasing place. However, don’t take yourself too seriously either. Remember, all work and no play makes graphics designers cranky.

Lighten up with memes (like this)! Pick your favorite and send it out to your fellow creatives. There’s nothing like a good laugh to liven a dull day.