Tom May, writing at Creative Boom, has an interesting story about a new report from the artist-owned cooperative Stocksy.

The report opens with a stark observation: we’re living in the “Age of Big Content”—a time of infinite scrolls, algorithmic recommendations, and what Stocksy calls “vibe-less mood boards”. The result is a creative landscape experiencing both “Peak Complexity” and the “Meh-ocene,” where global aesthetics are collapsing into sameness.

As the report notes, “Cafes look the same in Tokyo and Mexico City,” while creative industries struggle with originality—evidenced by the fact that not a single original film (as opposed to a sequel, reboot or remake) cracked 2024’s top 15 highest-grossing movies.

I don’t really know what “Meh-ocene” means, but it can’t be good.

The report offers a roadmap to authentic curation and meaningful differentiation for artists and designers. “Surprise sells. Sameness doesn’t.”