In modern society, we’re given a variety of ways to express ourselves, whether it’s through fashion, work or social media. We use our clothes, nails, hair and so much more to add personal flair to our lives and to connect with others around us. However, there’s one thing that’s constantly overlooked, yet uniquely expresses us: our phone cases.
People are always seeking routes to showcase their personalities. This is especially true for teenagers, who end up doing so by decorating whatever is protecting their most valuable items, such as their phones, AirPods and other devices.
The safeguards of our phones have transformed from being mere essentials to statement pieces, offering a window into our lives. Our actions speak so much louder than our words, and our phone cases allow us to express even more of who we truly are. From fun and bubbly designs to more minimalistic and sleek ones, phone cases can reflect a range of personalities. They’re a chance to hint at our interests and lifestyles, whether it be revealing our favorite kind of music or flaunting our preferred brands of cars.
Phone cases can also be a medium to support causes or express personal beliefs. People can include logos that embrace activism and social change through different causes on the backs of their phones. For instance, someone with a “save the earth” logo is seen as a person who supports the environment, while someone with a Marvel logo may be exhibiting a passion for superhero movies or comics.
The choice of a phone case reflects how we want to be perceived in the world, whether it be as a passionate activist, a stylish trend-setter or a quiet introvert with a love for minimalistic design. The design can serve as a medium for people to grasp an aspect of our identity, acting as a potential conversation starter or a new layer of public perception. The symbolism behind a phone case is just as powerful and meaningful as the device itself.
However, the huge benefit this provides to the manufacturing companies of phone cases sparks the question: Are we truly expressing ourselves, or are we just following the next trend? This exposes the fine line between individuality and the desire to match with your favorite influencers or celebrities on social media.
The ideal balance would be to follow trends to a certain extent, but also add your own personal touch that personalizes your case. The world of fashion and style revolves around trends, so it’s difficult to escape them. However, choosing a phone case that aligns with your values and interests can help make it a bit more representative of your unique style.
While some people opt for pre-made phone cases, a simpler way to effectively convey your interests is to just design your own. Having a customized phone case can act as a source of comfort in unfamiliar situations, and a cheery phone case can brighten up a stressful environment. You can also achieve this by including a picture of your friends or family in your case.
Whether your phone case reflects your personality, serves as a statement to your values or is simply a design you love, it’s clear that these objects are doing a lot more than just protecting our precious devices.
That being said, I think it’s time for me to get a new phone case: One that I’ll be designing myself, of course.
