From Screens to Sketches: Gen Z’s Return to Analog Creativity
13 Nov 2025 10:22 PM IST13 Nov 2025 10:22 PM IST
When pens replace pixels and the imagination finds its rhythm on paper
Representational Image
In an age where screens dominate every waking moment, something surprisingly old-school is making a heartfelt comeback—doodling. Once considered an idle scribbling in the margins of notebooks is now being celebrated as a form of mindfulness, creativity, and even rebellion against digital overload. For Gen Z, born into the digital world, doodling offers a refreshing analogue escape—a quiet return to touch, texture, and thought.
The doodle culture is thriving on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, but ironically, it's pulling people away from their screens. From bullet journals filled with whimsical sketches to tote bags hand-decorated with doodle art, this movement signals something deeper: a yearning to reconnect with the self in a world that's constantly online.
The appeal is in the simplicity of it: You don't need special art supplies or fancy software-just a notebook and a pen. It is the imperfections that make it human; it's the act itself that is meditative. Unlike typing or tapping, doodling engages the hand, mind, and heart altogether. Little wonder, therapists and educators encourage doodling more now as a means of stress relief, self-expression, and focus enhancement.
Brands have taken notice too: Stationery companies now market journals designed to be doodle-friendly, cafes offer "doodle nights" in which participants sketch freely over coffee and conversation, and even corporations have installed doodle walls for creativity and team bonding.
But the most beautiful part of this resurgence is its message, "you don't need to be an artist to create." In a world obsessed with perfection, doodle culture celebrates imperfection. Every single line, swirl, or shape tells a story of spontaneity, which is what digital filters erase.
With Generation Z still in the process of redefining trends, doodling stands as a quiet rebellion-a trend not about aesthetics but about authenticity. It’s a reminder that sometimes, to move forward, you have to go back to the basics. So the next time you find yourself absent-mindedly doodling stars, waves, or random words on a piece of paper, remember, you're not wasting time- you're joining a movement that values being present over being perfect.
This article hs been authored by Siftpreet Kaur, an Intern at Deccan Chronicle
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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