Designers do have power to be creative to a certain extent. Within the context of a development ecosystem, like iOS, a designer must adhere to their interface guides and rules or risk having their app rejected from the app store.
Beyond that many levels of management are driven by non-designers. Therefore things like trends really stick around for a while because that's what they want.
You're right, there's nothing forcefully stopping designers from being creative. However those that do work outside the lines and push the boundaries might not have a job for too long.
Yes and no.
Designers do have power to be creative to a certain extent. Within the context of a development ecosystem, like iOS, a designer must adhere to their interface guides and rules or risk having their app rejected from the app store.
Beyond that many levels of management are driven by non-designers. Therefore things like trends really stick around for a while because that's what they want.
You're right, there's nothing forcefully stopping designers from being creative. However those that do work outside the lines and push the boundaries might not have a job for too long.