Almost all designers, at the start of a project go on a nice research spree. I sometimes tend to look through photography annuals, others might look through design showcase books, a pile of creative reviews or browse the many inspiration sites available. My point is that designers usually look for influence. They are not looking to copy anything, they look for something to trigger their own ideas.
I was recently reading Adrian Shaughnessy’s book ‘How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul’ and found some really good points on the idea of originality in design. He points out that design work usually reflects a nice mix of tradition, history and popular culture, and to this end, originality in its purest form generally does not exist.
I have always thought that art or design generally takes little steps forward, rather than leaps. Most great art movements did not just take place out of the blue, but were rather a gradual movement progressing from one movement to another. Yet originality seems to be a key point with many designers. The fact is that even the most prestigious of studios borrow ideas from other areas. I often find old record labels that use the same font as a modern identity done by the latest fashionable agency.
I think the key point goes back to the idea of progression. Borrowing, and being influenced by others work is fine. Probably even inevitable. After all, the visual world we live in means that subconsciously we are always influenced by something. What you would hope then as a designer is that you add something of your own. Put a new twist into it, or use it for something different. It should be looked at and not thought – they have copied that, but rather – I see where they have got that from, and like what they have done with it.
To sum up, you should never just rip something off or claim another designers work as your own but it is OK to borrow visual references or be influenced by others. It makes our work more interesting. The key is the ability to recognise what visual keys will work in a particular instance. What is appropriate and what will be effective.
I will end this post with a quote within ‘How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul’ from the British designer, Julian House. He says, ‘I don’t believe in originality as an absolute. I think it has more to do with interesting twists on existing forms. Borrowing from the modernist designer from the recent past is not plagiarism; its more a continuation of the process and ideas they set in motion. I think they key to whether it is good or not lies in the viewers response to a particular piece of design. Do they say “I’ve seen it before”, or “I’ve seen it before but not in that way”.
So what do you think? Does originality exist and is it ok to ‘borrow’ other design? Be great to hear your thoughts.
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I believe that there is little art left to be original. With thousands of minds exploring and creating art they generally will fall into a existing category and compared. It is easier for the mind to compare new art to older art as past interpretations aid in personal criticisms.
You mentioned progression and taking little steps. I believe that this is due to the fact that most mediums have been explored and newer original ideas will be linked to advancement in other areas such as technology.
I don’t like using the words ‘borrow’ or ‘steal’ because they are normally associated with the negative. I don’t believe that art should be greedy. It should be open to exploration. “Imitation is a type of flattery”
Your style is what you choose it to be and if it is like someone else who cares. You should please yourself with art before pleasing others.
Thanks for the comment Nick. I think it certainly plays a part that so much has been explored. I actually think little steps is how it has always been. I remember once debating the existence of originality as the fact is that pretty much everything is influenced by something, even if it is nature itself. However in the same way, it can exist everywhere, as even when we go out to copy or borrow (sorry to use the negative words again
) we tend to put our own expression into it. It is our representation, which is different to anyones. I suppose this works more in fine art than in graphics, but I think it applies here to.
Well I will have to quote one of the great masters & fathers of cubism here : “Good designers copy – Great designers steal ! ” [ Pablo Picasso ] .
In essence : one is not actually ‘ stealing ‘ – but rather emulating a piece or a part of a certain design element . The truth is : there is no originality to be had anywhere -by anyone . Everything we look upon has either existed , or has been reproduced ( redone & rehashed ) in one way, form, shape or other . Can we deem it as stealing ? when within the same context it is perceived as a form of flattery when someone reproduces a particular type of work which has already been deemed as an original work by an artist ?
There is a line to be drawn of course – and there is a major difference when it comes to emulating someones work by ‘ copying ‘ certain aspects of the design and improving upon it or making adjustments – or giving it a different twist – and then there is outright copying & pasting which only the uncouth practice.
The bottom line is that morality has to take precedence within any type of work , or anything else for that matter . The basic principles of morality and ethics come into play here – and this is what we must ask ourselves when we look upon anything : Does it belong to me ? Am I the creator ? – if both answers are NO – then , the answer is crystal clear .
Now, when an artist produces a particular type of work and discloses that it is Free to use without attribution required , then one has the green light in borrowing that work to suit their purpose(s) . However , if the work is NOT free – then , permission MUST be acquired ( and granted ) by the artist and attribution is necessary , or else : it becomes Stealing – plain and simple.
However , in accordance w the topic posted here – I would have to concur that : there is no originality left – and when one takes a closer look , they can assess that everything has been reproduced in one way or another .
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“Oh really” as quoted by SNL Seth and Amy! Did you get payed for that wonderful piece of intellectual property? Well then it’s theirs till they get caught! There is no way anyone could police your creative flow as we are a product of our environment. It reminds me of a project in college of shape and emotion. Subconsciously or consciously my work was not deemed original and receive a low grade. A few years later once I got out into the working world and had to travel around, I saw my shape on the side of a garbage truck??? Did I see that shape before, cause school and this company were 2-3 cities apart??? Did they steal my project after the fact??? Did the prof take that idea into his/her professional life??? Or did some see it the same way I did??? I’d love to take a time machine and get my “A” for that one. I think a brief i$ a brief i$ a brief and the only one creating original design is the Monk on top of a mountain. Cheers!
Thanks for the comment. That’s a really interesting story. Its an interesting point too that people are bound to interpret things in similar ways and therefore come up with similar solutions I guess. But even the monk on the mountain is only interpreting nature and his own surroundings. I think the only one who truly displays originality is mother nature herself.
I guess everything needs to be open source, all or none
I don’t think there is anything wrong with borrowing ideas. What becomes wrong is when you claim all credit for it. I always let another designer know if they inspired me in a design piece that I created. Always. If I can’t tell them, I’ll explain it in a description of what or who inspired that piece. Too many people’s borrowed ideas don’t get the credit they deserve. So while borrowing isn’t wrong, not giving proper credit -is-.
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