Steal This Design! (the Ethical Way to Get Inspired)
I recently had the flattering experience of being asked if this website could be used as inspiration for someone else’s in-progress site design. I agreed, with a few conditions.
There’s a right way and a wrong way to “steal” from someone else’s design. The rules aren’t that different from the ones that separate inspiration from plagiarism in writing or art. Here are a few guidelines to keep you out of trouble as you gather kindling for your creativity.
UPDATE: You may want to check out the follow-up post, “How to Handle a Rip-Off of Your Site’s Design.”
The Right Way to Steal
I’m giving you permission—right now—to use this site’s design, organization, and even copy as inspiration for your own work. Here’s the catch: it’s only okay if you use my work as a springboard for your own creativity.
HP’s book cover rip is a good example of bad behavior. (click to enlarge)
In 2003, Cameron Moll wrote an excellent article about inspiration, imitation, and theft in website design. “Good Designers Copy, Great Designers Steal” provoked plenty of discussion and controversy, but the central point of the article was valid. Moll’s message was that the right way to “steal” a design—the only ethical way—is by transforming the original material to make the result uniquely yours.
The examples in Moll’s article do a great job of showing exactly what he means. If there’s still any doubt about how similar is too similar, consider Hewlett–Packard’s rip-off of the cover for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (right) an example of what not to do.
This clever bit of signage gave me some ideas. (click to enlarge)
An important thing to keep in mind is that design inspiration exists everywhere, not just online or in print. I’ve recently started recording bits of inspiration when I find them, like this tile crossword puzzle from the side of a liquor store. I’m also recording examples of bad design, like this unfortunately-worded Wendy’s cup. Keeping your own library of design inspirations can help you generate fresh ideas when the time comes to create something for yourself or a client.