Graphic Design has a wide variety of design applications that bring it to its full potential. The designer of said applications has been able to do so through their creative mind. The connection between design and creativity lends credence to this idea. But it also has its own set of problems, ones that many designers end up doing without realizing.
One of these is the aspect of imitation. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, and this plays well in how designers get their inspiration. The inspiration may be from a piece of art, an artist of any kind, a landmark in the world, an event that went on in the world, etc., essentially something that gets one’s creativity rolling. Then it gets to a point where once designing something for themselves, they will find themselves essentially doing the same thing as their inspiration only in their own style. Part of this is warranted especially if the inspiration plays a big role in the designer’s style and appeal. But then it gets to the point where it becomes too 1:1 with the original that it becomes impossible to ignore “A similar design always gets noticed and is always looked down upon, for if your logo is not original, who is to say that, your product is? It is actually putting the integrity of your brand on the line, taking a huge risk when you try to imitate someone else’s already famous logo just so you won’t have to come up with your own, or even if it is because you really like their style, you are not being fair to your client.” even going so far as to make it your identity, something no one in their right mind would want. Imitation, more often than not, has its problems that can get you in a lot of trouble, sometimes in a way that can destroy your connections and all the integrity you may have had.
This leads perfectly into the next aspect, referencing vs copying. Referencing a piece of work or a landmark is always important when it comes to art, any artist/designer worth their salt will tell you that. More often than not, you’ll find yourself referencing something in the real world whether you realize it or not purely on the notion that that something will make your work much better than when you aren’t “Referencing is an important part of academic work. It puts your work in context, demonstrates the breadth and depth of your research, and acknowledges other people’s work. You should reference whenever you use someone else’s idea.” Only problem that arises from this is when people confuse referencing to blatantly copying another person’s work, both from the view of the creator and the view of the audience. Copying a piece of art says more about you as an artist or designer than anything else, showing that you’re both void of any creativity and wishing to be more like your inspiration by any means necessary. The outcome would likely be that your integrity and branding would be seen as just a mere imitation of another person’s, leaving you with a hollow shell of what it was despite having lots of work to show.
All this to say that while design has its positives with creativity, it also has its glaring weaknesses that are too great to ignore. As said before, they say that imitation is the highest form of flattery, but others say that sometimes it’s nothing but a slap in the face. While this saying doesn’t lend credence to the imitations as being made with malicious intent, it does give the idea that imitation doesn’t make things good in the long run.
