Nobody is born with a style or a voice. We don’t come out of the womb knowing who we are. In the beginning, we learn by pretending to be our heroes. We learn by copying.
Austin Kleon
Everything is done. When you have a new business idea, someone has already thought of it. You invent something, and when you Google it, it’s already on Amazon.
Design is a funny business. Because our output is directly influenced by our input, most ideas come from something you have seen, heard or experienced.
One of the most copies or inspired by designs is Milton Glaser’s I❤️NY.
A design that has become more than a logo—it is culture. Many cities have copied the design, changing just the town’s name. It is impossible to count how many times I’ve seen it imitated.
In 2023, Graham Clifford redesigned the logo to mark the post-pandemic era. It was not well received because Milton’s version still works and is emblematic.
In the world of objects, we see a lot of inspiration or copying. In the world of chairs, I would say Eames’ Vitra chair is the “I love NY” of the sitting world.
Ray and Charles Eames were a married couple of industrial designers who made history in the design world. Of course, when something is well done, copycats will look at your product. Or people will get inspired or pay homage to a copy of that design.
As I said, funny business.