No Graphic Design Work is Original (and that's okay)

Jesse Nyberg
22 Jan 202412:04
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video discusses how all creative work is derivative and builds off past influences. The author shares their three main design principles - texture, layout, typography - which are inspired by punk rock flyers, Swiss design, and vintage album covers. They argue that being inspired or 'stealing' from multiple sources is ethical and leads to unique work when combined with personal perspective. Rather than worrying about complete originality, we should focus on quality and learning from the past, as even direct copies differ due to human error and individuality.

Takeaways
  • 😀 All design work is derivative - it comes from some external source or inspiration.
  • 👀 Find inspiration from past art/design styles and piece them together into something new.
  • 🎨 The 3 main principles of the speaker's style: good texture, layout, typography.
  • 🖼️ Key inspirations: DIY punk style, Swiss design layouts, vintage typography.
  • 🤘 Stealing inspiration is okay if you transform and add your own perspective.
  • 🔁 Copying directly without transforming is not expanding the creative conversation.
  • 😎 Once you stop worrying about complete originality, you can focus on quality.
  • 📝 Original does not equal good - some of the best work builds on the past.
  • 🤔 We should try to add something new, but it's okay to reuse and reshape.
  • 🌟 Live life, gain diverse inspiration and experiences to create something cool.
Q & A

  • What is the main point the author is trying to make about originality in design?

    -The author argues that while no design work is truly 100% original, this does not have to be a bad thing. Design builds upon and is inspired by work that came before it, and by embracing these influences and references, designers can create interesting amalgamations rather than worrying about being completely unique.

  • What are the 3 main principles or themes the author identifies in their own work?

    -The 3 main principles the author identifies are: good texture, good layout, and good typography.

  • Where does the author's inspiration for texture and DIY style come from?

    -The author draws inspiration for texture and DIY style from the punk rock scene of the 1970s and 1980s, particularly things like concert flyers which often had grungy, offset printed textures.

  • Where does the author find inspiration for layout and grid-based design?

    -The author finds inspiration for layout and grid-based design from Swiss design and the International Typographic Style of the mid 20th century.

  • What is the third main inspiration the author identifies?

    -The third main inspiration is vintage album cover art from the 1950s-1980s which provides beautiful typography and layout compositions.

  • What is the author's view on 'stealing' inspiration from others' work?

    -The author argues that stealing from many sources as inspiration is okay, but directly copying only one source is simply plagiarism. Inspiration that is combined with your own perspective results in creating something new.

  • Why does the author argue we should worry less about being completely original?

    -Because focusing too much on being wholly original can cripple creativity and cause anxiety. It's better to focus on being inspired by and building on past work to create something good.

  • What benefits does the author identify from copying or doing studies of other designers' work?

    -It can help beginners improve their skills and process. It also naturally results in something at least slightly differentiated since humans are incapable of exact duplication.

  • What does the author recommend as sources of inspiration?

    -The author recommends looking at favorite designers' influences, diving into different creative mediums and art periods, gathering physical or mental inspiration banks, and pulling from real life experiences.

  • What is the author's view on reinventing the wheel vs refining past ideas?

    -The author argues we don't need to fully reinvent the wheel when creating; it's okay to refine, reshape, and build upon strong ideas that already exist.

Outlines
00:00
😄 Originality is Overrated in Design

The paragraph argues that complete originality in design is rare and overvalued. It states that most creative work builds on existing ideas and styles, which is natural and not inherently bad. By focusing less on pure originality and more on execution and quality, designers can create better work inspired by various sources.

05:01
😎 My Design Style and Influences

The paragraph outlines the author's emerging design style which combines elements of punk/DIY aesthetics, Swiss modernist principles, and retro typography. It credits these three influences for improving distinct skills - texture, layout, and typography.

10:03
😉 'Stealing' Can Spark Creativity

The paragraph contends that gathering inspiration from many sources to create something new is acceptable 'stealing.' Direct copying without adding original perspective diminishes the work. Unique work isn't necessarily good work; focus instead on quality execution of borrowed and personalized ideas.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡inspiration
Inspiration refers to external sources that spark creative ideas in an artist's mind. The video argues that all creative work stems from some form of inspiration, whether consciously or unconsciously. Examples are given such as books, online sources, and even random ideas that pop into one's head.
💡derivative
Derivative means created or developed from something else. The video states that art and design is cyclical and derivative - new styles reuse and remix references and elements from past styles to create something new. An example is seeing common threads and references between different design styles.
💡stealing
Stealing refers to directly copying another artist's work without transforming it or adding your own perspective. The video argues this is unethical and harms creative progress. However, taking inspiration from many sources to create an original amalgamation is seen as a valid creative process.
💡minimalism
Minimalism refers to a style involving extreme simplification and removal of ornamentation. Swiss design posters are given as an example of minimalist style - limited fonts, colors and imagery arranged in clean, structured layouts.
💡layout
Layout refers to the structure and formatting of design elements within a composition. Good layout is identified as one of the core design principles. Swiss design posters demonstrate the creativity and visual impact possible within rigid layout grids.
💡texture
Texture refers to the visual surface quality of a design. Good texture is named as a core design principle, with the grungy, layered texture of punk rock gig posters given as a prime example.
💡typography
Typography refers to the style and appearance of text within a design. Vintage album cover art is praised for its typographic experimentation. The video aims to bridge punk's handmade fonts with Swiss design's geometric type.
💡originality
Originality refers to the quality of novelty and newness within creative work. The video argues originality is overemphasized, when good design prioritizes functionality over pure innovation for its own sake.
💡style
Style describes the set of design choices, elements and principles that gives a creative work its distinctive aesthetic. The video describes the development of the author's personal style through fusing textural punk posters, structured Swiss layouts and expressive typography.
💡design principles
Design principles refer to the core ideas about form and function within a design philosophy or style. The video names good texture, layout and typography as its guiding design principles.
Highlights

I truly believe that everything we create stems from something or somewhere even if in our mind it's our idea.

Art and Design is both cyclical and derivative but that doesn't mean it has to be bad.

It's kind of just one big Collective Consciousness thing and different styles of Art and Design are just floating around in the zeitgeist for anyone to grab and pull from.

Find your favorite designer out there and then ask them or find out who their references and Inspirations are and from there you can go down that rabbit hole deeper and deeper until you have this pool of knowledge to learn from and make something into your own.

I think these days I'm finally starting to have somewhat of a recognizable style something that feels like me.

I narrowed it down to three core principles and three Inspirations from the past that helped inform those three principles - good texture, good layout and good typography.

I decided to keep honing in on the skills I already felt somewhat confident in rather than trying to improve on the ones that I wasn't so good at.

Firstly is the DIY Xerox style aesthetic from the punk scene in the 70s and 80s.

Second is good layout and grids from Swiss design and art history periods.

Lastly beautiful vintage typography from retro album Arts mainly from the '50s through the '80s.

Learning from design Masters and how to work within grids and tight layouts surprisingly made me feel more free as a designer.

This movement and style showed me how much creativity there can be when you add in restrictions.

When you steal from One Source directly then it's just plain copying.

When you finally stop worrying about making something original you can focus on making something that is good.

Original is not a synonym for good. Some of the best work comes from collaborating an art that is derived from the past and expanded on in a modern way.

Transcripts

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