There is often this debate on where inspiration stops and copying starts and for Interior Designers it is a fine line to tread.
“But how do we avoid copying the images we are looking at or are given by our client for inspiration.”
Copy vs. Inspiration
On The Block Australia 2020, there was a copy vs inspiration controversy, when one of the kids' bedrooms was an almost exact copy of a kid's bedroom by The Designory. While the shape and therefor the layout of the room differed and an extra color was added, the rest of the finishes and materials were so similar that an argument could be made that the original design was copied.
(Image courtesy of 9now website)
How do we approach this challenge
I often get sent a myriad of images by clients and found that the more images there are to draw inspiration from, the less likely it is to copy one specific design. Good original design happens when the designer is able to edit the multiple images received into one original cohesive design and the final design which reflects the style and image that the client envisioned.
A Case Study
It becomes more difficult when you receive only one image or video from the client. In November 2021 I was asked to design a high end clothing store and the client provided a video of a design he liked from a clothing store in Cape Town. Because I only had this one image, it was a big challenge for me not to copy the example provided, but only use it as inspiration for my design.
“It becomes more difficult when you receive only one image as inspiration from the client.”
Fortunately the merchandise and theme of the two stores were different, which was a good start. I started by looking at the overall feel of the inspiration shop, which was very modern with metallic finishes, including pop rivets and colored lighting, fitting in with their logo and aviation theme. From this I took the grey color palette, metallic finishes and feature lighting, as starting elements for my design. I searched online for extra lighting design and till point design inspiration. I used metallic cladding on two walls and on the freestanding clothing racks. All storage drawers and solid shelving units are finished in high gloss paint and I used a polished dark grey floor tile. I added polished marble to the point of sale and lockable display units which accomplished the feeling of luxury in the shop. Even though only one inspiration image was given, I was able to create an original design, with the same modern look and feel. By changing materials and surface finishes I created a higher end finish to fit my client’s brand.
Conclusion
Keeping the design original should always be a priority for any designer. Understanding your client’s vision or brand makes the process so much easier. Then, looking at a variety of inspiration images will only stimulate your creativity and inspire beautiful original designs.
Ultimately we as designers should always strive to be original. As Frank Chimero said:
“Good design is all about making other designers feel like idiots because that idea wasn’t theirs.”
The article was originally written for and published in Designing Ways Magazine Issue 253.