{"id":16985,"date":"2020-11-30T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/?p=16985"},"modified":"2023-10-26T14:26:22","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T19:26:22","slug":"how-to-be-inspired-without-copying","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/how-to-be-inspired-without-copying\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Be Inspired Without Copying Someone\u2019s Work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

So you\u2019ve been recently inspired, huh?  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspiration can strike at any moment! Maybe it happened while you were looking for it on Pinterest or maybe you found it while reading a magazine. However you find it, it\u2019s important to value the original designer\u2019s work and ensure you don\u2019t copy it yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s easy to blur the line between inspiration and copying. You might\u2019ve seen someone\u2019s idea and now you can\u2019t shake it out of your mind, even if you don\u2019t consciously mean to. Going about this shady path can mean legal troubles and credibility blows to your career, if you\u2019re not careful. But this doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re not allowed to be inspired! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a wrong and right way to be inspired by someone else\u2019s work and we’re going to tell you how. Let\u2019s dive in! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wrong way <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re a web designer so pondering through other\u2019s work is another day-in-the-life of the job. Creative designers are a rare breed because they\u2019re thoughtfully ingenious and clever, and that\u2019s why we love them so much! That also means there\u2019s a lot of pressure to produce unique and high-performing work. However innocent your intentions might be, there is most definitely a wrong way to be inspired.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flat-out copying the original work <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a seasoned creative, you really shouldn\u2019t need us to tell you this. Do not copy the original work and write it off as your own. Not only can this be super illegal due to copyright laws, but it\u2019s also just morally wrong to take credit for someone else\u2019s hard work. It\u2019s okay to be inspired by someone else, but you need to rework it into your own creation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not asking for permission <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before you do anything related to using someone else\u2019s designs, you need to seek that person out to ask for formal permission to use their work. This will kick off the process of copyrights and licensing so you\u2019re doing everything by the book (the way it should be)!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an example message to seek out permission: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHello [name], <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I came across your work and I absolutely loved it! I\u2019d like to feature it in my [name of work]. What is the process to obtain any necessary permission, copyright, or license to use it?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not properly citing the original source<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is bringing back a chapter from your school days (hopefully!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve decided you want to put someone else\u2019s original work in your own somewhere. That\u2019s fine, if<\/em> you\u2019ve got the permission to do so! Depending on if your original work is a blog article or Instagram post, there are many ways to legally cite it like using the copyright symbol, the American Psychological Association citation, tagging the creator on Instagram, etc.! Use the original person\u2019s recommendation or use your best discretion to figure out which format is best here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The right way <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, there is a right way to go about this whole thing! Not only will doing it \u201cthe right way\u201d save you some potential legal trouble, but it\u2019ll also make you feel super great that you\u2019re doing everything by the book. So take notes and find new ways to be rightfully moved when seeking and using inspiration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s okay to be inspired <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyday designers can find inspiration that propels them to produce their best work! Youtube or Pinterest are great starting points if you’re looking for some seeds of inspiration. Oftentimes, you’ll find a good starting point from browsing online and mold it into a unique creations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As long as you\u2019re not outright copying and publishing the work as your own, don\u2019t feel bad for feeling the way you do! Creative work is such a beautiful thing and it brings people together in the best way possible. Don\u2019t be scared to harness this power! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of our favorite Pinterest accounts<\/a> and Youtube channels<\/a> to follow for inspiration!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think outside the box <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Now that you know it\u2019s okay to be inspired, let’s explore how to take an idea and make it your own! Think about why or what elements make you drawn to someone else\u2019s work. We recommend you really dissect it down to the baseline so you get a true idea of what you can take away for inspiration. Being that you\u2019re a web designer, here\u2019s the part where you let your creativity and imagination soar with ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your brain is drawing a blank, try to think back to the basic foundation of art. A few ideas to add your own creative spin would be to change up the color palette, use a different line pattern or weight, try a new brush stroke or edge, and maybe add a unique shape. These ideas should give you a running start but honestly, the possibilities are endless! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use multiple resources <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To avoid getting stuck on the same approach and technique, always make sure you go through a variety of sources. Try to pull inspiration from many people and platforms rather than just sticking to one or two sources. We promise it\u2019ll provide more inspiration for you to work with and it\u2019ll ensure that you\u2019re not unintentionally copying someone else\u2019s style! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To use a variety of resources is to seek many creative outlets for inspiration. You don\u2019t have to stick to digital sources either; find inspiration on your next evening stroll or in a commercial on T.V. Incorporating this strategy is a sure way to diversify your work when you\u2019re pulling from many avenues of inspiration.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be transparent and seek feedback<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’ve used a mood board of inspiration or a specific work of the past to create a current project, preface this when sharing my ideas. Doing this allows you to be transparent, give verbal credit, and let everyone else see into the creative process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feedback is a good way to tell if you\u2019re copying someone else\u2019s work. If you\u2019ve been solely focused on the same thing, then you might not see the copying for what it\u2019s worth. It\u2019s a lot easier for an outside perspective with a fresh pair of eyes to catch the similarities. This is why feedback mechanisms and reviews are so important! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, getting inspiration can be a tricky concept. It\u2019s not exactly black and white and that leaves a confusing gray area for you to navigate. We’ve all been guilty of becoming awestruck from someone else\u2019s work and replicating more than intended. It\u2019s an honest mistake, but no matter how innocent the intentions may be, it\u2019s still copying and it needs to be corrected before the final product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"a<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The beauty of our digitally engaged lives is that there\u2019s inspiration seeping from every corner and screen around. Develop an eye for detail and allow yourself to see where that thin line between copying and inspiration lies!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to be left awe-inspired by a world-class WordPress hosting<\/a> experience, make sure to check out WP Engine’s managed hosting platform<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So you\u2019ve been recently inspired, huh?   Inspiration can strike at any moment! Maybe it happened while you were looking for it on Pinterest or maybe you found it while reading a magazine. However you find it, it\u2019s important to value the original designer\u2019s work and ensure you don\u2019t copy it yourself.  It\u2019s easy to blur…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":140181,"template":"","resource-topic":[1396,908,904],"resource-role":[895,897,903,899],"resource-type":[916],"class_list":["post-16985","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nHow To Be Inspired Without Copying Someone\u2019s Work<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Inspiration can strike any time, but the line between taking inspiration from an idea and simply taking an idea is thin.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Be Inspired Without Copying Someone\u2019s Work\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Inspiration can 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