Nothing is Original

I really like the book Steal Like an Artist thus far. I think the size and design have a lot to do with that, but the content of the. I like how some pages house visual information where others are more text heavy. The flow is comfortable and not at all clunky. So far I find it really inspiring and I love hearing the author's take on creativity and supporting a creative life. His tone is smart and relatable without sounding condescending.

Kleon talks a lot about stealing ideas (no, really!) I think stealing ideas is a vital skill in the creative world. Not as in stealing someone's ideas out from underneath them, but using work as inspiration and a jumping off point is how graphic design styles spread and how culture thrives. We are constantly building fashion and developing culture using what came before, or some idea of what the future looks like (which is probably a visual stolen from something else!)

Being original doesn't mean no borrowing, as that is an almost impossible task. You can try to be %100 original, but chances are you're subconsciously using an aesthetic you've seen before. Perhaps you can be more original by borrowing from more obscure sources. I think expanding what you see, particularly beyond the mainstream will help develop a larger pool from which to draw inspiration, and will allow you to create more unique things.

The author mentions keeping a collection of objects and items that you like. I am already a huge collector. I have hinged boxes and folders that I use to store print material that inspires me. I like having physical references for forms or designs and I definitely look through them when I need a boost of inspiration away from the computer.

The things I research online I tend to bookmark using my google chrome browser bar, although I have been meaning to store them in cloud format. I'll try PLACEHOLDER for starters!

The book encourages you to pick a "mentor" of the non-living variety and to research that person exhaustively. I think at this point I'll choose Carl Sagan to start. He's such a great thinker and poetic writer and I would love to learn more about his life, his work and the people that inspire him. I may change this though, as I have a status on Facebook asking for recommendations. It may lead me to someone I've never heard of, which could be an even more fascinating. I'll update if I change!

My favorite quote from chapter one is "It is better to take what does not belong to you than to let it lie around neglected." -Mark Twain. I think it's an empowering quote because I often feel this way in antique stores. I think it's fun to find things and think about giving them a new life or a new home. I may never know who owned something in the first place, or I may not know the people in the vintage photos, but I do my best to honor their existence by appreciating and reusing their items or their faces.

#graphicdesign #ideas #creativity