I spent 4 months copying other designers' styles before a mentor in Chicago called it 'creative karaoke'

I was pulling inspo from sites like Dribbble and just making things that looked exactly like the top posts. My mentor pointed out that my portfolio for a local bakery looked like 5 different people made it. She said real inspiration should help you find YOUR voice, not just copy someone else's. Now I try to take one small idea, like a color combo from a poster, and build something new around it. Has anyone else moved from copying to actually being inspired? How did you make that switch?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_karen1mo ago

Oh man, that "creative karaoke" line hits hard. I see this a lot with new painters trying to copy a finish from a photo. They get the look, but not the why behind the brush strokes or layering. Your new method is the way. Like, I saw this amazing faded teal on an old door once. Instead of copying the whole door, I just held onto that color. Later, I used it as a pop on some modern kitchen cabinets with a totally different style. It becomes your own tool that way.

cameronb521mo agoMost Upvoted

Holding onto just the color is smart, but in my experience you still need to copy the whole thing first. You gotta know the rules before you break them, you know?

barbaraw1626d ago

Read a book on color theory once that said the same thing. You have to learn the basic rules like complementary colors and temperature before you can bend them on purpose. That whole "know the rules to break them" thing applies to most creative stuff.