Today like any other day when I lay sitting on my porcelein throne, an astray thought caught my attention.
It was the controversial topic of copying ideas and designs that designers and other people in creative professions hotly debate - mostly condemning it. 'Plagiarism' is a refined word for this act, and it is plain bad!
So how does a original designer get his creative ideas from?I was wondering when Brownie our cat came to my mind. One day when my wife, was taking a nap in the afternoon, Brownie joined her along as usual. I noticed that Brownie was changing postures exactly as my wife did! "Oh! so that's where the phrase copy cat comes from", I thought.
Children and animals epitomise innocence and creativity so people say...
Children learn by rote;we all have experienced that in some way. And that is a primary way that they learn and develop skills in all aspect of their lives, be it flushing the potty, greeting people or learning how to dance or swim.
Designers in the field of Interaction design are familiar with the term 'Active Listening' which means to actively listen without preconceptions and judgment. Obviously, they do judge what the user is saying, but in a subtle way. The point here is that by using this technique, designer get to know something unique and fresh that could be helpful in creating the design.
In the same vein, I feel designers also use 'ACTIVE COPYING' in their designs. The difference being that a budding designer copies other designs while an old timer gets his ideas from his direct observations from all around him and is able to manipulate them creatively.
So in a way creatively is the end part of a long, non linear, unending process of copying. There is no age limit here but only the amount of time the person has used his senses to look, feel and hear things.
As my life as a designer has progressed, I have realized that copying is essential for me being creative. So I try to keep my eyes open and ears sharp wherever I go and 'Actively' put whatever I see hear and touch into my memory if I haven't already put them into my notebook. The list includes, physical objects, music pieces, books, designs belonging to others designers and everything in between.
