http://www.processedidentity.com/discussion/what-constitutes-an-original-idea/ Creative Process of Logo and Brand Identity Design Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:58:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.processedidentity.com/discussion/what-constitutes-an-original-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-239 Lou Powell Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:21:43 +0000 http://www.processedidentity.com/?p=908#comment-239 I found it ironic that Mao used Hamilton's imitation of Duchamp to illustrate his point. Duchamp made the exact point in Urinal. Even in imitation there is relevance in interpretation. That is art, regardless of the medium. Great article! I found it ironic that Mao used Hamilton’s imitation of Duchamp to illustrate his point. Duchamp made the exact point in Urinal. Even in imitation there is relevance in interpretation. That is art, regardless of the medium. Great article!

]]> http://www.processedidentity.com/discussion/what-constitutes-an-original-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-238 Design Kompany Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:44:33 +0000 http://www.processedidentity.com/?p=908#comment-238 <em>An original idea. That can’t be too hard. The library must be full of them. ~Stephen Fry</em> <br/> I think Fry’s library is both an apt metaphor and a practical yardstick to this question here. If you borrowed books from the library, instead of buying them, and read them all, is that stealing from the authors? How about if you sold those books? How about if you wrote a new book based on what you read, and published it for sale? <br/> The distinctions here are: 1. Does the means by which you “get” an idea matter? 2. What do you do with the ideas borrowed? <br/> Our belief is that you should always try to generate good ideas specifically suited to solving the problem at hand. Will the final answer resemble something that’s already been done? Several brilliant mathematicians working independently are thought to have arrived at the fundamental theorems of calculus. Who should get credit? How do we decide? <br/> Admittedly, <a href="http://www.joelapompe.net/" rel="nofollow">that is sometimes a concern</a>, but not being original is secondary to whether it’s a good idea to start with. <br/> So how do you come up with good, and hopefully original, ideas? Here are some guidelines that we personally try to stick to… <br/> 1. Always think about the problem you are solving. What’s the message? Who’s the audience? 2. Generate lots of ideas. Lots. 3. Resist going straight to logo sites or books for inspiration. 4. Sketch out your ideas on paper. Keep them rough so you can toss them if you don’t like them, and move on quickly to the next thought.</li> 5. If you go looking for inspiration, try to go at it from a skewed angle. Read a book related to the subject/client. Browse a classical art book if it’s a modern sports brand you are sketching for. Look at type specimens from a completely different era than would be appropriate. Take a picture of every cereal box in a grocery store when NOT doing a cereal box design. In other words, avoid going to cliched inspiration sources (see #3) 6. There’s no bad idea when brainstorming! Focus on piling on new ideas. 7. Take a walk. An original idea. That can’t be too hard. The library must be full of them. ~Stephen Fry

I think Fry’s library is both an apt metaphor and a practical yardstick to this question here. If you borrowed books from the library, instead of buying them, and read them all, is that stealing from the authors? How about if you sold those books? How about if you wrote a new book based on what you read, and published it for sale?

The distinctions here are: 1. Does the means by which you “get” an idea matter? 2. What do you do with the ideas borrowed?

Our belief is that you should always try to generate good ideas specifically suited to solving the problem at hand. Will the final answer resemble something that’s already been done? Several brilliant mathematicians working independently are thought to have arrived at the fundamental theorems of calculus. Who should get credit? How do we decide?

Admittedly, that is sometimes a concern, but not being original is secondary to whether it’s a good idea to start with.

So how do you come up with good, and hopefully original, ideas? Here are some guidelines that we personally try to stick to…

1. Always think about the problem you are solving. What’s the message? Who’s the audience?
2. Generate lots of ideas. Lots.
3. Resist going straight to logo sites or books for inspiration.
4. Sketch out your ideas on paper. Keep them rough so you can toss them if you don’t like them, and move on quickly to the next thought.
5. If you go looking for inspiration, try to go at it from a skewed angle. Read a book related to the subject/client. Browse a classical art book if it’s a modern sports brand you are sketching for. Look at type specimens from a completely different era than would be appropriate. Take a picture of every cereal box in a grocery store when NOT doing a cereal box design. In other words, avoid going to cliched inspiration sources (see #3)
6. There’s no bad idea when brainstorming! Focus on piling on new ideas.
7. Take a walk.

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