Male Enhancement

What do you think of this stuff?

Here is the original. Notice the orange / gray combinations for the text, and especially the format of the PDF at the bottom of the article:

http://bonfx.com/19-top-fonts-in-19-top-combinations/

Now look at this article with the same basic approach to layout, color choice, and even inclusion of and format of the PDF:

http://bit.ly/av4TKc

I suppose copying is a form of flattery, but I can’t help but feel bummed at having my efforts lifted without reference. But it’s a mixed feeling when I reconsider the Zeldman quote up there.

Enough was changed so that it’s new, but it’s clearly just a copy.

I wouldn’t mind in the least if there was a hat tip somewhere in that, like “more resources”, but there is none.

Oh well.

There are times where I’ve tried to “borrow” from other designers, and was not successful in distancing myself enough from the inspiration to really call it my own. I always, always, always abandoned those efforts.

Copying and not making enough substantial changes to an inspirational source is a pathology in the graphic design field with some “designers”.

There’s just no dignity, and certainly much less joy, in just blatantly copying something without due reference. Maybe it helps cash flow, but that’s about it.

Several of them I have to wonder if it’s stock images or a copied thing, mostly just the ones where its the exact same image. It either a stock or a plagiarism.

In a few cases where the idea is similar but not exactly the same, it’s probably inspiration. The one I’d pick as the best example for this is the toaster one. It seems to me like they were at least trying to make it their own.

It’s something where it takes a case by case basis to really know whether they copied it or were using it for inspiration. I think that’s something a lot of people have said, but it’s worth restating.

http://rbmethod.com (rip off)
and
http://eden.cc/ (original)

Thanks. I love ‘em but they’re itchy as hell! Ergo, Photoshop solution!

Dave Bowkers last blog post..Project storyboard

Dave,
Nice fake beard Glad it is down also and that it is sorted for now.

It’s odd that he replied to Krista and not to me. Perhaps he thought that he could ignore me, but got scared when someone else got involved?

I’m also doubting his story about practicing CSS, as he targeted the site as a design portfolio asking for work.

At least it’s down now. Hopefully he won’t find someone elses design to rip.

Dave Bowkers last blog post..Project storyboard

I actually contacted Arran before publishing a blog post about the rip. I thought it was a decent thing to do because I’ve some across an alarming number of people who don’t have much concept of plagiarism. He was quite apologetic and took the site down. He wasn’t expecting anyone to see the site; he’s not a designer, but it’s a hobby and he’s still learning CSS. I directed him to free themes by Chris Pearson, Brian Gardner and the Sandbox project that he could use for learning CSS and WordPress, as well as WAMP and MAMP to play with a site without others seeing it.

kristarellas last blog post..Making Goals and Making Graphics

Toon and Zach,
I believe that there is more information on the source site… http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/

Andrei,
I wonder where she got her inspiration from if any?

Omition,
Yeah it is quite interesting especially in the cases where you are not sure who ripped who.

Lauren,
Thanks for the link out to that case. How did you hear about that? The hardest part is finding the line between ‘Transformative Use’ and plagiarism.

I should have put links to the original articles, that was my bad.

Interesting you say that if enough people copy a style it becomes a trend, I never really thought about it that way but there is a difference between style and plagiarism.

It is so funny seeing stock photos in magazines, you can pick them straight away especially because most people use istock. The weekly music / club magazines I read every now and then are the worst, they use the same models, brushes and vectors every week on different ads. The worst thing about it is that the ads all come from the same studio but I suppose it is only use designers who really notice it.

Kenny,
As I am at Uni I can relate to using stock images as well however I do not use any image, I make sure there is a creative license on it that allows you to edit it and use it in your own way.

Dot Design,
As my uni professor says, "everything has been done before".

Kristine,
As they say.

Steve O,
You can read more about the stories on the site http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/ – I should have put links to the original articles.

Nice work your wife did on the paper, it looks like you need a lot of patience.

David,
Well said. There is more information on each design and their context at http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/ if you are interested. It may clear a few things up.

Linzprod,
I agree, copy paste is not a solution.

Periwinkle,
Haha, good to know that lecturers do have a sense of humour.

Kelly,
Yeah I have to question the sneakers as well, there are so many types of shoes now-a-days.

Kristarella,
So you have read each article on the plagiarised posts?

Josh,
If you copy paste something does that count as physically recreating? Or what about tracing? If I traced a design that means I physically recreated it but do I own copyright over it? I don’t believe so.

Vela B,
Lauren mentioned earlier in the comments "if enough people copy a style it suddenly becomes a trend instead of a rip" which kind of relates to what you are saying. And I agree with you about making something your own but getting inspiration from somewhere else – I think nearly all designers do that. I even spoke about it in my CD cover design post. Thanks for the ebook link too.

Dave,
That is really disappointing because he is actually selling himself as a designer yet has ripped off someone else’s site. Have you tried any of the things mentioned to get his site down?

People are not going to learn my copying but the sad thing is that they can still get away with it and be successful.

His site seems to be down at the moment… saying there is no wp-config file.

Dave Bowkers last blog post..Project storyboard

Feel free to either reply to this comment, or email me via my site.

kristarellas last blog post..Making Goals and Making Graphics

Last week I found out that some guy had gone and stolen my site design. He just plain ripped it off, and changed 2 background images.

Original: http://www.designingthenews.com
Stolen: http://www.mtwodesign.com.au

I even had another guy steal my design, who bragged about how easy it was to do as I only had 2 background images.

It’s very bitter-sweet when your stuff gets stolen.

Dave Bowkers last blog post..Project storyboard