The sincerest form of flattery?
Posted on 04. Feb, 2009 by Ken Davidson in Comment, Promotion
I help AIS (Association of Interior Specialists) with printed promotional material. Toward the end of the year we produce a so-called round-up document that summarises the year’s milestones. This is purely a vehicle to remind their membership of the work done on their behalf, and to reinforce the benefits of membership. It could well be used as a marketing document to encourage prospective new members.
Well, it transpired that Hire Association Europe (HAE) found a copy, and liked it so much that they had their designers rip it off do something similar ;)
This is their version…
This is mine.
The trouble is that, while I don’t claim my work is a prime example of cutting-edge graphic design, a designer will always spot technical, objective and subjective faults with another’s work. While I may feel that the copied work of EHA is inferior in a few ways, I’m sure the designer asked to copy my work was mentally ticking off problems with my version too.
I can’t think myself into the mind of the other designer. However, if I were asked to copy someone’s work, I’d feel considerably demotivated – perhaps to the point that I’d just dash the thing off, with nary a thought to accuracy or style. Just get the job done, move along, nothing to see here. Next job please! I suppose, at least, there’s a cost saving to be made, and the other chaps gets to go home on time ;)
Client: why re-invent the wheel?
Designer: well, I don’t think it should have as many spokes!
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Jump the queue and sell yourself directly to the hiring company, making the claim that “if anyone can rip me off well, its me”…