Pick one thing.
Today I've got a super simple & practical tip for using inspiration in your work, which might help you in finding your own style, too.
First, before we dive in I want to start with this — everything is a remix. Nothing is 100% original… It’s all a miss-mash of things that have come before, looked at in new ways.
If you know me & my vibe, you know I’m all about carving out a niche that’s based on your unique perspective (not trends, or specific services, or really anything external), but sometimes I feel like there’s a missing piece to the whole ‘DON’T COPY PEOPLE’ convo.
Because obviously, don’t be lazy asshole and just rip other people off, but remember everything is inspired by something else.
One of the keys & a practical ways to look at it, is NOT to get 100% of your inspiration from ONE source.
Here’s the deal —
😍 Find MULTIPLE sources of inspo. Like at least 5+. We want a good amount of variation here.
🔥 Pick ONE THING from EACH source of inspo that you really dig. Don’t just say ‘everything’ because that's where it gets easy to accidentally copy people, if you get too inspired by the WHOLE thing. Maybe it’s a single colour from one piece, & a really clean & minimal layout from another, and a photography style from a third, etc. And then...
☝️ Combine it with your OWN VISION for the shit you’re creating. This last part is key, because if you don’t have a vision for your own thing, that’s where you’ll get lost and start ripping ideas from all over the show and what you build won’t have much soul or depth.
Use this little process anytime you're working on a project that requires inspiration, maybe it's for a client, or for yourself.
Is this a fool proof magical formula? No. Because nothing is. But will it help you step back and create shit that’s not going to be a direct rip of someone else? Hopefully!
So… pick one thing.
Then combine it with your own vision. 😎
Also just go read Steal Like an Artist, by Austin Kleon.
