I just read a very good post by Jarrett Fuller called Plagiarism vs. Inspiration.

This is where I’m struggling. Where do you draw line between plagiarism and inspiration? Recently, I’ve been a fan of the vintage style of Justin Clark. If I design a web-site with a vintage theme, am I plagiarizing Clark’s work or am I inspired by his work.

If I am plagiarizing, then could it be plagiarizing to use the color green because some other famous designer uses green a lot? I feel that I have been affected and inspired by many different designers, but have never plagiarized. However, I still want to know when inspiration becomes plagiarism.

He’s right about the fine line between plagiarism and inspiration. You are on the right side of that line when you allow someone’s design to affect your work, to change the way you think about design. You cross that line when you actively take someone’s work and present it as your own. The quote from Chuck Anderson defines it better than I could.

The key is to let what they do inspire you, and for you to take that inspiration and apply it to your own work. Not to apply it to your own copy of their work.

Note: Chuck Anderson’s site is down as I write this, so I can’t give a more direct link that that.