when is design copied or an inspirational point of departure?

as a cape town , south African designer with wild conceptual  design ideas - the critical question that all designers need to ask themselves is - when is a design you do, a straight copy or just an inspirational point of departure?

having published a small cross section of  QJD studios and wildetects wilder ideas on the net - the above question is invariably  raised in conversation. it is my understanding that if a design is 20% different from the original concept then copyright laws dont apply. a sad fact that  all conceptual designers will find out sooner or later  is fellow designers will steal your design concepts, completely and unashamedly faun in the limelight you might feel is reserved for you, without as much as a thought of passing on a smidgen of credit. this is a regrettable fact.

as cape town and south africa has always been far away from the international design limelight - it would appear that it has been relatively easy for local designers to borrow wholesale from overseas design trends. and cheekily pass these designs to local clients, under their own banner without incident - keeping possibly to the 20% design different rule.  however now that we are thrust onto the 2014 design world super highway. the design world is now looking in on us and those inspired by overseas trend concepts, could upset a few overseas designers, who might not care about the 20% design different rule and will feel the design idea is a little close to there actual point of inspirational design departure. a design copied straight from the italian or french design guru's will solicit a very emotional response - of this one can be assured.

as is always the case one has to look at creative design concepts across the spectrum, take for example creative cooking - we have some of the very best food in the world within our south african borders. local sa restaurants are inspired by almost every culture on the planet - food preparation skills are borrowed wholesale from the east, west , north, south. our pallette is infused with borrowed preparation  taste  ideas - being inspired by other cultures culinary trends in food is very easy and not so fanatically policed by the cultures that created them.  in the fasion industry its also very easy enough to spot a dress on the runways of paris - copy or get inspired by it and create a similar dress for those close to you. the fasion houses wont get overly excited  because they wont see you as a threat if they ever see you at all. however now that we are going to be in the worlds design spotlight - the question now becomes critical - when is a design you do, a straight copy or just an inspirational point of departure?


architectural and furniture design is different -

a few designers and artists  unashamedly copy  fellow  contemporaries  ideas - with no thought of passing on the design credit. and the south african design community is not immune from this problem. sculptures copying other sculptures application techniques (albeit badly) confusing established clients and taking limelight not their own.  this design idea theft or design idea point of creative departure coupled with the 20% rule is  sometimes very difficult to prove - however as a designer you know when a design idea youve hatched has been lifted.

so to establish a 2014 design idea forum here in cape town will take care of this design plagerism possibility - the design forum makes sure local design ideas are unique to the originator - and hacks , copyists and design frauds are kept at bay. the worst thing for a designer is to have a fellow designer rip off wholesale your work. as we are heading towards a limelight where design ideas will = huge money and credibility in 2014 - we need to create a SA gentlemanly design sense of fair play and honor ability - or quite simply we will have possibly better connected designers, overshadow original design ideas specialists.

so the question is -
when is a design you do, a straight copy or just an inspirational point of departure?
a simple answer is to create a 2014 design forum that keeps the design copy artist or design tracer's out the limelight reserved for the design idea originator.