Hello, I thought I’d bring up a rather interesting discussion and the reason I am bringing it up is because I unintentionally created a mockup for TutShelf with a colour scheme very similar to Mint’s. It certainly wasn’t wasn’t intentional, nor are the colours 100% identical but when I show the image you will see the slight similarities. Basically this post is just discussing how guilty we as designers should feel if we create a website that looks similar to another.
So here’s the design in question:
As you can see I’ve used a strikingly similar colour scheme and you’ll understand why I was cautious about it. The question I’d like to raise is
Should we worry about using using similar colour schemes and/or layouts to another website?
This is what slightly confuses me and hundreds, maybe even thousands of other designers out there.
So, what say you? Put your comment below. Please don’t be a prick.
It’s also worth noting we are planning to add a forum where we will host our discussions in the future. Some link love would really make us smile! :) Have a wonderful experience on TutShelf – Goodbye until next time!
& 
Tommy Day
April 14, 2009 @ 4:11 pm #
It would be pretty hard to come up with a completely original color scheme for every project. No matter what you design, someone could find something on the web that could be similar.
I saw design something original and don’t worry about it if it was unintentional.
Steve
April 14, 2009 @ 4:18 pm #
Ripping, I feel is totally unethical when it comes to a design. What I think that you mean is “inspiration”. Designers generally aren’t penalised for getting inspiration from another’s work – it’s all part of the process. Colour schemes and overall style seem to be an acceptable thing to use.
However, if your work becomes do heavily inspired from another it loses all originality. This is not just bad for the designer but also for the consumer of the site. The designer loses respect for one. People see that the designer has ripped of a site and no longer want to be associated with them. The consumer also gets confused; there is usually very little to differentiate between sites.
This is where certain aspects become okay to take. Colour schemes are mainly classed as okay to be inspired by. If however, that colour scheme is an integral part of a competitor or similar company/site I don’t feel that that is acceptable.
Alex
April 14, 2009 @ 4:21 pm #
That’s my point, the mint colours are a core part of their business image it would seem, and therefore it brings me back to my main question: “Is it okay to use them?”
Steve
April 14, 2009 @ 4:27 pm #
Personally I would say yes. Mint isn’t a competitor and certainly are not the only ones to use such a colour scheme. I, however would possibly adapt the scheme and make it my own — perhaps changing the green or darkening the grey.
I still stand by the fact that inspiration is not the same as ripping. As long as they are not a competitor and you somehow change the design/scheme then I feel it is okay.
Rob MacKay
April 14, 2009 @ 4:42 pm #
I suppose to what level you accidentally copy something… we can be effected by design subconsciously, so sometimes when you come to start something new its taken from what you have experienced – whether you remember or not. If it looks too much like whatever it is you are said to be copying then you need to change it, just out of politeness
Scott S
April 14, 2009 @ 4:43 pm #
I think the easiest way to answer this, would be with the following:
“It’s not where you take things from – It’s where you take them to” -Jean-Luc Godard
As has already been stated, taking inspiration from anothers work is fine, and happens all the time, be it consciously or not. Blatant cloning of a site/brand/identity is not acceptable.
Meshach
April 14, 2009 @ 4:51 pm #
@Tommy Day: Yeah, I agree about the color scheme thing.
JJ
April 15, 2009 @ 5:40 am #
Just be glad you don’t have the same problems as Rob Morris at Digital Mash who got his design ripped big time. Have a look at this:http://digitalmash.com/journal/articles/the-real-jim-shady/
Matt
April 20, 2009 @ 3:16 pm #
I feel that no, this is not ripping. Colors aren’t really ripped. I know you and this was certainly not intentional. I think that if you ripped an icon it is more obvious. I say go for it.
IamShipon1988
May 9, 2009 @ 5:53 pm #
I’m going to be honest on this. I have done a lot of work on the web. That design you are creating and Mint’s are fairly similar. However, if you are worried about “RIPPING” a color scheme, than you should have felt that back when you first decided designing. I think you have started designing back when we were in WDF. At that time many template designs and color schemes were already created. I know I have seen many similar color schemes (if not exact) to this sites (TutShelf). Would you say you “ripped” off this color scheme too?
If you copy the exact same layout and the color scheme, than that’s a problem. Don’t worry about a case you have now. The designer of Mint has no rights in confronting you of “stealing” the color since he does not own the color.
KrisBelucci
June 1, 2009 @ 10:07 pm #
Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!