{"id":22333,"date":"2014-11-10T18:01:42","date_gmt":"2014-11-10T10:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/?p=22333"},"modified":"2018-04-09T20:03:28","modified_gmt":"2018-04-09T12:03:28","slug":"frankendesign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/frankendesign\/","title":{"rendered":"Frankendesign – When Re-Using Old Designs Makes Sense"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you all know the story of Frankenstein\u2019s monster? A mad scientist attempts to create a living creature using parts from a myriad of individuals. Designers often have a lot in common with this classic tale, using elements from their old designs to create new ones for completely different clients<\/strong>.\n<\/p>\n

This of course raises the question: is it ethical to do what I like to call \u201cFrankendesign\u201d? When is it a good time to dig up old work and repurpose it<\/strong>, and when should you create something entirely new?<\/p>\n

Recommended Reading:<\/strong> 5 Ways To Monetize Your Old Designs<\/a><\/p>\n

Check The Legalities<\/h2>\n

First, I have to state the obvious disclaimer: when a client purchases exclusive rights to your work, that means they alone can make the decisions about where and how to reproduce it<\/strong>. It\u2019s what they\u2019re paying for, after all. So always make sure you have legal permission to use any previous client work that would be recognizable.<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/strong> Designers: Know Your Rights! 4 Must-Have Clauses In A Contract<\/a><\/p>\n

If no one can recognize it, then it\u2019s probably fine to use. To be on the safe side, make sure you own the rights to your work<\/strong>. The topic of intellectual property and selling rights to design work can and has filled entire books, but as a side note, unless there\u2019s a specific reason a client needs exclusive rights, it\u2019s probably better not to offer them.<\/p>\n

Time Factor<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In many art and design fields, reusable graphic elements are called assets<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 the designer creates them once, and they can be used over and over in many different projects. A typeface is an example of a common 2D design asset. Some type designer created it one time, and you bought the license to reuse it again and again.<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/strong> Designers: When To Customize Type For Logos<\/a><\/p>\n

Another type of asset is a template, or a fixed composition that allows you to drop in designs in infinite combinations<\/strong>, knowing that they\u2019re always going to look good together. Templates can be formal (Adobe software usually comes with dozens of pre-made templates that are free to use), or \u2013 my favorite \u2013 simply custom made compositions that suit your own style and needs.<\/p>\n

Time constraints factor in big here<\/strong>. If you need, say, a custom layout for a WordPress theme, and your client has given you a tight deadline<\/a>, it makes sense to simply use a template from something you\u2019ve done before, switching out the actual design elements for new ones relevant to the project.<\/p>\n

Dig Into That Huge Backlog<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve been designing for awhile, you\u2019ll eventually build up an enormous backlog of work<\/strong>, everything from early drafts that were never used to full-blown projects that were killed at the last minute. Variations, revisions, that thing you did for your mom for her church\u2019s bake sale. Whatever it is, you\u2019ve probably saved it.<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/strong> How Separate Portfolios For Your Creative Work May Just Help<\/a><\/p>\n

Even if you only design part-time, it\u2019s inevitable that you will accumulate many gigabytes of designs: logos, navigation buttons, custom type and lettering, vector illustrations, and so on. This is great for the designer on a deadline, because it means that you don\u2019t have to reinvent the wheel each time you sit down to do a new project.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not already in the habit of cataloguing your old designs, I would recommend getting started on that ASAP<\/strong>. Not only will it help you find exactly the type of asset you need right when you need it, it will also give you the opportunity to study your old work, rather than just toss it in a folder somewhere.<\/p>\n

Use Old Work To Get New Ideas<\/h2>\n

That leads us to perhaps the best use of old designs: inspiration. Designers are often inspired by old work they did, using it as inspiration to create new work<\/strong>. Perhaps there was an idea that wasn\u2019t appropriate for that client at the time, but that you now want to explore. Or maybe you print out a previous layout or sketch and use it in a mood board to show a new client your thought process<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another reason to study old work is so that you can get better as a designer<\/a>. The more you examine what you did in the past, the easier you can correct mistakes and avoid technical errors going forward<\/strong>. I make it a habit to reorganize my old work every quarter at least, browsing through for old dogs that I can teach a new trick or two.<\/p>\n

What Do You Think?<\/h2>\n

Do you use \u201cFrankendesigns\u201d in your work? What do you think of the practice<\/strong> \u2013 should designers reuse their old work more, or less? What insights have you learned from repurposing your old work?<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you all know the story of Frankenstein\u2019s monster? A mad scientist attempts to create a living creature using parts from a myriad of individuals. Designers often have a lot in common with this classic tale, using elements from their old designs to create new ones for completely different clients. This of course raises the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":129,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[352],"tags":[510],"topic":[4520],"class_list":["entry-content","is-maxi"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFrankendesign – When Re-Using Old Designs Makes Sense - Hongkiat<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you all know the story of Frankenstein's monster? 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