What to do when your client asks you to copy a design

  1. Commend the client for researching a style they like.
  2. Explain the copyright laws and the problems associated with violating them.
  3. Explain that you cannot explicitly steal elements of the design.
  4. Have a conversation about what they like about the design. The colors? The arrangement of elements? The typography? The white space? Make a list of their reasons.
  5. Review the points made about the design – likes and dislikes. Describe how you intend to achieve a similar result without copying.
  6. After completing the design, review with the client the elements that they liked and how you incorporated them into a new design that is fresh, appealing, and uniquely theirs.