This is a personal project that I have been working on. The poster features the (reversed) logos of the top 100 top global brands of 2009 as ranked by Interbrand, formed into the shape of the copyright symbol. The bottom right text says: “Good artists copy, great artists steal” ~ Pablo Picasso.
The idea behind the poster was to question the blurring lines between art, design and copyright. Can one just take a whole series of others work, put it into a new shape and call it art? Or is it design? I think Picasso’s quote also draws on similar thoughts… what’s the difference between copying and stealing? What is the secret to creativity? What did Picasso mean by this quote?
Anyway, you can interpret as you wish. The good news is that it is available as a free PDF under a Creative Commons 2.0 license. This means you CAN copy, print, distribute, display, and use this work for any purpose under the conditions that you give me credit for the work and that you do not make money from it.
>> Download A3 Sized Logo Copyright Poster (4.3mb)
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November 13th, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Wow, that’s awesome! Just found my new background!
Cheers
November 13th, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Very cool indeed. Yeah, that may have to become a desktop pattern. Or just print and hang in my office space. Nice work.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Very nice poster Jacob. Looks great!
November 13th, 2009 at 4:09 PM
interesting POV on the whole complex design/art/©/cc/commercial/notcommercial context. expressed so neatly.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Love it! I wrote an article a couple months ago about that quote (although it was someone else I’d found who said it… hrm..) Great idea. Nothing beats thievery haha ;) Great stuff!!!!
November 14th, 2009 at 7:30 PM
real cool
November 16th, 2009 at 3:32 AM
I am sorry but i do not agree with Pablo Picasso – “Good artists copy, great artists steal” as i believe that “bad creatives copy and great creatives Create”.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:17 AM
Awesome concept and execution.
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:03 AM
Yea, I believe it was T.S. Eliot who is most famous for the quote you attributed to Picasso.
December 11th, 2009 at 12:06 AM
That poster is awesome!!!! Going to download a copy for me to hang up!!!
January 9th, 2010 at 8:04 AM
Great work, defo going up in the office
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:34 PM
My take on Picasso’s quote was that great artists steal the “essence” of the art that has come before them rather than stylistic forms. Put into a design context you could say that rather than borrowing visual style from other designers, a great designer ’steals’ the ‘essence’ of good visual communication.
February 12th, 2010 at 9:46 PM
brillent concept i like it!
February 25th, 2010 at 1:11 AM
Awesome poster. Hung it up on the wall and used it as a point of discussion with my graphics students.
March 5th, 2010 at 5:33 AM
I just love the text at the bottom right. Too funny…
April 14th, 2010 at 1:54 AM
Really nice, just fun! I want this thing above my desk.
July 13th, 2010 at 7:26 AM
wow just what a amazing article
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:06 AM
Like it :)
August 4th, 2010 at 3:17 AM
Hi there may I use some of the information here in this post if I provide a link back to your site?
August 19th, 2010 at 8:19 PM
awesome work ….
September 1st, 2010 at 12:56 AM
Great poster. Concept is reflected in the chosen quote. Food for thought…
September 2nd, 2010 at 12:08 AM
Wonderful blog! I saw it at Google and I must say that entries are well thought of. I will be coming back to see more posts soon.