Reinvention
As a designer and product of a packrat upbringing, this self-aware article is a fantastic read. I don't think I'll ever stop gathering inspiration, physical and digital, and using that in my own design process, but the article really makes you think and to an extent reevaluate just what originality is. Reinvention by Changethethought™.
It also reminded me of these two quotes:
"Designing is basically the practice of combining stuff; ideally in ways that haven’t been seen before. So, the more stuff you know (about everything), the greater chance you’ll find a relevant and distinctive, and therefore effective (and original) combination."
~Anonymous
"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don't bother concealing your theivery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean Luc-Godard said: "It's not where you take things from - it's where you take them to."
~Jim Jarmusch