Never do this. Ever.

I have this 60-year-old sign mounted in my garage. It’s the sign for my grandparents’ advertising agency (hand-painted!—so cool). It’s also my earliest memory of ‘design’ awareness. I saw it every time my brother and I got to visit their office and play with the copy machine.

I’m obviously biased, but those triangles are pretty great as a double-H for ‘Herman Huisenga,’ my grandfather's name.

A couple decades later I asked him about it. I’d started working as a designer and was excited for a meeting of the minds over design theory, creative process, and all the other stuff I love about my work.

“Hey, Grandpa. What’s the story behind your double-H logo? I really like it.”

“Oh that? I saw it somewhere and liked it.”

“Huh?”

Yep. He stole it. My youthful idealism took a punch to the gut that day.

I laugh about this story now, but never do this. Ever.

First, if ‘somewhere’ has a lawyer, you’ve got a problem. And second, you miss out on the best thing—the process for creating something meaningful, informed, effective, and uniquely yours.

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