Originality died a long time ago in design but companies aren’t even pretending to care at this point as Design Within Copy, an Instagram account dedicated to furniture design knock offs, demonstrates. One of my favourites from the account is Rachel Donath’s chair sets for Giovannetti Collezioni, which takes “inspiration” from a host of different designers. But it doesn’t end there as the furniture designs that Donath copied were copied themselves, from Walter Lamb and his 1940’s patio furniture collection.
I guess it boils down to where you draw the line between imitation, appropriation, and appreciation. But most of the furniture designs featured on Design Within Copy are closer to the former two.