Stealing Is a Skill

The author argues that 'stealing'—defined as meticulously recreating existing designs—is a valuable skill for learning and professional growth. By adopting Virgil Abloh's '3% approach,' the author explains how rebuilding a competitor's website pixel-by-pixel helped them understand design principles.
Why it matters
It challenges traditional views on intellectual property in creative fields, suggesting that imitation is a legitimate pedagogical tool for developers and designers.
June 24, 2026 • 3 min read • @DJbennyBuff
The article is a personal opinion piece on professional development and creative methodology.
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