Design is a process of discovery
Being a designer is also being an artist. All designers are artistic. Working with different mediums, painting and sculpture and studying life is the hallmark of good designer. From a simple rock a designer can derive inspiration for their next pattern. A designer immersed inside his art will never have need to copy another designer though deriving inspiration from other designers is still permissible. But it can also affect the authenticity of a new designers expression.
Design is a process of discovery. Design is nor easy but once you get started you will have more to work with than you imagined. JC Angelcraft