Quote anecdotally misattributed to Charles H. Duell, Commisioner, US Patent Office, 1899

Apparantly a misquote, sometimes the web can feel like this at times. You work on a idea you have just thought of, only to find it already exists.

Whilst working on something for http://10k.aneventapart.com/ – an event where you can submit a little web app which is no larger than 10k, I did a bit of googling to find the exact same thing has already been built.

Colour Palette Creator

After seeing Andy Clarke’s post ages ago about creating colour palettes, I thought it would be a great little tool to have – and the 10k event was the perfect opportunity to make it. But I was beaten to it: http://slayeroffice.com/tools/color_palette/

And again…

A while ago I had the idea of a neverending book idea, where everyone can add a sentence to continue the book. Yep, already been done.

The same goes for website designs. I saw a blog design with the identical look to one of the rejected mockups for this blog. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t take mine further than the PSD stage; good job too.

Why am complaining?

Most of my ‘ideas’ are just that – they never get past a quick doodle in the Moleskine. I should be grateful these people are building my ideas!

Back to the drawing board

So once again, I am thinking of things to make for the event. Lets build it quick before anyone else does!

I knew of this competition only a week or so ago, after a full page advert in the newspaper with a blank 50p.

I was immediately excited about the possibility of having a design made into an actual coin, and before visiting the site sketched out some ideas.

From those sketches I created a quick PhotoShop mock-up, using the Olympic rings as a repeating background, and putting a cyclist as the main focus point with some medals to the left.

It was only a quick concept, but I knew the 24th April deadline meant I wouldn’t be able to finish in time.

After I visited the Royal Mint Competition website it turns out they weren’t looking for a design of cycling anyway, so I thought I would create a post of my Moleskine sketches and rough mock-up here instead.