Let us start with what a tattoo actually is from a graphic design perspective.
Simply put, it is a drawing transferred onto the skin—meaning “something” drawn and created completely from scratch.
A tattoo artist is not a screen-printing machine designed to copy a template, which is why we can let our visions run wild and create anything we can think of.
We do not create five standard templates that we stamp out like a manufacturing plant. Would you like a tattoo of a bull running away from an avalanche? You got it.
The photos of our work are meant solely for evaluating our style and quality. They do not mean that we only do those specific types of designs. We create anything and everything you can imagine.
And what if your mind is a complete blank and you have no ideas?
Of course, we can use the internet for help, but we need to do it wisely! Keep in mind that typing a phrase like “tattoo for men” into a search engine means doing the exact same thing as hundreds of thousands of other people, and you will likely see the exact same results. There is a high chance that this approach will lead to choosing a design that has already been tattooed on countless people before you.
If you do decide to go down this path, take your tattoo artist’s advice and accept their proposed changes to avoid making a 1:1 copy. Let’s not steal someone else’s idea, and let’s not tattoo something that is already on someone else’s skin.
Don't base your design on an existing tattoo
If you have decided on a popular motif, look for reference photos. Let us use the example of a wolf mentioned earlier — if you chose it, look for images of real wolves instead of basing your ideas on an existing tattoo. We will certainly pick a design that no one has ever seen before.
But let us pause on this topic and ask ourselves: why a wolf, of all things? Because it is beautiful? Predatory? Wild? Associated with our country? We agree with all of that, but it is not the only such animal. Have you thought about a lynx, perhaps? A great choice… but what will your friends say? A wolf might be cliché, but everyone likes it. Remember, you are getting a tattoo for yourself, and originality is always highly valued.
And what if you want to be as original as possible?
Take advantage of our artists’ original flash designs! We have available sketches ready to be claimed right on our website. Our tattoo artists add something new to their portfolios practically every day, so it is always worth dropping them a line to ask or browsing through their and our social media profiles.
I've got my own idea!
Describe it to us, and feel free to use reference photos to back it up. We will then match you with the right artist. You can also do this yourself by browsing our work and picking the style you like most. If you do not have a clear vision of your idea, let us interpret it in our own way. Let yourself be surprised! We will discuss the design together before your session, and we always set aside extra time for any changes or adjustments.
No ideas? What then?
“I have no ideas, I’ve looked at everything, but I dream of getting a tattoo.”
Don’t worry!
Drop by our Kings of Ink studio, we’ll have a coffee together, and we will definitely come up with something!
