What can be called "Unique Design" in relation to the site, and what is "template design"?

Question

Design

I do freelance website development. I specialize in the front, but often the customer does not have an understanding of the appearance and the finished design. I started taking websites along with design development and expanding my skills in this direction. The approach is the following. Before making a website, I choose 3-5 successful examples of the desired style, suitable for the topic, as a fulcrum. Further, starting from and inspired by individual elements and concepts, I make a website for the customer.
Is it possible to position this approach as the development of a website with a unique design? Or is a unique design when everything is completely taken from the designer's head? What then is "template design"?
At the moment, my conscience does not allow me to declare to the customer that the design is unique, because I know to myself that I will borrow ideas, peep. I immediately inform the customer that I will take successful sites as a basis and dance from them, thereby putting myself in a losing position and underestimating the average check for site development. I subconsciously feel that many people work exactly like me, but they position themselves as website developers on a unique, non-template design.
Citizens designers and turnkey website developers, explain where the truth is and what is "unique design".
Thank you.

Answer 1

Further, starting from and inspired by individual elements and concepts, I make a website for the customer.

- this can already be considered a unique design, roughly speaking, it is now difficult to come up with something that no one has come up with yet. If at least +33% is taken from your head, feel free to say that the design is unique.
Template design is mostly public templates. Well, or bootstrap without styling. But it's creepy.
According to analytics for PS, this is exactly what it looks like, but the percentage of changes varies.
Essentially: you bought a table from IKEA, painted a handmade pattern on it that you found on the Internet, drilled holes in the legs and pulled a fishing line between the legs. Can the table be considered unique? I think it is quite possible, because the changes are enough so that another person does not come up with exactly the same 1-in-1 (!) Refinement at a given time. Well, at least the chances are negligible.
In the end, you are not Tyoma and money, for sure, not so much asking, am I right?

Answer 2

Nothing ever comes out of my head.
You can't invent something out of nothing. It is possible only on the basis of two ideas to compose a third. Or transform one idea into another. This is what invention is. It's the same with design.
So, your way gives quite a unique design.

Answer 3

In terms of uniqueness, I completely agree with EverOne's comment !
And as for the issues of conscience - according to your description, if I sculpted from several templates, sat inventing something - my conscience would be crystal clear as a rock diamond. And so usually from the 1st)))) Transformations like a new logo, slogan (color / size / text), maybe something else to remove / add - it’s enough to clear my conscience)))
But the main factor on which the quality of study depends ruffles and final sanding with "zero emery", of course, for me is the customer himself and the site in general.
According to the person (his interest, the degree of laziness, etc.), you can immediately see and understand what will happen next with this site and what fate awaits him ...
And in terms of price - I use a slightly different approach, maybe it will help someone, xs)) I just do not focus on the uniqueness of the design and the conversation is initially based on the fact that here is a template monster for you - choose, from what you like, we will already have something think the price is so-and-so! And if you really want a unique design, with the involvement of a designer (I’m not a designer, if so) - it can only be more expensive!
In general, design, of course, plays an important role, but you shouldn’t focus on it too much (this does not mean sculpting Mr.)))) Give a fool / lazy person at least the best site in all respects - it will be of no use .00
UPD. I forgot to say. If a template is brazenly taken with CTRL + S -> Save as: index.html - I rewrite it from scratch in 90% of cases anyway.

Answer 4

A unique design is a set of non-rectangular areas on a page (with unique behavior, when interacting with the user, both of these areas themselves and of the user interface elements located inside these areas), forming a single complete visual picture ("graphic or media leaflet") , the elements of which are strictly stylized with colors, shapes and fonts in accordance with the corporate style, logo, company's field of activity and / or any other necessary criteria, which are determined based on the purposes for which this design is created.