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I personally enjoy OC designs that are close to canon, with minor variation. It's unrealistic when every Pokemon that doesn't happen to be Spinda looks 100% alike, so with Pokemon that have patterns, I like it when OCs make them look natural. Like a Bulbasaur whose spots are a different layout, but still looking completely authentic (as long as you don't give them something artificial looking, like a symbol or something). Perhaps you can even make very tiny specks on their skin, like freckles.
Then, at least if we are thinking in a PMD context, anything that feels like it has a purpose makes sense, like a travelbag, or a scarf, though the latter is so common it's kinda cliché.
As long as you give them a personality through writing, I think OCs work fine no matter how bland they may look at first sight.
