Finding inspiration for a project is the key to creativity. Where do you find that inspiration? Well, that’s different for each person. But how do you find it? Follow my foolproof guidelines along your creative journey and discover inspiration at every step.
Walls can speak volumes. A major trend in Corporate America is to create inspiring places for your employees — a cool place to work. The idea is that when you create a stimulating environment, you stimulate creativity in your employees. So, when you need to feel inspired, your first step to getting there is surrounding yourself with the environment that speaks to your inner-creativity. The best part? You don’t always have to leave your house to find it. By simply organizing your space, you can organize your mind. De-clutter your workspace, light some candles, wrap up in those comfy clothes and put some coffee on. This prep time also helps clear your mind and allows for some delightful ‘thought showers’ to develop before you even get started on your project.
Your sixth sense. When you sit down to start a project, you can’t always dream up that wow factor on your first try. This is where your sixth sense steps in. Ouija boards and spirits aside — in the creative realm this refers to your journal. If you don’t already, start carrying a travel-size journal everywhere you go because you never know when a good idea will come along that needs capturing (I recommend the brand Ecosystem). Now when you sit down to start a project you have pages filled with notes and doodles to reference during the thought shower process.
Surfs up. It’s okay to turn to outside sources for inspiration. Surfing through publications and websites or watching documentaries can help trigger waves of creative ideas. Some of my favorites include Communication Arts Magazine, ffffound.com, pinterest.com, graphic-exchange.com, colourlovers.com and the Art & Copy documentary. Just remember, this is inspiration, not the final answer for your design. Find something that sparks your interest, whether it’s a color, a treatment, a typeface, etc. and then make it your own. Now it’s time to move to your blank canvas … and keep in mind these last few tips as you begin your exploration.
Think Small. These are the brilliant words of the worldwide advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB) in their 1959 Volkswagen Ad. Rated No. 1 in Ad Age’s Top 100 Ad Campaigns, this is the perfect example of the effectiveness of white space and simplicity. ‘Less is more’, while cliché, couldn’t be more exact when it comes to design. Pull back on the design reins and eliminate unnecessary components. Negative space is positively essential to a visually interesting composition. 
Lay the gridwork. When you have to lay components across a blank canvas, it’s easy to fall into a standard composition. Pull out the grids from your design toolbox and discover a surprising and fresh layout. Start with your blank canvas and draw in random lines, from edge to edge. Now you can start to compose your elements using the lines as a guide (of course, you don’t have to follow them exactly).
Not your type. Check out our Graphicsionado’s blog titled Not Your Type. She explores different typefaces and the power of using typography as a design element.
And last but not least, we’ll talk about you. Computers are great tools, but too often people work only in the digital outlet. Some of my favorite projects are composed of parts that I have assembled by hand, photographed and scanned in. Construction paper, a painting, chopped magazine pieces, etc., create an interesting depth to your digital design. I created a poster (shown below) for the MMCA Studio Crawl using a two-step process of first designing a bottle label, then assembling it and photographing it alongside other props. How fun! Never let the computer handicap your creativity.
Now you know how to find your inspiration, but where you find your inspiration from along the way is what makes the creative journey unique and exciting every time.
READY
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CREATE.
