Inspiration can be a fickle thing. Most designers, when lacking ideas, turn to design galleries to find ideas to be different and original.
We’ve featured a dozen of those places below, along with where you can find inspiration for each of them. Share any other inspirational sources you might have in the comments.
Fashion
Taking inspiration from both modern and historical fashion can be a great way to infuse something new and fresh in your designs. A few ideas on how to adapt fashion designs to your next project:
Look at the overall scale of an outfit and mimic it.
Colour schemes are one of the easiest areas to adapt.
Look at the lines of a garment and emulate them in your designs.
Fabric textures and patterns are another great source of inspiration to add interest to your designs.
Architecture
The world of architecture holds a wide variety of potential sources of inspiration, and there is likely an aesthetic style out there that will take your fancy. From vernacular architecture to modern minimalism to art deco and everything in between, there is almost certainly an architectural style out there that can be adapted to your project.
E.g: Architectural styles
Art Nouveau: American Craftsman: Art Deco: International Style: Mid-Century Modern: Postmodern:
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There are literally billions of photos online you can peruse whenever you need a bit of inspiration. Pay attention to elements such as composition, colour, and balance within an image to get ideas. We love to be inspired by Pinterest and amazing artists from around the world. Also keep in mind what the story behind the image is and think about how something similar could be applied to your design project.
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The Natural World
The inspirational opportunities present in the natural world around us could make an entire post all on their own. There are literally thousands, if not millions, of things to be inspired by around the world and in our own backyards. Birds, trees, animals, bugs, the sky, mountains, valleys, deserts, rivers, lakes—the list could go on forever.
When you’re lacking inspiration, try taking a walk-through a nearby field, park, forest, or other natural space. Look around at the shape and texture of things, the colours, the patterns, and anything else that catches your eye. You’re almost sure to find something you can apply to your projects if you take the time to look.
Travel
Travelling to new places can be a great way to feel inspired again. Whether you take a day trip, go away for a weekend, or go on a week-long exotic vacation, a change of scenery can go a long way toward getting your creative juices flowing again.
Try going somewhere you have never been before, or somewhere you haven’t been to in a very long time to spark your creativity.
Your mode of travel may be almost as important as your destination. When so many of us go on vacation, we immediately think of flying somewhere. But why not try taking a train or a bus instead? Or drive if wherever you’re going isn’t too far away. A change in your travel mode may inspire you too. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy the abundant scenery from the window.
Music
Listening to music can be a fantastic way to get past a creative block. A lot of us listen to music while we work, but other than finding music that’s “motivational”, I’m sure we usually don’t put a whole lot of thought into what we’re listening to while we’re working on a particular project.
The list of inspiration sources is endless, and we are sure there are so many more ways to get new and exciting ideas like crafts, books and movies, food etc.
Stepping away from the places we normally seek inspiration can lead to a whole new world of creative sources. Try keeping a file of potential ideas, images, and other materials garnered from these sources, either on your computer or in physical form. Then you can pull from it even when you’re pressed for time.
xx HEGI FAMILY