You don’t need eyes to see – you just need vision.

This is a post continuing from a blog I did earlier Beating the Dreaded Designer Burnout.

If you work in the design and art industry then I’m sure sometimes you can get design block! If we just sit back and think about it though we can find inspiration in everything we do, see, hear and touch!

These are the things that influence me….

Browse the Internet, Blogs and Galleries

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The internet is huge. There are billions of resources out there for design, art and photography. There is a large catalogue of design and inspiration blogs, photo, design and art submission sites. Also there are social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, which are a great source of what is trending right now.

Here is a list of sites that I regularly visit for inspiration: Webdesigner Depot, DeviantArt, 1x.com, Joyenergizer, The Design Inspiration, Abduzeedo and of course That Looks Fab!, just to name a handful.

Look Around You

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If you didn’t already realise it, the world is amazing! Just task a look around. The beautiful skies above, nature all around, the ocean, the countryside and even urban cities can be beautiful and inspiring. Just the simplest of things can inspire you too. I can get inspired by anything, from shop signage to typography on a shopping bag, to the colour of my coffee cup.

Sketching and Doodling

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I’ve got books full of doodles and sketches at home. I’ve been doing them since I was at primary school. Although, nowadays I tend to use my tablet when I get an idea, but it is always handy to have a notepad to hand. When an idea pops into your head it’s good to quickly jot it down or sketch it out, whether it be for a logo, website or design piece.

Doodling on the other hand is great to express yourself and you don’t have to be great at drawing either. I literally have 1000s of doodles that I’ve kept since I was a kid and maybe one day I’ll publish a book.

Music

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I’d say this is one of my biggest inspirations when I’m at work. It really sets my mood and motivates me especially when I’m tired. I can get lost in music. It really helps get you through those difficult re-design sessions.

Watching Movies & TV

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Sit back and relax your favourite shows or discover new ones, watch a movie, as these can all help with inspiration. Lots of things can re-ignite that creative flow such as logos, colours, typography or adverts.

Sometimes the Old ones Are the Best

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Take a step back and go through your past design projects. Creative trends in design, fashion & music come around full circle again and again, so why not take a look at your portfolio and study which ones have been the most successful.

Sleep

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Boy, do I love sleep! It really can clear the mind and re-boost the creative juices. Just remember not too sleep too much though especially if you are to meet deadlines!

Travel

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Referring back to ‘look around you‘. If you have time why not go travelling? The world is full of inspiration, see beautiful new places and locations.

I have always been inspired when I go to different places. It doesn’t need to be overseas.

We are in a digital age, so take lots of pictures of the things that inspire you.

Magazines

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Even though the magazine popularity has dwindled with the rise of the internet, smartphones and tablets, they can still be influential. Magazines are full to the brim with great typography and advertisements. Even the layout of the magazine can inspire your publication and web designs.

Finally….

Shutdown the Computer and Turnoff that Phone

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Switch off. Be disconnected for a short while. Unwind and relax and clear your mind. You never know, just by not thinking of work and design is when you can achieve design enlightenment!