On the Floor

Sometimes as web designers, it can become difficult to consistently produce designs which maintain a high degree of originality. Sometimes we find ourselves in a bit of a rut, using the same styles and 'tricks' over and over again. And while they may 'work', and the clients may really like the design, it's not a very gratifying place to be, creatively. To me, creativity implies originality; and originality requires inspiration. Problem is, creativity isn't like a faucet that can be turned on and off again at will. Creative inspiration may come while kayaking around a harbour or riding a bicycle. Ideas and solutions may come in the middle of the night, or while watching a soccer match on a Sunday afternoon. But rarely does that faucet turn on at nine and off again at five.

So we as designers have to learn to cope with the fact that sometimes the faucet trickles, sometimes it gushes and yet other times it's completely dry. While we have no control over when inspiration will happen, I think the best thing we can do is to immerse ourselves in other worlds of right-brained creativity - worlds other than graphic and web design.

Look to Photography

Most times, a site's colour scheme is mandated by the company's branding, but sometimes we get to choose - though this sounds much easier than it actually is. When presented with virtually limitless hues, it can become a real challenge to settle upon only a few solid swatches. In recent years though, online tools such as Adobe's Kuler will help you attain some inspiration, but perhaps an even better method of selecting a colour palette is to look at photography - specifically landscape photography. Sometimes I'll spend hours looking at the photos taken by great photographers like Machel Spence, Jesse Estes and Helen Kvam, admiring the gorgeous hues in the brilliant vistas of their work. Millions upon millions of colours exist in nature, so why not let the natural world inspire you?

Look to Fashion Design

While I've never considered myself 'fashionable', I think the world of fashion design has much to offer us web designers. Fashion is tangible, and we all need it on some level or another (we all need clothes), so all of us can relate to at least one aspect of it. Colour, pattern, trim, fit, feel, material, practicality and even price have much in common with most other design disciplines, and since we live within a very fashion-forward culture, following trends in fashion can be an excellent way to stay ahead of the trends in graphic/web design. There may be better sites out there (remember, I'm not 'fashionable'), but here are a few sites I check out from time to time when I'm seeking out some inspiration.

fashionmagazine.com
next.co.uk
style.com

Look to Industrial Design

Thanks largely to guys like Jonathan Ive and Karim Rashid, we've all become accustomed to what industrial design is in recent years. Despite the lackluster title, industrial designers shape the way all the products around us look. Even the screen on which you're reading this blog post has been designed by an industrial designer. While us web designers work with pixels rather than pens, clay, foam or SolidWorks, we can certainly draw inspiration from the physical realm. Studying materials, texture, form, balance, practicality and of course user-experience can all help inspire us when designing for the screen. Here are a few sources to view the latest and prettiest in the world of industrial design. 

yankodesign.com
core77.com
industrialdesignserved.com


Listen to Classical Music

I've always preferred instrumental over music with lyrics, because I think it leaves more up to the imagination. Instead of listening to a story being told to us, instrumental music and especially classical music leaves us to interpret the mood ourselves and make up our own story. This is an excellent exercise for us to keep our creativity as fresh as possible. The patterns, themes, variations, melodies and harmonies all combine to help create a setting, a mood, and a story. Go ahead and close your eyes while you listen, and let your imagination take over. If you don't know where to begin, might I recommend Gustav Holst, Johannes Brahms or Thomas Newman.


While looking to these other areas of creativity, keep an open mind and try to find beauty in the details. With a child-like sense of awe and wonder, appreciate the time and effort that went into the symphony, the product, the runway show and the surreal landscape photograph. And remember, the creators of these works were probably just as frustrated and stuck for inspiration as you have been.