Many people think you need to be creative all the time to be in a creative field. I don't believe so. I know I do pretty well and I don't think that the creativity is seeping out of me. I think I've just become good at developing ways to find inspiration when I need it so that I can create great custom graphics and logos for myself and my clients.
So here are five sources of web site graphics design inspiration you might not have thought of:
1. Newspapers & Magazines - I was at my local library the other day and I picked up a couple of local magazines. One was the town activity guide and is a magazine about local living. Each had plenty of graphics and ads that I could peruse for ideas and inspiration. Collect your favorite magazines or a selection of different types if you serve clients and you'll always have plenty to draw from when you're stumped.
2. Down The Road - When you're driving down the street have a look at the logos and colors you see in the business as you drive by. Most of these businesses will have hired a professional to create the graphics you see on display and they are great sources of ideas for your next product. Have a look at the shapes, colors, fonts and the feeling you get when you view each image. Consider taking out a video camera and video taping as you drive by with your own commentary (as long as you're not also driving the car, of course!).
3. Nature and the Outside World - Sometimes being stuck at a computer isn't the best way to get inspired. Nature is filled with beautiful shapes, colors and materials. If you're needing a new idea take a drive or go for a walk, you're sure to come up with new ways to design web graphics that you never would have thought if without drawing from natural beauty. Now, you can also go to a city and draw on your surroundings for colors, shapes and of course plenty of marketing you see.
4. Your Graphics Design Inspiration Book - One thing I've wanted to do for a while is to create a binder filled with graphics that inspire me. Also, in this book I'd add a section for all the design techniques I can use to create different effects. You see, there are so many ways to create graphics that sometimes we forget certain techniques when we need them. I know that's how it works for me, anyway. My suggestion is to get a binder and a bunch of clear sheet protectors and then just start collecting graphics you like. Organize them as you go into different categories as they suit your needs.
5. Popular Websites - Of course you'll want to look online for sources of web page graphics design ideas. If you're working on a particular product then look up keywords related to your project and see what sites come up. Pay attention to the colors and the logos you find on these sites. Also many popular sites have ads that you can look at. The great thing about looking at ads is that people often have these professionally designed as well so they're often great sources of quality ideas and inspiration.
For more design ideas, you can visit http://octaspectrum.com
So here are five sources of web site graphics design inspiration you might not have thought of:
1. Newspapers & Magazines - I was at my local library the other day and I picked up a couple of local magazines. One was the town activity guide and is a magazine about local living. Each had plenty of graphics and ads that I could peruse for ideas and inspiration. Collect your favorite magazines or a selection of different types if you serve clients and you'll always have plenty to draw from when you're stumped.
2. Down The Road - When you're driving down the street have a look at the logos and colors you see in the business as you drive by. Most of these businesses will have hired a professional to create the graphics you see on display and they are great sources of ideas for your next product. Have a look at the shapes, colors, fonts and the feeling you get when you view each image. Consider taking out a video camera and video taping as you drive by with your own commentary (as long as you're not also driving the car, of course!).
3. Nature and the Outside World - Sometimes being stuck at a computer isn't the best way to get inspired. Nature is filled with beautiful shapes, colors and materials. If you're needing a new idea take a drive or go for a walk, you're sure to come up with new ways to design web graphics that you never would have thought if without drawing from natural beauty. Now, you can also go to a city and draw on your surroundings for colors, shapes and of course plenty of marketing you see.
4. Your Graphics Design Inspiration Book - One thing I've wanted to do for a while is to create a binder filled with graphics that inspire me. Also, in this book I'd add a section for all the design techniques I can use to create different effects. You see, there are so many ways to create graphics that sometimes we forget certain techniques when we need them. I know that's how it works for me, anyway. My suggestion is to get a binder and a bunch of clear sheet protectors and then just start collecting graphics you like. Organize them as you go into different categories as they suit your needs.
5. Popular Websites - Of course you'll want to look online for sources of web page graphics design ideas. If you're working on a particular product then look up keywords related to your project and see what sites come up. Pay attention to the colors and the logos you find on these sites. Also many popular sites have ads that you can look at. The great thing about looking at ads is that people often have these professionally designed as well so they're often great sources of quality ideas and inspiration.
For more design ideas, you can visit http://octaspectrum.com
