Inspired

Design ideas can come from the oddest sources. Today I was looking at a glossy red cardboard take-out box and the yellow curry chicken salad inside it, and realized I’d found the perfect color combination for a Victorian-style poster.

A muddy sidewalk puddle reflects the signs on buildings above it, and I discover that a company’s logo looks more captivating upside down and in a muted palette. I stare at the water for a while to lock this interpretation into my mind for future inspiration.

The outboard motor of our boat is idling roughly, with a gravelly rumble that rises and falls in pitch. I start imagining this as the voice of a disgruntled customer. Then I contemplate an ad campaign with copy that promotes above average customer service, high quality products, and easy return policies. With an eyecatching image of a well-kept boat on a placid lake at sunset.

So I’ve come to realize that one of the most valuable skills of those who create for a living is the capacity to absorb. The sights and sounds of everyday life are rich with potential inspiration. Sometimes I’ll deliberately slow down. Extend all five senses while calming my hectic thoughts for a bit. Or I’ll imagine being someone who’s completely unfamiliar with whatever environment I’m in, and guess what their impressions might be.

Often I’ll type intriguing words into the web browser and see where they lead me: giclée, portmanteau, bespoke. Or I’ll go to the mall, do some people-watching, and walk into stores that sell stuff I’ve never bought before. Such as skateboard shops. Or children’s books and clothing. I like going to the household goods section of department stores and staring at the china patterns. Or observing the makeup counters from a distance.

Many small corners of this wide world are rather fascinating when I’m in the right frame of mind to take it all in. Fresh ideas can spring to mind immediately or maybe I’ll store my observations for later pondering.

Even the mundane objects of daily life can be seen in a different light. For instance, I’ve just noticed that the underside of my mousepad here has a neat texture. I think I’ll put it in the scanner and see what sort of image that creates. Maybe it could become a web page background?