Its time for question of the week #2! I’m going to post a short little audio clip asking you a question. Feel free to chime in and let me know what you think! I’d love to get a discussion going on in the comments!
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Niki says:
I’ll be the first to chime in on my own post
I love to go running and get lost in Boston. This makes for some interesting discoveries of old historical houses with lovely type!
May 1st, 2009 at 3:57 am
Jim says:
Flip through magazines, books, watch something I don’t normally watch on TV, go for a bike ride. I wouldn’t say any of it “inspires” me, it just clears my head. A little mental reboot.
May 1st, 2009 at 4:10 am
Daan says:
I love to put on my running shoes, and start running for a while. I especially like to go to places where you can find a lot of rural and nature stuff instead of the urban views. I get inspired by the colors of nature.
You should also try to look up some butterflies in a book, the patterns and colors are awesome.
May 1st, 2009 at 6:29 am
Rick says:
I often look to modern architecture. I take a lot of inspiration from the masterful ways that today’s architects mix texture and materials. Architecture often demonstrates great examples of embracing constraints.
On the opposite side of the spectrum: children are an awesome source of inspiration because they know no limits. Their energy, imagination, and innocence are energizing.
And, I would be remiss not to mention anime
I love a show where the main characters have to overcome “all odds” to emerge completely transformed and 110% ass-kicking. BELIEVE IT!
May 1st, 2009 at 6:37 am
Yana says:
Oh, Boston’s great for it. I was there recently and half of the photos I took were of design/inspiration related stuff. http://tinyurl.com/dc2otn <–This, in particular, is just standing there on a street of straight up and down buildings and stores.
But in general, basically anything. One time I went to B&N to read design magazines, but ended up getting the most inspiration from the combo of colors of my tea/teabag/cup/table. Actually, say what you will about it, but Starbuck’s never fails to inspire.
In fact, I think most inspiration comes from outside the computer. Or at least the most effective inspiration does.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:35 am
Paul Stevens says:
Go for a run, gym, walk, anything that requires that break feeling, it works as a great distraction and generally sets my mind free. It also doubles at fitness, and gets rid of the guilt of sitting around getting fat.
I believe its all inside waiting to get out, you just need to give it a chance..
thank you for your blog.
May 1st, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Brooke Rochon says:
The place I find I get the most inspiration often is a local scrapbook store that carries things that always appeal to me. You can see the latest in technique, texture, typography. It could really do something to inspire men I would bet, because it’s not a place they would usually find themselves. I would be interested in “man” places that men find inspiring so that I could find myself in strange places.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:29 pm
David Leininger says:
I love my design books and magazine that I get on a regular basis. A couple of the things I like to do is to go to the barnes and noble and sit in the corner and dig through design, web, and photography magazines. The main other thing I use is music. Weather I put everything down and play my guitar or bass, or I get in my car and listen to my music and just drive. Lately, my bike has been the same way. I just get my iPod and my bike and ride.
I’m so busy and running full speed all the time that inspiration usually comes best when I take the chance to slow down, and seclude myself, haha.
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:49 am
Emmet says:
I agree with you niki, i just go and get lost. It’s amazing what you can find when you’re just wandering around, looking for nothing in particular. Also, I check out really old graphic design books, there’s often some really interesting use of typography in them!
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:54 am
Marnie B says:
I find inspiration in so many things. I create my own button magnets and find the patterns and colours inspiring. I love mixing them up and making them clash.
I also love looking through home type magazines – magazines with pictures of cupcakes sitting on long, clean kitchen benches, etc. It’s all beautiful to me.
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:23 am
Debbie Campbell says:
I love browsing in bookstores – especially in sections where I don’t normally look.
Getting outside also helps – going for a run or taking my digital SLR out for a few hours is a good way for me to recharge. When I have to focus on subjects for photography, it helps clear my head. Nature is always inspirational for me.
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Hussein Nasser says:
My wife inspires me a lot..
Books too inspires me and allow me to write freely
Thanks Niki.
May 4th, 2009 at 5:20 am
Lotenna Enwonwu says:
I try to do something or go somewhere I never went before. Usually out of my normal day to day. Like a strange local performance or taking a class.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:57 am