This problem is particularly acute for graphic designers, who are susceptible to every piece of information that reaches them, because such information reflects the mood of society. How can one find the most suitable information amid this vast volume of content, and where can a graphic designer draw inspiration? We will discuss all this in today’s article.

Inspiration: What Is It and Where Can You Find It?

Inspiration is a type of creative impulse. For artists, writers, musicians and poets, inspiration is as necessary as air. Every artist also needs strong impressions. Of course, graphic design is in some way connected with art, but it is difficult to say that design itself is art: designers often work on commission, and clients frequently cannot wait even a week for their assignment to begin.

It can therefore be concluded that designers’ inspiration is not quite the same as artistic inspiration. When we talk about design inspiration, we think of sources for searching for creative ideas or examples of successfully completed projects, on the basis of which one assignment or another can be carried out.

Where Can a Designer Find Inspiration?

There are many sources of inspiration and many places to look for it. If you are a qualified designer and have worked in the industry for some time, you certainly have a list of places you turn to or visit before starting a project. However, if you cannot find anything suitable there or are just beginning your adventure with graphic design, the list below may prove useful.

  • Professional environment. If you are already connected with design and graphics in some way, try to communicate more, observe, and even consult your colleagues. To do this, you can subscribe to topic-based groups on social media or add several graphic designers whose work you like to your contacts.
  • Stock photo banks. In such sources, you can browse thousands of images selected according to colour range, size, subject matter and many other characteristics. By browsing stock photos, you can also choose suitable ones to use in your work.
  • Your surroundings. From time to time, it is worth seeking not only professional advice but also advice from people outside the industry. Relatives, friends and even people you meet on the underground or in a library can sometimes offer genuinely helpful advice or even inspire you to create something unique and truly exceptional.
  • Books. If you take graphic design seriously, you should not underestimate books as a source of inspiration: it is worth always having 3–5 books at hand and several dozen more in your home library. Do not forget about photo albums or collections of themed reproductions of paintings either.
  • Design exhibitions, competitions and international biennales. Create a catalogue of design websites and portals where both works and discussions of them are published. Articles posted on such portals may also prove useful.
  • Observing graphic designers at work. For this purpose, you can take part in online training sessions or webinars, or visit an interesting design studio. Videos by recognised masters of design, which can also be found on YouTube, may prove very helpful.
  • Visiting exhibitions and museums. These are wonderful places to look for unexpected sources of inspiration. Do not forget that interesting solutions may be waiting for you simply on the way to these places!

Emotions as a Source of Inspiration

To become inspired, you really have to want to work; the design process should provide genuine satisfaction rather than seem like a boring routine, or even worse—a burdensome obligation. Most young or beginner designers approach the start of their professional activity with great enthusiasm. How can you avoid losing that drive?

The first stage of carrying out an assignment is the most problematic for every designer. To avoid getting stuck at the very beginning of your work, try to devise and imagine the final result, the appearance of which takes your breath away! Here are a few more tips that will help you stay inspired for a long time:

There is no need to be afraid to dream; on the contrary, you should constantly visualise the final result of your work and sincerely believe that it will be exceptional and ultimately appeal to its audience;
A graphic design project may initially seem like a huge task, but everything will become much easier if you divide your work into several stages—searching for a composition, selecting colours, drawing a sketch, making corrections, and so on.

Can Consistency Destroy Inspiration?

If you have only recently entered the design industry, you may think that routine and consistency are more the enemies than the friends of inspiration. You will be surprised: that is not the case at all! You simply need to set aside time every day to look at the work of interesting designers, artists and fashion designers. It is especially good not to limit yourself to any one field—whether graphic design or something else—but to seek inspiration in other areas of art as well. Today, graphic designers are expanding their activities and working not only on book and brochure layouts but also on digital publications, website design, animation and photography.

In this seemingly easy and routine way, you will achieve the opposite effect: you will get rid of routine and stop focusing on the same things—this is actually one of the biggest problems faced by every graphic designer.

Is it worth imitating work that you really like? Experienced designers agree that using ideas and techniques employed by other specialists as visual components is completely normal: both experienced and beginner graphic designers do it. You simply need to be fully aware of why you are applying a particular technique or idea and how harmoniously it fits your project concept.