One of the most frequently asked questions a creative gets is "where do you get all of your ideas from"?
No two people are the same. Ideas can come from the most unusual and obvious places. From a billboard you pass on your way to work to the packaging on some of your favourite foods, subconsciously our brains store images and these stored elements may eventually make their way onto your page. As creatives, we often find ourselves purposely going out in search of inspiration for specific projects, whether pinning millions of images on Pinterest, immersing ourselves in brand guidelines, scrolling through endless Instagram accounts or creating various mood boards.
Ways to inspire creativity.
Hit a brick wall? Staring at a blank piece of paper or has your mind just gone blank? Don't worry, this happens to the best of us. Here are a few ways I get those creative juices flowing again.
![]()
Speak to other members of your team or getting a friend's opinion.
Having someone outside of the project you are working on can benefit your creative process. These people may have a completely different thought process and can look at things from a different perspective. They may raise something completely out of the box which kick starts a completely new thought process.
"There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them in a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations."
Inspirational quote by Mark Twain.
Grab a pencil and paper and get doodling.
Often the first port of call is to work digitally but why not try going back to basics. Grab anything that you can doodle on and get scribbling, you never know one of these scribbles could be the stepping stone to something beautiful. Just look at the iconic "I love NY" logo. It was doodled on the back of an envelope in a taxi by Milton Glaser. Now it's one of the most iconic logos of all time.
Take a break.
The deadline is looming. The client is expecting a fully mocked-up concept and all you've currently got to show for it is a few scribbles. It might seem counter-productive but taking a break might just be the best thing you could do. Give your brain 10 mins to relax and it'll do you the world of good. You'll then come back to your work with a refreshed mind and maybe an idea or two to explore.
![]()
Look for inspiration in unrelated places.
Give yourself a break from the screen and instead of googling ideas, take a trip to the library to rent out some relevant books and maybe some DVDs. On the journey take note of the environment around you including the architecture. You never know when inspiration may hit. You could also look for inspiration in:
- Nature
- Fashion
- Architecture
- Books
- Movies & Theatre
Get inspiration from the client.
Get as much information out of the client as possible during the planning meetings. Asking them curveball questions will also give you a better understanding of their points of view of things and their expectations. They may also help you to rule out initial ideas there and then. The ability to narrow down your train of thought to a particular approach or direction at the beginning will help to keep you on track.
Remember nobody is creative 100% of the time and it's perfectly okay to have moments of little or no inspiration. It's what you do in those moments that count. If you're lacking the ideas and inspiration for a new piece of design work or need some creative marketing or web advice why not get in touch with us and let us get inspired for you.