Staying inspired in an overwhelming digital world

Classic creative blocks

In a world of art and design, strategic and innovative thinking is all about that search for “the big idea.” This usually leads to us creatives ransacking our brains, looking for the right answers to solve new creative problems. However, with a world saturated with ads, new apps, brands, and products, it can be overwhelming to sift through and find our next best creative epiphany.

While there’s plenty of inspirational sources to be seen on the web, many digital platforms and internet searches result in this almost homologous effect of perfect vacuum sealed showcases of ideas, works, and newest trends. There’s sometimes minimal context and we face a sea of trendy ideas that sometimes just sit surface level to the creative challenges we face.

From the popularity of easy-to-customize templates to the same widely used stock photos and mockups, it can be tough to keep your ideas fresh. So where do we turn to find that great inspirational fuel for the creative mind? We’ve got your covered with ideas that might help spark all the concepts, sketches and ideas.

Take a walk in the park

Ideas are greatly shaped by our environments and the people and things we surround ourselves with daily. So take a look at your current environment and do something to switch it up, like a simple walk outside. Not only is going for a walk a great way to take a break to clear your head, get some fresh air and soak up the sun, but it’s great for real-life natural inspiration. On your walk, take note of the stores your pass by, signage and billboards, restaurant branding and vibes. Examine the natural world around you, and bring it back to the basics of fall foliage, crisp mountains or small rivers near your home.

Look to the greats

When is the last time you looked at work that really truly inspired you? Revisit music, magazine articles, artwork and design from your favorite artists and designers. Who are the leaders in history or current trend-makers in your industry? Go beyond looking at what they’ve done and created in the past, but really take yourself through an analysis to see how they got to where they are and the techniques the’ve perfected in their craft.

Think like a poet

Sometimes when we face a creative block, it can be a refreshing activity to check out some classic or contemporary poetry books and poets. The way that writers are able to paint a vivid picture with unique words and thoughts can be great for sparking up new ideas, concepts or themes. Sometimes there can even be power in opening up an old-fashioned thesaurus or encyclopedia on a topic that helps with discovery and new ways of thinking about the same things.

Brain dump

The “photo dump” we find on Instagram depicts this sort of shift in sharing our real candid selves again. Why is this collection of images we post inspiring? Well we like to think it stems back to the original brainstorm of just putting it all on the table. Try first thing in the morning, at your next lunch break, or in the evening before bed to just write it out. Everything on your mind and more. Just start writing down everything you know about a topic of project. The words are in you and may not know it. Think back to those timed essays in high school history class. The information you once learned may be buried deep down and maybe it just takes a timed brainstorm session for you to get it down on paper.

Talk it out

Some of the most inspiring words of wisdom, ideas and creative concepts to come across happen at conferences, meetings, networking events and even more often, having coffee with a good friend. Being around peers in the same industry or nice can help inspire new ways of thinking or subjects you’re passionate about.

Back to the drawing board

An idea doesn’t have to be complicated and unheard of. Finding inspiration is about taking imagery and ideas that are out there and providing a fresh perspective using your own experiences and creativity. If you do love searching the internet for ideas, simply look at multiple sources. Your Pinterest smart feed is designed to show you things it thinks you’ll love so simply seeking out some variety in your life may surprise you. The details are in what you’re creating and designing. Those details are unique to your ideas and that’s what can make the best ideas refreshing.

We’re all searching for that turn-of-the century design or concept that captures attention and evokes emotion from clients and colleagues. Inspiration is undoubtedly an integral part of the creative process. We know because we’re planners and researchers, photographers and seekers of expression.

Nothing beats finding beautiful design, branding, packaging websites and UI mockups. But sometimes it’s important to stop yourself just for a brief moment before you subconsciously sketch out your next project idea. Our influences are what shape our culture, our perceptions of what is and what isn’t. So keep your environment open to receiving new perspectives and fresh takes on a world you may have forgotten lives outside the internet.