A common question that I get asked is, “Where do you get your inspiration?” I should really start answering, “Where don’t I get inspiration from? It’s everywhere!” There are many sources of inspiration for a designer/artist. From commercials, internet, peers, to everyday life. Inspiration is everywhere, you just need to realize it and capture it.

When I am in between projects, I try to spend my time searching around the internet using StumbleUpon and bookmarking my favorite sites with GMarks, browsing around AIGA.org, learning new tutorials for the different programs I use, picking up print materials that interest me, subscribing to graphic design firms’ newsletters, visiting bookstores to flip through graphic design books, purchasing graphic design books/magazines, and many others. Some of my favorite magazines: Communication Arts, HOW, Print, I.D., Step, and GD USA. While most are costly, you can usually get the first issue free, and cancel your subscription if you are not happy with it. Some of the books that have helped me are: “Graphic Design that works” by Rockport, “Stop Stealing Sheep & find out how type works” by Erick Spiekermann & E.M. Giner, “Best of Brochure Design” by Jason Godfrey, and many others. If I had the funds to fill a library of my own, I would. I like going to the bookstore to look through them and then buy cheaper from amazon.com.

When I’m working on a project, I can be going for a jog, out shopping, or watching TV and all the sudden and idea will just hit me; sometimes even out of the blue, which I know usually happens to most of us designers. When the mind is free to wander it will! I have a handy little note pad that I keep with me at all times, so I write my ideas down so I don’t forget them.

Where do you get inspiration from?