By Michael Houston
All designers and developers are fueled by inspiration. The way we transform that inspiration into our own masterpieces should be treated with care.
Common sense says that almost all of the time we will seek out others ideas to look for ways to improve our own ideas. The problem with that is we may become too fixated with that inspiration that we cannot put it into our own words and thoughts. As hard as someone may try, even the most skilled person may end up copying someone else's work.
I've always made it a point to always come up with my own material. But even I was guilty at one point of copying someone who I used as an inspiration. After much thought as to how this happened, I developed three rules to follow when seeking inspiration.
Stray Out of Your Comfort Zone
Today the internet can be see as the world's greatest idea box. However I think that the more seasoned veteran will choose other avenues to find their next idea. They will more likely use other sources such as magazines, children's toys, movies, or posters. Most ideas are developed outside the medium they will be created in.
I have recently made a conscious effort to look around at the things around me and ask myself how I could apply that to my next design. I recently purchased a new car that has an incredibly user friendly interface in the dash and steering wheel. This has provided all sorts of ideas that can be translated into a website's user interface.
So take a break away from the computer, relax, and just observe the world around you for fresh ideas. You might not immediately realize it but your next great idea could be right in front of you.
Be Original
The one type of feed back you would never want to hear is, "Hey this is exactly like Jim's design!". As they say imitation is the greatest form of flattery. That doesn't seem so true in the world of designing. I for one would not like someone ripping off my site.
If you think your design looks a bit too familiar with someone else's, then redo it. Redo it as many times as it takes. This is often where many people fail. Keep reworking your design until it is truly unique. Your inspiration should be where you start not where you end.
It there is something that is not truly your own idea, give credit where it is due. Honor those who have inspired you.
Copy The Inspiration, Not The Outcome
In the article Good Designers Copy, Great Designers Steal, Cameron Moll was right on the dime when he brought up the idea to copy the inspiration, not the outcome.
What specifically do you like about your inspiration? The color layout? How the colors make you feel? The use of gradients with the colors? Or the visual effects the gradients produce? Think and reflect deeply about why a certain aspect of your inspiration draws your attention.
Take a deep look at your inspiration, figure out why it inspires you, write it down and never look at it again. Continually toggling back and forth between your own design and your inspiration will render your own creative juices useless.
About the Author:
The very first thing to look at when starting something new is your inspiration (http://tinyurl.com/7zaeqh2) . You can get inspiration from many thing such as aninspirational picture quote (http://tinyurl.com/7jx74m3) .
All designers and developers are fueled by inspiration. The way we transform that inspiration into our own masterpieces should be treated with care.
Common sense says that almost all of the time we will seek out others ideas to look for ways to improve our own ideas. The problem with that is we may become too fixated with that inspiration that we cannot put it into our own words and thoughts. As hard as someone may try, even the most skilled person may end up copying someone else's work.
I've always made it a point to always come up with my own material. But even I was guilty at one point of copying someone who I used as an inspiration. After much thought as to how this happened, I developed three rules to follow when seeking inspiration.
Stray Out of Your Comfort Zone
Today the internet can be see as the world's greatest idea box. However I think that the more seasoned veteran will choose other avenues to find their next idea. They will more likely use other sources such as magazines, children's toys, movies, or posters. Most ideas are developed outside the medium they will be created in.
I have recently made a conscious effort to look around at the things around me and ask myself how I could apply that to my next design. I recently purchased a new car that has an incredibly user friendly interface in the dash and steering wheel. This has provided all sorts of ideas that can be translated into a website's user interface.
So take a break away from the computer, relax, and just observe the world around you for fresh ideas. You might not immediately realize it but your next great idea could be right in front of you.
Be Original
The one type of feed back you would never want to hear is, "Hey this is exactly like Jim's design!". As they say imitation is the greatest form of flattery. That doesn't seem so true in the world of designing. I for one would not like someone ripping off my site.
If you think your design looks a bit too familiar with someone else's, then redo it. Redo it as many times as it takes. This is often where many people fail. Keep reworking your design until it is truly unique. Your inspiration should be where you start not where you end.
It there is something that is not truly your own idea, give credit where it is due. Honor those who have inspired you.
Copy The Inspiration, Not The Outcome
In the article Good Designers Copy, Great Designers Steal, Cameron Moll was right on the dime when he brought up the idea to copy the inspiration, not the outcome.
What specifically do you like about your inspiration? The color layout? How the colors make you feel? The use of gradients with the colors? Or the visual effects the gradients produce? Think and reflect deeply about why a certain aspect of your inspiration draws your attention.
Take a deep look at your inspiration, figure out why it inspires you, write it down and never look at it again. Continually toggling back and forth between your own design and your inspiration will render your own creative juices useless.
About the Author:
The very first thing to look at when starting something new is your inspiration (http://tinyurl.com/7zaeqh2) . You can get inspiration from many thing such as aninspirational picture quote (http://tinyurl.com/7jx74m3) .