The blank page can be overwhelming. Sometimes a repeat project is even more challenging, trying to break from an existing design to make something fresh. Having a design process can make it all a little less intimidating. And you don’t need to have “designer” in your title for this.
Some ideas for finding design inspiration:
Look outside yourself. Scour for ideas on Pinterest or the design website, Dribbble. Look at what others are doing, including competitors or totally different industries to scout for things you can creatively adapt into something new.
Find partners. Everyone sees things differently. Bringing in others may lead to a totally new approach or angle. Including coworkers, hired designers or consultants, or customer groups can make for wonderful participatory design sessions!
Try multiple ideas.
Give yourself space to daydream, sketch, or work through creative templates. One I use sometimes is the 9 Ways creative warm up. Try mashing up multiple ideas from your brainstorming. Pushing beyond the first idea can lead to something much more inventive and interesting.
Nine Ways Creative Warm Up
Pick your starting point.
After your brainstorming, finalize one thing. It can be something small, like one line of copy, a theme, a color, a story, or emotion. This can be the seed for the rest of the design, whether that is a brand, piece of collateral, an event.
Build from there.
Play with different combinations. Note how each shifts the mood. Add new elements or layers in: a photo, a texture or pattern.
Finding design inspiration can become a bit of a time sinkhole. Setting parameters like a time limit for brainstorming or putting a cap on the number of concepts to develop keeps things in check. But don’t be afraid to invest in design, as it can be a real differentiator for your brand!
Still looking for more design inspiration? 3 more ideas to try: Field Trips, Magazine Brainstorms, and Mood Boards.