Some examples of items I've collected in my inspiration folder
Sometimes I have a clear picture of how I want to approach a new project. Other times, it’s open-ended, leaving me without a clear themed direction for the graphic design or instructional design. For a long time, I have kept a simple, nondescript manila folder in the bottom right drawer of my desk. In it, I collect Sunday circulars, postcards, direct mail flyers, etc., for when it comes time to create a new layout, color scheme, theme or graphic design. This is akin to interior designers or HGTV-wannabes collating a stack of tear-sheets from magazines. This is a technique that I learned way back in undergrad when I was print-publishing-and-packaging major.
Even farther back in high school when I was on the yearbook and newspaper staff, we collected headlines from magazines and newspapers that we could reuse. We used scissors and glue and pasted the headlines into manilla folders. So whenever we were hard-up for a headline—that is, one that didn’t sound like we were desperate for a headline—we went through the folders. It was and still is a great technique.
Not long ago, I had a teacher recommend to me that she gets her students to collect really good adjectives and puts these either on notecards on a key ring or in a spreadsheet. Whenever the kids need to write descriptive paragraphs or just use better adjectives, she gets them to pull them out.
More recently, I’ve begun to collect cartoons and images that I would like to reuse in my instruction. I use Jumptags to collect my bookmarks, and it also allows you to save images (plus, video and HTML code, too). So, particularly, now when I’m looking for an image to communicate an idea on a slide or in instruction, I’ll save it into my bookmarks, too. Just in case I’d like to reuse it or use it as a source of inspriration.
In addition, a few of the blogs that I subscribe to regularly post unique sources of inspiration for designs, such as skateboard designs, photography and typography. Here’s a list of a few that I am inspired by:
But here’s a few instructional design, development and elearning blogs that I also use for inspiration:
Where do your inspirations for graphic design, message design and instructional design come from? Leave some comments and share, please.
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Here are some previous posts that you may be interested in:
My inspirations for graphic design, message design and instructional design come from the creativity that I love to make. Ever since I was young, I have always loved creating new projects, making scrapbooks, decorating my room, locker, and signs for friends. I took art and digital photography all throughout high school and I loved every minute of it. I think my inspiration just comes from my ability to come up with new things, and the wanting of that. When I decide to either paint, draw, or take a picture of something, I already have a mindset of what I want to accomplish. The surroundings that I have in my life also play a huge role in my inspirations.
This is probably the most helpful website i have been to regarding design and editing. The sources you gave were VERY helpful, i have been looking for a new photo editor, and the other sites were just interesting to look at. I guess to answer your question about what inspires my graphic design or just design in general is from the people around me. Human diversity astounds me, so creating things (aka taking pictures) allows me to capture that beauty, and websites like this help me fine tune the image. So, thanks a lot.
I really like the idea of keeping a scrapbook, if you will, of ideas. It can be difficult to pull inspiration when your creative juices are dry. I was a little confused about how you store them. Did you say that you “paste the headlines in manilla folders” or do you just keep them like a folder? I guess that as long as the clippings are all in one area then the mothod of organization isn’t important. I like this idea a lot. My inspiration for design comes from what my experiences. I might be inspired by a neighbor’s layout of furniture, a friend’s scrapbook, a show on HGTV, etc. I really enjoy the furniture layout. A few years ago, I would rearrange the furniture in my room as often as possible, even if it wasn’t efficient for the space I had. I would be inspired by friends’ rooms and rooms I saw on television. I would mostly say that my inspirations come not from nature or my own mind, but from people.
My inspiration for design comes from ideas that I have seen others do. I like collaborating different ideas together to make one new idea. I also like for my designs to be organized, but festive. Too much design can make one’s eyes hurt. I like the idea of keeping a folder with different clippings of designs, cartoons, and other artwork. I believe that would be a beneficial idea for a lot of people.
I think it’s a great idea to keep a personal folder of things that inspire you to be creative. Also, this could be a great tool in the classroom as you mentioned. I think that everything deserves a little bit of creativity, even in a mathematics classroom, where I would use it. Thanks a lot for sharing these images. My creative inspiration comes from my desire to be organized. Anything I ever create is very visually organized. This blog is great!
My inspirations for graphic design, message design and instructional design come from my imagination because when I was little I always use to draw and color alot so I really like this article alot. I also use to have an Etch-A-Sketch when i was young and I was on it all the time. So I am glad you posted this blog.
This article is a huge help, nto only for those interested in art and design, but everyone else too! Keeping a scrapbook, or a manila folder with different designs is a great idea!! It can definitely be a huge help for students aspiring to be teachers, current teachers, or even just students who are assigned a project in school. My inspiration for design probably comes from seeing other designs and tweeking them to be my own.
My inspirations for graphic design, message design and instructional design come from magazines and many of my friends. I’m not very creative in making up new designs, but if someone starts me off then I can run with it and usually make something really cool. This website gives some great ideas and wonderful resources! I think it’s always good to have backup plans and save materials as you go along. This really helps to organize your ideas when you’re finally ready to create something new and it does give you a little start so you’re not starting from scratch. This is exactly what I need to start doing!
This Website has been very helpful. It is good to now how other people get there ideas. My inspirations for graphic design, message design and instructional design come from my father. He has always come up with creative ideas for my projects, my Website, and even my two tattoos. One thing I found from this page is that would be very helpful is to start collecting flyers and postcards. Thank you for this interesting blog.
My inspirations for graphic design, message design and instructional design come from my childhood experiences. My mom and dad are both school teachers, and I have always wanted to be a teacher. Now I teach first grade. This website is an excellent way to keep ideas organized. I have several scrapbooks myself that I created throughout my highshcool years. I have always loved crafts. I love to incorporate fun hands-on projects for my students to aid their learning in school. I believe making learning memorable is a key factor to learning! This is a great tool which I can use to help organize my ideas. I am glad you have brought this to light for me!
Thanks!
I am not a graphic designer. I am a teacher, and I can identity with your organizational style. I, too, like to store ideas in a folder. Over the last few months of graduate school, I have learned to save creative websites on my bookmark bar. I would like to learn about jumptags. I am not familiar with these, YET.
I also like the idea you share about the teacher having her students save adjectives or important words on notecards or a spreadsheet. There’s a way to integrate technology!