We artists call that inspiration our "Muse." I think it helps to anthropomorphize it. Because she is fickle. And magical. And capricious. And generous. And cruel. And marvelous. Depending on the day, depending on her mood.
And she can't be chased, captured or tamed. Most designers give up on that approach early in their careers. It would be like capturing smoke. Or that amazing dream you remember when you wake up, but by the time your feet hit the cold bathroom tile, all you can recall is "something about a building with people, and maybe my friends were there…"
No, you've got to trick that Muse. You've gotta sneak up on her, or hide in the dark and wait for her to walk in the room. I know that sounds silly, but I've been doing that for almost 20 years. Waiting while there's a deadline, or an unsatisfied client needing to see another idea. Do I panic? You bet.
But, the secret is knowing how to get her out of her hiding place. I go for a walk or a drive. I watch a TV show I've never seen before. I bombard my brain with ideas, sounds, colors, products, and especially designs. Except I can't be obvious about it. Because she'll see what I'm up to and she'll stay in her hiding place.
Before the interwebs, you had to physically surround yourself with books, manuals, posters, packages, toys, and anything that makes you think and smile. Actually, I still do this, and I think most other designers do, too. I once worked at an agency with a View-Master and a six foot tall Gumby. Stuff like that. There's something about surreality that births design within reality.
Of course, there are now a thousand websites that jar your creativity from every conceivable angle. A couple of my favorites are Creative Bloq and Colossal. But honestly, typing a url at random will start the juices flowing and get that ball rolling. I've found that the Muse becomes insanely curious about what the heck you're up to, and she'll sneak out to get a better look.
And that's when you grab her.
