In Search of Inspiration?

Every once in a while when it comes time to be creative, ideas don't flow. Chalk it up to not enough sleep, lack of coffee or simply morning for those of us nocturnal beings. Well, that's when it's time to sit down (with your latte) and put your feet up and flip through a good creative magazine.



 I've been reading IDN (International Designers Network) Magazine for just over a year and have to say, it's full of great, inspiring works from many artistic disciplines that will get your creative juices flowing. Inside can be found everything from 2D Graphic Art, sculpture, wearable sculpture and jewelry, toys, trendy collectables and everything cool in between.

After spending years in Architectural Design School and working for one of Hollywoods top designers (Doug Chiang), I've learned a thing or two about how to break a creative lull. What's very important is that you learn to refresh. Repeatedly looking at the same things we love over and over can spawn a creative boredom. That's why it's important to study other crafts and disciplines, filter, reconfigure, blend and massage what you have seen and then return to your task.

IDN Magazine is a great resource for this type of creative boost because it puts many art forms in one place. I've found sculptures and dioramas that I probably would've never been exposed to in my other typical 2D Computer Graphic magazines or traditional painting books.

Now that I'm Co-Owner of Ziggling Graphic Tees & Apparel, we are always watching to see what other people are doing in the design world and often find it helpful to stay away from our subject matter (decorating apparel) when looking for fresh inspiration and turning to another craft for a fresh breath of air.



Sometimes what you need for your next design project, graphic novel cover or apparel design can come from the unusual texture in a unique paper landscape or the way the light bounces color around a vibrant projection sculpture (above). Sometimes something as simple as a color gradation can inspire the entire color palette or artistic direction for a new design that you are working on, especially if it holds a similar emotional vibe. Decisions like this, that are not arbitrary can always strengthen your piece!

The Magazine:
www.idnworld.com

Creative works at Ziggling Graphic Tees & Apparel:
www.ziggling.com