One unconventional source of inspiration that led to a breakthrough in my work was studying the natural patterns and colors found in the Swedish forests, particularly at a specific place in Sweden close to where my parents live. There’s no electricity there, so it’s completely silent and calm. Observing the organic forms of the moss and the blueberry and lingonberry bushes and translating their complexity, movement, and patterns into my designs not only enhanced the visual appeal of my work but also brought a sense of depth and natural flow that resonated deeply with my audience for a specific project. By integrating these elements, I was able to create compositions that felt both innovative and timeless.
When I'm looking for creative inspiration, one unconventional go-to place for me is the grocery store produce section. There are so many natural, earthy and sometimes shockingly vibrant colors there. From tropical fruits like mangoes, pomegranates and dragon fruit to the rainbow of turnips and beets, there's always a feast for your eyes. In addition to the yummy sights, I can also feed my other senses of touch, taste and smell so it's always a place that makes me feel creatively replenished.
It's hard at times to pinpoint isolated sources of inspiration, unconventional or not, since we are always impacted by our environments—both, consciously and subconsciously. However, there are avenues of input that I have intentionally placed myself to orient my mind and creative outputs. Music is an easy one that comes to mind—whether it is motivation from the notes themselves, or further, noticing the textures or space in certain songs that provide insight to a visual application. One of my favorite sources of inspiration comes from my kids' drawings and doodles—the complete lack of the fear to create and experiment and share is magical.
One unconventional source of inspiration that has led to a breakthrough in my work is tuning out the noise and embracing new avenues. Here’s why this works for me. I'm an event designer, so I often need visual inspiration for my clients to understand the concept. As often as possible, I try to avoid using images from other events and rather use inspiration images from other industries to convey my vision. I've unfollowed everyone in the same line of business as me because I can't afford to be influenced by their work or thoughts. I need to be fully within my own mind and creativity to create my best work. I’ve started experimenting with AI for this very reason. I want to create my own inspiration images instead of relying on what’s already out there. How else can you create something completely new? By stepping away from the usual sources and creating my own visuals, I can come up with more innovative and original designs. So, being open to embracing new technology and looking beyond my industry has been a game-changer for me.
As a web designer, I love to use editorial print design to inspire me for web work. It's easy to get into a flow of grids, because that's the fastest path when it comes to dev work. But pixel-perfect print design is so fun to pull into web design and push the boundaries of what's expected.
As a web designer, I find inspiration in surprising places. One breakthrough came while browsing an art exhibit. The use of negative space and minimalism in a series of modern paintings sparked an idea. I adapted this concept to web design by incorporating more white space and simplifying page layouts. The result was cleaner, more user-friendly websites that emphasized imporrant content. Clients loved the modern, uncluttered style. A big lesson I've learned is to step away from the screen. Experiencing art, music, nature, or another culture can reveal fresh perspectives that translate to web design. The next game-changing idea could be waiting in the most unexpected place. Keep your eyes open and let inspiration strike.
My creative partner and I engage in a practice we affectionately call "Big Paper Day." We lay out the largest sheet of paper we can find, covering as much of the table as possible, and grab an array of colorful markers. Setting aside our computers, we dedicate the day to scribbling down all our big ideas and creative sparks. This manual method of brainstorming stimulates our thinking in unique ways, and by the end of the session, the paper is alive with vivid notes and sketches. We abide by one rule: no idea is too minor or extravagant; all thoughts are welcome. It’s all about generating ideas without the pressure of immediate solutions. Even if an idea isn’t perfect, it often leads to other insights, making every contribution worthwhile.
As the founder of Grooveshark, a music streaming service, I’ve found that unconventional inspiration often stems from unexpected places. One of Grooveshark’s biggest breakthroughs came from observing how people find new music on YouTube. We realized that YouTube’s playlist feature allowed people to curate and share music in an engaging way. We adapted this by creating a similar playlist feature that allowed our users to find music through friend recommendations and curated genre stations. This feature became core to our service and was crucial to gaining new users. Sometimes a simple feature used in an unexpected way can lead to innovatoon. The key is to look outside your industry and see how different platforms and services are engaging their users. You never know where your next big idea might come from.
As the founder of Anthem Software, a digital marketing agency, one unconventional source of inspiration for me has been observing nature and how systems evolve and adapt over time. I've applied this philosophy to many client strategies by focusing on incremental improvements and growth versus massive overhauls. For example, when revamping a client's email marketing campaigns, we started by adjusting one email at a time based on open rates and click-throughs. We tested different subject lines, content, images, and CTAs to see what resonated most with their subscribers. Over 6-8 months we were able to increase their open rates by 32% and click-through rates by 28% through incremental changes and optimization. Another unconventional source of inspiration has been reading biographies of influential leaders in other industries. I recently read Shoe Dog, the memoir of Phil Knight, Nike's co-founder. His perseverance and willingness to adapt to changes in the market inspired me to take more calculated risks in my own business. I've since launched a podcast, started a YouTube channel, and built new partnerships, which have led to exciting opportunities.
Unconventional Inspiration for Visual Creatives The most unconventional Source of Inspiration that has led me to a breakthrough is fiction. Whenever we read fiction, we start imagining a world where anythign is possible and all the traditional laws do not apply. This helps in stirring up our minds and conjuring solutions that we wouldn't have thought of. This is why seeing or reading fiction is inspiring in itself.
As the founder of Plumb, a creative branding agency, one unconventional source of inspiration for me came from observing nature. I noticed the simple complexity and harmony in natural systems. We adapted this strategy for a environmental consulting firm by focusing on the passion of the people and the meaning behind their work. We crafted an identity centered on a sense of place and provoking wonder in our environment. The deeper our visitors digd into the website, the more meaning they finded. From the tagline to the visuals, every detail aimed to inspire and motivate. Looking to the intricacies of natural systems provided a breakthrough in how to make complex topics more engaging and meaningful.
As a Fractional CMO, one unconventional source of inspiration for me has been observing interactions on social media and how people share and engage with different types of content. I’ve applied insights from trending hashtags and viral threads to develop social media strategies for clients focused on starting conversations and building communities. For a client in the outdoor gear industry, we incorporated popular hashtags like #optoutside and #tripawaits into their social media content. Within a month, their engagements increased over 50% as people finded and shared their posts. Reading biographies of business leaders has also inspired breakthroughs. After reading about Sara Blakely, Spanx’s founder, I suggested a client in the shapewear niche start a video series spotlighting real customer stories. It led to a 20% boost in sales as people connected with the brand’s mission. Unconventional sources of inspiration abound; you just have to open your eyes to them.
As a product designer focused on AI, my work often involves abstract concepts that are hard to visualize. One breakthrough came while watching science fiction movies for inspiration. The way they brought AI and futuristic technology to life sparked an idea. I realized I could apply a similar creative vision to my product designs. The result was an AI assistant with a personality, visual style, and brand that resonated more with users. Another source of inspiration has been observing people interact in public places. By watching how people naturally communicate in real life, I gained insights into designing conversational AI experiences that feel personal and engaging. Things like humor, empathy, storytelling, and open-ended questions are concepts I’ve adapted to make my AI designs feel warm and personable. A lesson I’ve learned is that technology needs a human touch. Stepping away from the tech and into the real world where people live and interact, reveals new ways of thinking about AI and product design. The next big idea could be waiting at your local coffee shop. Keep observing, and let the inspiration flow.
As the CEO of ENX2, a digital marketing agency, one unusual source of inspiration for me came from observing how major television networks were promoting their primetime lineup. I noticed they were releasing teasers and sneak peeks of new shows on social media to build anticipation. We adapted this strategy for a law firm client by creating short video “teasers” highlighting different practice areas and attorneys on the firm’s social media profiles. This built interest in the firm and gave potential clients a glimpse into the firm’s culture and expertise. The teasers were so successful the firm asked us to produce a full video series. Promoting a professional services firm is challenging, so thinking outside the legal industry and borrowing strategies from entertainment marketing was a breakthrough. The teasers and video series have become a cornerstone of the firm’s content marketing and business development efforts. Looking to unexpected industties and platforms is a great way to gain new perspectives.