Top 5 Sites for Design Inspiration

It's inevitable that even the most creative minds fall into ruts every once in a while. Whether it's decision fatigue or just a lack of new ideas that has you stuck, I recommend taking a break from your own world and diving into the sea of other people's creativity. There's a vast wealth of talent and amazing innovation in the world, and the internet has brought it all to our fingertips. It's my hope that these 5 resources for design inspiration can bring you a new thrilling jolt of inspiration and motivation to tackle your big projects and look at your work in a new light. We're almost in a brand new year, and I think with a little help from your online community of makers, thinkers, and innovators; can be your most inspiring year yet!


Pinterest:
Let's face it--as internet consumers, we have become obsessively ravenous for images. They come at us from everywhere, they provide us with entertainment, amusement, amazement, inspiration, horror, and delight. If you ever get tired of sifting through a disorganized mass of all this wonderful eye candy, head immediately to Pinterest, the biggest, best candy store of them all. Pinterest is an image cataloging site that allows you to "pin" an image you find online to your personal account. You can sort them by creating themed "boards", which you can share with friends easily through your social networking accounts like Twitter and Facebook. It's easy to search for specific type of photos and follow pins to some of the best visual content out there. The service has been growing like wildfire, so get in on it now!

Desire To Inspire:
This aptly named blog is full of great design inspiration and decorating tips. The site was founded in 2006 by design junkies Kim and Jo. They live in Canada and Australia, respectively, and the share a diverse perspective on interiors, furniture, and a host of other design tidbits. Whenever I feel stuck in a decorating rut, or I need to brainstorm ideas for projects, I turn to this site and instantly find something inspired!


Daily Drop Cap:
If you work in graphic or web design, chances are you've spent a significant amount of time dealing with typefaces. If you have even a passing interest in fonts, illustration, and design, you will want to check the Daily Drop Cap. Designer and illustrator Jessica Hische created a new custom drop cap letter for almost every day in 2009; you would think that a project requiring this kind of regularity would naturally lead a few duds, but not with Jessica at the helm. Every single letter is amazing, inventive, and impeccably designed. The best part? Jessica offers her designs to anyone for use on non-commercial websites, so you can browse away and borrow your favorites!




Colossal:
I have a weakness for great art, and this has lead to countless hours browsing the internet and discovering new favorites. Colossal is one of most thoughtfully curated sites at the intersection of art and design, and is a constant source of inspiration for me. With a focus on manipulated materials and sharp, incisive design, Colossal features work from a diverse range of creative makers from around the world. I'm constantly finding things that blow my mind--like a broom made entirely of shredded money, or an installation of 2000 suspended dandelions.


But Does It Float:
Speaking of amazing sites to discover art; But Does It Float is. The. Best. A little bit unusual, a little bit bizarre, But Does It Float follows a simple equation: you get a collection of big, beautiful images and a quote. The pairings are often ambiguous, but I'm surprised at how much I enjoy pondering the two--it's like a little exercise to get the creative juices flowing each day. Be warned, however, that the site is easy to get lost in for hours, simply gazing, reading, and discovering great artists, writers, and poets you never knew existed.

 

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