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Members Bonus Content: 25 Super Useful Ways to Get Inspired
Today PSDFAN is launching a weekly phenomenon – Members Bonus Content.
Once a week we will publish a top quality article as part of our regular weeks posting. However, whilst our regular visitors will receive a good amount of content totally free, our VIP members will receive additional parts to the article. This is of course in addition to our weekly members only tutorials, regular tutorials, and regular inspiration posts & articles!
Today we bring your 25 Super Useful Ways to Get Inspired. Whilst the first 10 methods are listed here, the other 15 are only available for VIP members.
Sign up for a VIP Members Account today to access our 75+ source files, plus weekly tutorials, bonus content and downloads!
1. CSS/Website Galleries
Many designers use CSS galleries to inspire their own web design projects. What better what to get inspired than to look through dozens of incredible designs in minutes?
Recommend Inspiration:
Other Inspiration:
2. Design Networks
Design networks are a great way to promote your own work and get inspired by others. Often networks cover a wide range of mediums and professions, so you can easily check out anything from digital art to product design!
Recommend Inspiration:
Other Inspiration:
3. Logo Galleries
Just like with CSS Galleries, logo galleries can provide us with tonnes of inspiration. I personally use logo galleries even when I’m not working on a logo design, simply because the level of talent and creativity inspires my day to day work!
Recommend Inspiration:
Other Inspiration:
4. Design Blogs
There are plenty of design blogs out there, but only a handful provide top-notch content day in day out. These sites work hard to provide us with great inspiration each day.
Recommend Inspiration:
Other Inspiration:
5. Color Pickers
Some websites offer a ‘color scheme’ service, whereby you can create and view color schemes. This can be highly inspirational, as if you’re trying to work out a suitable color palette for your project you can browse the best schemes from the gallery!
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Other Inspiration:
6. Invest in Some Design Books
Blogs and websites are great for inspiration. However, sometimes it can be nice to have a book on your shelf to pick up whenever you’re feeling uninspired. These titles are all really helpful for any designer, and should definitely inspire you!
Recommend Inspiration:
Don’t Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
Other Inspiration:
Layout Workbook – A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design
7. Visit an Exhibition
Too much time spent in front of a computer screen really isn’t good for you. I don’t want to sound like your mother, but often getting out and checking out great art in the ‘real world’ can be hugely inspirational. I often like to visit graphic design and art exhibitions. Check out these intriguing upcoming exhibitions:
Recommend Inspiration:
Other Inspiration:
V&A: Decode (I’ve been this this and it was a lot of fun!)
8. Change Your Desktop
Research has proven that changing your desktop wallpaper can have a dramatic effect on your workflow. I try to change mine reasonably often in order to keep myself inspired. Check out the following resources for some super inspiring wallpapers!
Recommend Inspiration:
30 Stunningly Beautiful Wallpapers
Other Inspiration:
15 More (Really) Stunning Desktop Wallpapers
30 Magnificent High Def Space Wallpapers
35 High Def Wallpapers To Calm and Inspire You
9. Take Notice of Product Packaging
It’s true that inspiration lies in the world all around us. Product packaging is a part of our every day life, yet we often don’t pay attention to it on more than a subliminal level. If you stop and take notice of great design you’ll begin to feel more inspired already! I’ve based several tutorials on cool things I’ve seen in the supermarket before!
Recommend Inspiration:
Beautiful and Expressive Packaging Design
Other Inspiration:
50 Beautiful and Effective Package Designs
Showcase of 54 Creative and Beautiful Package Designs
10. Design Related Discussion and Q&A Boards
Sometimes observing isn’t enough to inspire you. It can be really inspiring to get together with other designers and discuss your favorite designs, design ideas and general design philosophies. Luckily we’ve rounded up some awesome discussion boards and Q&A forums. You can use these resources to get inspired, but also help you with any design problems/issues.
Recommend Inspiration:
Other Inspiration:
Want Inspiration Tips 11-25? Join Our VIP Members Area Today!
About the Author:
Tom is the founder of PSDFAN. He loves writing tutorials, learning more about design and interacting with the community. On a more interesting note he can also play guitar hero drunk with his teeth.
7 Comments:
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Another great list to get inspired!
Great resource listing!
Inspiration is definitely available all over the web, it’s also great to get some offline inspiration too.
Thanks guys!
Melody: The full article within the VIP area lists several offline inspiration methods.
very nice inspirational list… thanks for sharing
thanks for this useful inspiration list… really a gr8 resource
I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They’re really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very short for beginners. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.