Inspiration Archives
The Creative License
August 03, 2006 | Comments Closed
The Creative License by Danny Gregory is a really fun read. It’s a beautifully illustrated and highly entertaining book that’ll dip you head first into a world of creative expression, art and fun.
The book starts of with some inspirational stuff about creativity and how anyone who wants to can be creative. For naturally creative types there is also a cautionary tale about how easy it can be to stifle you creative nature.
Very quickly though you move from reading to doing. Danny (I’ll use his first name because I feel as if he’s my pal after reading the book!) starts off teaching you how to draw. As someone who is a so-so drawer (is that a word?) I found the exercises fun and helpful, and I’m pretty sure I’m getting better as I practice. He goes on to talk about and show you all sorts of fun and creative exercises all pulled together with art, humor and some truly valuable insight.
I can’t recommend this book enough. To pretty much anybody. It’s a light, fun and inspirational read that will help you be more creative regardless of how creative you feel you are. As Danny says, it’s “dedicated to you, the artist” no matter who you are.
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Veer is the coolest!
July 14, 2006 | 
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Veer not only makes my work easier and my designs better, they inspire me quite regularly. Today they absolutely made my week by sending me “The World’s Greatest Activity Book For Creatives Ever.” Thank you, Veer!
(Notice, they even know how to spell “ever.” I know a few people who could use some help with tha!)
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Five Things For Creativity
January 20, 2006 | 30 Comments
A while back a friend and I were talking about “things” that got our creative juices flowing. Those items or ideas that can spark off a serious idea storm? It was really fun to group a string of things together and think of them all at once. That seemed to really help get some interesting ideas going.
Shortly after and just before a “concepting” session (which is usually how I kick off the heart my design process) I wrote down, off the top of my head, five things that inspired me. I had my client firmly in mind, but I didn’t limit myself to things related to the job. The answers I came up with didn’t have everything to do with the actual work, but thinking about those things and going through the exercise, got me into a creative frame of mind.
What followed was once of the best concepting sessions I’ve ever had. That session resulted in probably the best work I’ve done to date. I’ve been using the method, to great effect, ever since. It works great for writer’s block.
So, I thought I’d throw it out to y’all. Can you tell us five things that inspire you creatively? Here are five from me:
- Locks and Keys.
- Maps.
- Family trees.
- Secrets.
- Vampires.
See, that’s an interesting bunch, taken off the top of my head. With those five things alone you could formulate a plot for a novel that rivals Stephen King’s best! And for the fine artist or designer the visual possibilities are endless.
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GigPosters.com!
September 13, 2005 | 10 Comments
I just wanted to take a second and point out a really cool Web site: GigPosters.com.
I saw these guys are this year’s Flatstock which was amazing. What they’ve done is taken a bunch of different rock and show poster designers and made a killer megagallery of, yep, gig posters. They’ve also got an ebay style “classified ads” system that lets people buy and sell the posters and other rock paraphernalia.
Like Tara McPherson’s work? I do. I totally want this Futurehead’s poster. Like The Heads of State? I do. They do a great Ted Leo poster that you can talk about there also.
Gigposters has all that and tons more. It’s so fun to browse their site (either by designer or artist) and look at all the great work there. You can even post comments on the posters and get info about various designers. Oh, and of course browse the classified ads for something cool to buy.
If you’re into art, posters or rock, you should check out GigPosters.com.
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On Design Inspiration
June 13, 2005 | 6 Comments
Lately I’ve not had time to really design things the way I’d like to. I’ve got lots of content production projects going on and I’m not really doing design anymore at my day job.
I’m finding that I’m missing it. As much as I love to write and wear all sorts of hats, I can’t help but feel my design-self is missing out. I’m hoping to do something about that soon. I’m done launching sites, for now anyway, as I feel I’ve extended as far as I can manage under current circumstances, so I should have some time.
I don’t really want to redesign Asterisk, as I’m happy enough with it for now. So now it’s just a matter of what to design? I’ll need to think on it, but in the mean time there is so much going on to get excited about as it relates to design.
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Currents 9
May 21, 2005 | 2 Comments
Currents 9 was a darn cool event. I was a little bit skeptical, to be honest, but it turned out great. Most of the sessions and talks I attended were great and while I can’t say there was a ton new for me; I did learn some things, met some cool people, had a great time and got some great ideas and inspiration out of the event.
I just figured I’d give y’all a quick run down on some of what was going on there, and come with a quick over all rundown of the event.
In general it was nice to see this kind of event well attended and full of energetic and optimistic folks. Between this and this years SXSW I’m really starting to get the feeling that our related industries might be pulling towards some great things. Either way, I left energized and full of ideas.
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A Short Search For Inspiration
April 16, 2005 | 2 Comments
It’s funny how things come full circle.
The other day I awoke, as I often do, with an idea in my head. I quickly jotted it down in my Idea Journal, and I began a search for inspiration to help me find a way to visualize and explain this idea.
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