In 99% of interviews with designers we will always get asked the same question! “Where do you get your inspiration from?” It crops up time and time again and is usually answered with the same kind of answer which usually consists of CSS galleries, printed material or the outdoors etc.
I wanted to find out where 30 designers are when they feel most inspired. Was there one place where a creative person can be when all of the ideas come together?
The place where I’m most inspired is absolutely bathroom related, 80% shower, 20% on the pot. However gruesome that sounds, the bathroom is like in inspirational supernova.
Aaron Irizarry – www.thisisaaronslife.com
I would say that I am most find myself inspired most when I am in my backyard, it is very quiet and serene, and usually if I am back there it is some of the only quiet time I get.
Other than that… I am a pretty random person, and inspiration can strike me at any time, from the car to the kitchen… sometimes it just pops into my head.
Oliver Ker – www.oliverker.com
Inspiration occurs in lots of places, I wouldn’t say I go to one place to get inspiration, but If I get some of my ideas is either in car or at that point just before you go to sleep – and I never get to write them down. (the only times I get to think about things)
Sam Brown – http://sam.brown.tc
Super question.
I feel most inspired in two places, the shower, most likely because I’m alone with just my thoughts and the relaxing sound of running water, nothing is better at clearing my head. Also in bed at night trying to wind-down from a busy day working, I always keep a notepad and pen on my bedside table as I often have many great ideas or inspiring thoughts when I’m trying to drift off to sleep. Probably because I’m too busy thinking about the days ahead and what I need to accomplish, any quiet personal time is thus my real answer by the sounds of it.
David Legget – www.betterblogger.net
I find a great deal of inspiration when I’m attending conferences or local meetup groups. People tend to be my source of inspiration, and it’s in places where we convene that I have the opportunity share ideas and perspectives on different interests of mine. These places encourage taking action and promote new ideas for my business, my goals, and my design process. The room itself is not important (we’ve met in universities, hotels, churches, even outside), it’s the gathering of people that inspires conversation and discovery.
Pasquale D’Silva – http://darkmotion.com
For me, it actually is ‘where’ that inspires me. A ‘place’ is the answer to ‘where’.
Places contain an infinite collection of elements that define them from surroundings, people, embedded culture which naturally produce moods and tones. So because places inspire me, I don’t have a single location I am at when I am most inspired. In fact, I was so hungry for more amazing things to stimulate thought, that I just moved across the world ( From Australia, to Vancouver, Canada).
I guess in a generality, I’d say that the places I am most inspired are where there is a bustle of new people. People build culture, so the surrounding environment is also very much shaped by the types of people that exist within them. I’m an animator & illustrator, so life is really an essential resource to draw from. Airports, big cities, bank queues; anywhere with a diversity of people does the trick. I’ll often take a sketchbook out with me to scribble caricatures, & take notes about ideas that spring up. The best ideas seem to come sub-consciously, so just being away from a computer or drawing table is enough to let ideas fire around.
David Airey – www.davidairey.com
It differs, but sometimes I’m inspired in bed. Now I’m not professing to be a sex god. Far from it. I’m saying that being in self-employment makes it difficult to switch off at night, and when I climb into bed I get business / design ideas floating about.
Jacob Cass – http://justcreativedesign.com
I seem to get my best ideas is when I am brainstorming which is usually in my office, on the desk parallel with my computer desk (a whole 180 degree swivel in my chair). I am most comfortable here and this is usually where my ideas come from. Other than that, it would be in bed when trying to go to sleep.
David Perel – http://www.from-the-couch.com
Without a doubt the best place I get inspired is at a specific place and time.
Its on a Saturday night between 7pm and 1 am and its at my desk. The reason it’s at that time is because one of our radio stations plays my favourite music (deep house music) and they play it well. It’s got to the point where I have committed myself to design on a Saturday between those times and it works every time. Obox Design’s ’09 site, all our themes and all our wallpapers were created during those hours.
So for me its at my desk, but at only at a specific time.
Liam McKay – http://www.wefunction.com
I don’t think there’s any one place that stands out as a big source of ideas for me. But one place I do tend to think about ideas and creative solutions a lot clearer, is when I’m driving on my own. I really love being alone in my car listening to my favorite music, enjoying the occasional good weather and relatively good scenery. I think maybe the because I find driving quite relaxing has something to do with the fact I get a lot of good ideas while driving, and also coming home from a quick drive tends to give me an extra boost and thirst for getting my work done.
Jonathan Snook – http://snook.ca
That’s a very interesting question. Mostly, I’m sitting at my chair in my office. Not very exciting, I know. Otherwise, I’m often inspired by buildings and architecture. Therefore, I’ll be inspired when I’m just walking down the street and see a window sign or see a building accent. I try and store those ideas away in the back of my head for when I’m in the thick of designing.
Jon Phillips – http://www.spyrestudios.com
I like that, great idea!
My best ideas and inspiration usually comes at night when I go to sleep. For some reason as soon as I put my head on the pillow, ideas start popping in my head. So I now keep my Moleskine notebook close and write those ideas down.
Chris Coyier – http://css-tricks.com
A lot of times it is where I happen to be about 15 minutes after I’ve left the computer. Could be sitting down to have a bite to eat for example. I haven’t been away from it long enough to have “shaken it off” so my mind is still pretty focused on work, yet I’m taking in all the fresh stimuli of being out and about. I think that combination leads to some “ah-ha” moments pretty regularly.
Much to my annoyance, I have inspirational moment a lot of times as my mind is wrapping up loose ends right before I drift off to sleep at night, which can cause sleep problems since I typically need to wake up and at least jot them down so they are not lost!
Thomas Ulbricht – http://sharebrain.info
So where am I when i am most inspired? Wait …let me think … think think think …. hmmm… think think … seems like sitting in front of the computer don’t inspire me.
So wait a moment, i will be right back … just taking a bath………….. ok back. Well that was nice … and i felt some inspiration coming … but damn … now i am sitting in front of this computer again. and. the.inspiration.goes.away.need food! brb again ……………………………………………………………………….
Ahhh that was good. sitting on the balkony, eating a great non healthy sandwich, watching people on the streets…but still no big inspirations.
Hmmm if i think about it there isn’t such a thing as THE place for inspiration. I think that a creative idea always based on the need to make something better. That can happen everywhere. Even at normaly “not so inpiring places”. So if you take a closer look you must be “everywhere and nowhere” – it’s about where your brain can be.
Inspiration comes from imagination. So where should you be when you want to be inspired? Anywhere you want. 
Elliot Jay Stocks – http://elliotjaystocks.com
Being outside in the midst of nature with hardly anything man-made around is probably when I feel most inspired, I’d say, but that’s a ‘general’ kind of inspiration about everything; not specifically design. In terms of inspiration that has more of an influence on my actual work, I think I tend to be most inspired when flicking through beautiful books. Books about design, books about anything; I just find book design to be extremely inspirational. That moment – where I’m standing in a book shop, looking at all different kinds of books and feeling completely immersed in all those sources of inspiration – that’s when I feel excited about where that inspiration could take me.
Mike Kus – www.thethingswemake.co.uk
Interesting! I’m anywhere normally – i get inspired anywhere… but I guess there are a few recurring places.
When I’m lying in bed in the dark before I go to sleep. I get ideas then I have to keep turning over to type them into my phone as a reminder for the next day.
When I’m out running – today I ran past a shop window which gave me a great idea for a site I’m working.
When I’m listening to music – This can be anywhere. As Soon I put a great record on I think about my work in a totally different way.
When I’m on the train… I guess i get inspired when I’m in a place where I have time to think without interruption.
Lee Munroe – www.leemunroe.com
lol bathroom related was one of the first things that sprung to mind for me too.
Answer: When I’m out for a run; it gives me a chance to get away from work, clear my mind and think about things. Then I’m raring to go once I get back to the laptop. Oh and when I’m at the pub or at friends house having drinks. I always come up with ideas then, but of course they don’t sound as good the next day.
Veerle Pieters – http://veerle.duoh.com
Interesting approach indeed.
I think for me the meaning of “where” would be perceived as “where is my mind” at that moment. My mind is disconnected from the real world at that moment. I’m in a very relaxed state of mind, only focused on what I’m creating, preferably with my favorite (deep house) music in my ears. That’s when I’m at the office sitting at my desk, in production mode as sort of speak. If I’m not working, or at the office, inspiration comes randomly at any place really. It’s all based on what I see and how I’m feeling at that moment: on my bike in the middle of nature, sitting in a couch in a nice modern looking interior, be surrounded with nice colors,… I’m very easily distracted, and it’s at moments like that that my mind wonders off and I get inspired. It could also be in bed, right before I fall asleep, because at that moment my mind is very relaxed.
Chris Spooner – www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk
I actually find a lot of inspiration while browsing clothes stores, the printed promotional signage and labels are often designed using bright colours and abstract designs that tie into a specific theme. This also changes dramatically between women’s clothes, Summer/Winter fashion as well as the more leisure and extreme sports brands.
Jason Santa Maria – www.jasonsantamaria.com
I always seem to come up with my best ideas while showering in the morning.
Grace Smith – www.gracesmith.co.uk
Usually right before i drift into sleep, so i keep my iPod Touch and trusty Moleskine on my beside cabinet for those moments when inspiration strikes. Most of my best ideas have hit at this time so it tends to be a time when the ideas flow naturally for me. I simply jot down a quick summary and bullet points of the main idea, ready to be fleshed out the next day.
In the past i said to myself ‘i will remember that in the morning’, and never did which as most people know is just downright annoying. Due to this it’s been a force of habit to always have a way to record my ideas quickly and efficiently.
Daniel Matthews – www.daniel-matthews.com
I find that inspiration tends to strike whenever I least expect it, whenever I’m away from a computer or as far away from a pen and paper as possible! Which usually means that I forget my best ideas. Thankfully since I got an iPhone, the number of forgotten brainwaves have decreased.
Prior to that though, my secondary place of inspiration was when seated on the toilet! I don’t know why, but it’s the place I seem to think most clearly. I usually bound down the bathroom stairs with a million ideas for whatever I’m working on, after washing my hands of course!
Ryan Downie – www.ryandownie.com
I would have to say I am most inspired when at home, even though I do most of my work at the office for the agency that I work for. It just feels more relaxed and I can listen to music (sadly we not allowed to in the office due to phones etc). Something about working on my own in the late evenings with a bit of music ( whatever it be Eminem, Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, Coldplay etc) seems to really get the creative juices flowing.
Adelle Charles – www.fuelyourcreativity.com
When I’m at my computer I am the least inspired, since I pretty much sit in front of it all day. Believe it or not I’m usually in the car driving when I get a brilliant idea or think of something new. Often times I also get inspired while outside walking my dogs!
Fabio Sasso – www.abduzeedo.com
Usually I’m in front of my computer doing other things but with my sketch book. However sometimes I need to go to other places to refresh my mind. I have to say when I’m practicing exercises such as running or surfing, I always get great ideas too. But one thing that is really important is that I have to understand exactly what I’m looking for in terms of target audience and their needs.
Chris Merrit – www.pixelightcreative.com
Typically I get inspired by other designers, which means I’m usually sitting at my Mac, looking at their work…….not very weird or wonderful.
Daniel Cork – www.corkingdesign.co.uk
I get inspired in many different places. I find the warm morning shower to be a great place, also the boring train journey to work in the mornings is a pretty good too, I always make sure to keep a moleskin in my bag to write down/sketch out ideas. I get inspired in other locations also, these are normally at times when I am relaxing and not really thinking about anything in particular.
Matt Draper – www.identitygraphics.org
Most days its first thing in the morning in my kitchen. As I ponder my days work the ideas simply pop in my head.
I feel rushed some days to get to the computer and get them into form… before my mind looses them forever.
Adii – http://adii.co.za
I’d have to go for when I’m driving in my car (alone) and listening to some proper rock tunes.
Lisa Moseley – www.lisamoseley.com
As it turns out my answer is neither weird nor wonderful really! It definitely is an interesting question, and had me really thinking about where I am when I find inspiration:
“For me, inspiration is often random and surprising. However if I had to narrow it down to a few locations I would say in my car, listing to my favorite tunes loud enough to really feel the music. Somehow the time alone, along with taking in all the surrounding sights, colors, people, movement accompanied by bands I really dig gets me inspired to explore new ideas.
Another is when I’m walking my dogs. No music, no talking, just us and nature. Even just small stroll around my neighborhood is enough to break the cycle and allow new ideas to manifest and grow. I do have to say though, inspiration can often be found anywhere and everywhere- most likely when you’re not expecting it, especially when you’re on a project that is exciting and inspiring in itself
Sarah Parmenter – www.youknowwhodesign.com
My most inspirational place is a little village in Spain called Caleta. I go there every year and since it’s only had electricity the past 10 years the internet isn’t wide spread down there, which means completely switching off from everything. I normally take down some great books, relating to web design, and it gives me time to think through the past years work and where I’d like to be heading toward this time next year when I’m back again…
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who got involved in the post! The emails were flying back and forth over a 10 day period and I really appreciate you all for taking the time out and getting back to me.
So… where are you most inspired?
I’d like to hear from other designers / developers or speakers about where they are when they’re most inspired, leave comments below.
Hey,
thanks a lot for this one. Really interesting to read from all the others.
Greetings,
thomas
My pleasure Thomas. Thanks for getting involved.
Gavin
Gavin thanks so much for asking me to participate, i loved reading through all the interesting answers, great post!
Hey Grace, thanks for stopping by. Some of them were certainly enlightening and David Airey’s response had me in fits of giggles for a while.
Take Care,
Gavin
LOL… I see I’m the only one that went for short & sweet…
Adii sometimes, somethings don’t need a lot to be said.
Definitely NOT at a desk.
On a wool rug, in the garden. With pen and paper. (Or, multiple wireless gadgets!) And, ample opportunity to kick back and imagine with the odd, slithering cloud passing overhead. A little warm wind and sun lets the creative mojo out.
Great insights — and a very good question.
I think I get my best inspiration sitting on the back deck with my iPod. I take a pen and my moleskine out there and just let my brain relax. Like Adelle, I am least inspired at my computer — I work in front of it and do my research and reading there, but the ideas flow when I have yanked myself away from it. I also find sitting on the sand, looking out to the wave very inspirational for me as well. There is some connect between the rhythm of the waves and the synapses in my brain that just seems to work.
Much inspiration there. Great article! Now I have lots of new links to visit.
I think it’s pretty ironic that a common answer was “in bed” or “while going to sleep…”
I’d have to say Barnes & Noble is a given for me. Every time I go there to flip through a bunch of books and magazines, I can’t help but get inspired by others’ ideas and then start to think of how I would have done something or what I would add to it.
And just about anywhere that has creative people who are willing to bounce ideas off of others. A good conversation- anywhere- is bound to spark new ideas and inspire me!
Great post, thanks!
Hi Sarah, thanks for stopping by. I have a huge soft spot for Borders book store. If I could set up shop in that place I’d be set. I love it.
Great collection of responses, there’s some interesting insights in how fellow designers are inspired.
Thanks again for the inclusion.
Great article and some fascinating insight into some great designers!
For me, inspiration comes when I get away from the normal work place, away from the day-to-day distractions. This can be anywhere from sitting in front of the TV late at night, visiting a local cafe, sitting by the river (a personal favourite), taking a drive or heading off for a walk in the woods.
Thanks for the opportunity to share too,
Edward
Gavin,
great list, with some cool answers.. thanks for the opportunity to be a part!
keep it up man
~ Aaron I
Great post Gavin, really interesting to see where everyone else is inspired.
I usually get inspired just after I’ve got into bed and turned my laptop off, perhaps I should get a notepad like Sam Brown…
Annoyingly I always seem to get really inspired whilst I’m on holiday. When that happens I tend to make notes on my phone.
Chris
Excellent post and quite a few repetitive answers there! I get inspired whilst washing my hair in the shower! And great ideas they are too.
I’m like Lee. Running, playing tennis, doing something athletic is the best way for me to clear my head. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share! Enjoyed it.
Thanks for the include here Gavin. It’s great to see all cool answers!
My best, creative ideas come when I am outside of my office. It could be in the shower, the grocery store, or driving down the street. No specific place. No forced brainstorming sessions, or looking at galleries for inspiration.
On a project that I am currently working on, in the beginning comp stage, the color scheme just wasn’t working. This was for a new website, so no branding had been established. The logo and url represent a very specific object, a vegetable. So I knew I wanted the look and feel, and the color scheme, to coordinate with this.
One evening while I was blow drying my hair, the creative spark hit…the colors of the blow dryer, the sleek shape and shine of the dryer, the minimalistic look and feel, and the font and lettering on the blow dryer. I knew I was on to something. The next day, I scrapped the comp I was working on, and started over. The client loves it.
So for me, there is no specific place that are I am inspired by. My best creative ideas come like a lightning bolt, when I least expect it.
Usually it happens when I am in bed trying to go to sleep which can be frustrating.
Great post Gavin & thanks for including me! Funny to see most inspiration has nothing to do with being near a computer…rightfully so!
almost everyone agrees… right before you go to sleep. that´s it for me too. oh, and swimming. And I must agree with Fabio Sasso, while you´re on the computer doing projects, you get ideas on other ones.
My inspiration comes when I’m driving and when I’m starting to sleep, on my bed not the car
For new ideas biking, waiting rooms with lots of magazines, long trips in the car (when my wife drives) and the shower are great places for me to get inspiration. Basically when I’m relaxed and there’s nothing else I can be doing. The problem with the shower and biking is there’s no way I can write down or sketch out my ideas right way.
Nice article!
Chris Coyier, that sounds just like me. Lets start an insomniacs club.
I have one ideal time and that’s in the middle of the night. Watching something random on the Tv with my wife. The kids are sleep, clienT work has been wrapped up and I’ve already went on a rant or two about my day. My head is clear and am being entertained. Ideas just come to me then.
Second, is a place. That place, is anywhere. As long I’m surrounded with other creative people doing something very uncreative. Wether it be drinking, playing poker, or visiting the range. I always find that creative people when together create cool things when they aren’t actually trying to.
oh well, i must admire – beautiful and unique post. While reading and actually creating more catchy articles for users, such post become a scarce
great that you got answers from really well known designers
Great group interview, I love learning things like this about my favorite designers. When I need to be inspired, I tend to try to get outside. Something about the fresh air and beauty of nature quickly inspires me every time.
Never near my computer. Never where I have to work. Like most of this creative people I get inspired while I am in the shower, in my car listen to good music or when I go to bed. I have a new question for all of you… ¿How can we take the inspiration we get in the bathroom, in our cars or in bed to owr place of work?
Wow an amazing list of names. Great job of pulling this entire post off and putting it together. Some awesome reads as well as amazing sites up there.
Having read this, I will take longer showers.
Hardly anybody (actually, maybe no one) said sitting in front of a computer/staring blankly at design galleries helps. I think that makes sense…you absorb good design like a sponge for hours on end, and then you go and make dinner or drive to a bookstore or SHOWER, and all the things you’ve seen ferment in your brain until an idea produces itself.
Sometimes in an emergency I grab a pen and write ideas on my hand. It’s the most convenient canvas.
Great idea for a post Gavin, enjoyed reading through it. Interesting that no one seems to be inspired while at the computer browsing the net, probably because there’s too much to consume or there’s always something that needs done. Thanks for the include
Nice post. I seems to be most inspired in my sleep. Always got pen og paper next to the bed so im ready when the gold comes rushing.
LOL. This article basically just tells it is completely different for everybody. I usually find mine while working. I don’t draw I don’t plan I just start putting elements together until I am happy with the end product. It’s more like clay modeling for me. So far that has worked out great for me. I enjoy getting inspiration while I work. I completely turn my work switch off when I am not working. That’s the reasons most artists hate graphic designers. My art doesn’t drive me nuts.
Great post.
I would say I am most inspired when I’m sifting through my large collection of books (and it isn’t always from a design book). I’m also inspired by viewing the work of others and understanding why and how they developed their own ideas.
Great Post!
I get inspired by other designers, while i am browsing, when i saw brochures….
I have to say that the reason most people are creative before bed is because all the stress and worry about the day has probably been shut off of dealt with for the day. I am creative when I am not being pushed, pressured or watched. Sure, I can get the work done under those circumstances but its not nearly as creative.
When everybody else is in bed and I am listening to electronic music I seem to open up and let the creativity flow.
Sarah Parmenter! Anyone else noticed how hot she is? Pretty good looking designs as well =) OT: i get my inspiration while taking the dog out on long walk while the sun is shining (but if its too hot i really have a hard time getting inspired, thinking is hard as well)
One thing common in all
They inspired just before go to sleep
Thank for sharing
I’ve never been able to force out ideas, they always seem to pop up when I least expect it. Though I tihnk I can narrow it down to when I get a new project that seems like fun – lots of ideas just flow like a waterfall, and also when I’m visiting my big family a hundered miles from the city. Playing with the children in the day, then the ideas start dripping down when I’m alone at night, with dimmed lighting and listening to the silence.
Awesome! … great to get an insight into all these designers .. thanks for sharing this ….
Awesome article…thanks for this..
Europe has been the most inspiring place for me. London is great for music, Florence for art, Spain for cuisine… love it all.
Me too while driving, specially long distances alone.
Is there anyone really sincere…..
Sitting on the W.C. taking a dump or reading the newspaper always gives me ideas or solutions to coding problems.
So everytime I must “evacuate”, I carry around a notepad and some pencils jaja
Silla!
This is a nice read. My inspiring place is my home, it’s where I’m comfortable and where I can relax. I’m lucky, I have beautiful scenery here too and if my mind starts to trail I take it as a hint that I need a break and can always get outside and take a walk in the countryside.
I research a lot… them I go out for a walk ou run, listening to pop, rock, anything that shakes me up! I come back and take a long shower. I watch a show, read a book, whatever keeps me away from the job but inspires me like watching House or a nice book. When everybody is already sleeping, I sit with a large Diet Coke, full of ice, and start working. I draw a lot, I keep closing my eyes, trying to see where I want to arrive….. I usually don’t stop till the full design concept is finished. Till I have a psd. It’s probably morning then I go to bed for a few hours befora going to the office. That’s it.
it’s funny that so many said that they get most inspired in bed right before sleep, because that’s what happens to me all the time.
I sometimes take notes, but unfortunately, most of the coolest details fade away until the next morning.
it would be interesting to analyze this, maybe there’s a way of getting more out of it when we understand it…
That is a wonderful concept. I really believe it will turn out to be a valuable piece of information in the future for me.
I get my inspiration here http://www.99graphicdesigns.com
Very interesting question of ‘Where are you most inspired’, great that you have gathered all this information from the interviews of designers, and maybe the inspiration of just before someone goes to sleep is because you are so relaxed? Thanks very helpful.
I really believe it will turn out to be a valuable piece of information in the future for me.!!