Inspiration can come from anything. Whether it be a pattern from your grandmother’s quilt or from the scuffs from a pair of worn out leather boots, I believe there is something we can take away and use somewhere else. As a designer, I find myself looking at on patterns on buildings or floor tiles and thinking of ways to bring an aspect of those characteristics to my design work.
While I was in Italy, I found myself doing this a lot. Whether it be the vibrant flower stand on my walk to class or the unique brick on the side of a building in Venice, I found myself taking mental notes on the patterning, color, and shapes. It was all about figuring out what it was about those very things, and why I was drawn to them.
As this blog moves forward, a new series “Inspiration in Anything” will start up in the new year. Below is a sneak preview of what’s to come. No Pun intended.
For the very first set in the series, the inspiration comes from a shoe. Yes, that’s right…a shoe from my favorite online shoe store obsession. I want to prove that inspiration can come from the most unlikely of places. The glitz and the glam of this shoe carries over to the new year’s theme of excitement and new beginnings. When I think about the new year, I think of things like bright lights, sequins, and snow. These very colors, forms, and patterns of this shoe were the inspiration for this New Year’s subtle and glittery background design.
(Once clicked, right-click the image and press “Save Image.” Save to your computer & set as background.)
Inspiration isn’t about copying. It’s about pulling aspects, colors, or forms from one thing in order to make another thing that is completely your own. I’m excited to share this series with all of you. Down the road, I will most likely be opening the “inspiration” items to submission so you can give me a good ol’ design challenge. Whadya’ think about that? What around you inspires you?
Alissa says
Uh…..how did I miss this amazingness????
Liz Brown says
Agreed. Pretty much anything can inspire anything. :D That’s what I love so much about sites like Pinterest, because I’m not super original, but I love spinning off of other folks’ genius. :)
Genna says
I love that print! It’s so gorgeous and plays perfectly off the shoes. I love how easily the inspiration comes to you!