Raleigh Graphic Design - Where We Get Our Inspiration
Graphic designers are artists. There’s no question of that. Even though in the modern, digital world the work is done online, there are still designers who draw illustrations by hand, scan them and place them into designs. In addition, computer programs have hundreds of design elements that you can modify, place and combine with others to create the picture you want. But where do designers get their inspiration? Raleigh graphic design artists have a variety of options to choose from.
Things They Love
Most Raleigh graphic designers will tell you their primary source of inspiration comes from things they love – their hobbies, their friends and family, their favorite colors. A graphic designer who loves sport, for example, may produce work full of movement, fluid lines, and active elements. One who loves photography may find inspiration in the images he or she sees through the camera lens.
Nature and Your Environment
In a city like Raleigh, graphic designers have a range of natural and man-made options to draw inspiration from. The architecture of buildings such as the post-modern BB&T building at Two Hanover Square in downtown Raleigh was born out of artistic inspiration, and in turn, it inspires designers. Natural scenic beauty, such as that found on the natural trails through the William B Umstead state park, often serves as inspiration for Raleigh graphic designs.
Other Artists
The work of other artists is frequently inspiration for Raleigh graphic designers. From old masters such as Leonardo da Vinci and Van Gogh, through to Picasso and modern-day acclaimed artists, the work of others can serve as inspiration. And of course, the work of other designers, too. Two of the classic designs of our time are the Apple and Yahoo logos, and both have inspired multiple digital marketing designers through their use of limited color, simplicity and the boldness of graphic design statements.
Web Galleries
Online galleries such as Flickr, and more recently, Pinterest, are central repositories Raleigh graphic design artists can use as inspiration. Seattle designer Chad Syme has attracted almost half a million followers on Pinterest, by creating boards of designs and illustrations that he re-pinned from others to keep for inspiration. He regularly hangs out in grocery stores to get a feel of current marketing strategy and trends, and to watch customers to see what draws them and what doesn’t.
Idea Collections
Syme’s Pinterest profile is his choice of medium for storing ideas, but each designer uses individual ways to do so. Raleigh graphic design artists may keep an “Inspiration File,” which could be a hard copy or online collection of designs they find interesting, colors they could use, or fonts they want to emulate. These collections play a vital role in keeping them up to date with what’s out there and the hottest graphic design trends.
Literature
And then there’s literature. From Shakespeare’s word pictures through to Marvel’s comic books, literature has inspired designers since the birth of the industry. Raleigh graphic design artists may find what they need at the library, or they might have to go further afield – geographically or even in time. Mervyn Peake, illustrator of the 1943 edition of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, produced drawings of Gothic exaggeration using a cross-hatching style that inspired the illustrations for various Alice in Wonderland books a decade later.
The world around us is awe-inspiring. Graphic designers are able to put themselves into a creative zone by absorbing the elements of inspiration they find everywhere. Are you are struggling to get in touch with your creative side? Do you need the help of a good Raleigh graphic designer to make a bold graphic statement for your company? Download our free guide with tips for hiring a graphic designer, or let us help you with all your Raleigh graphic design needs. Click on the link below for a free 60-minute consultation with an experienced marketing consultant.
