A peek inside my creative process
As a graphic designer, I’m always searching for fresh inspiration. Whether it’s a sketch in my notebook, a piece of street art, or a random colour palette I spot on a walk, collecting ideas has become a huge part of my creative process. In this post, I’ll share how I gather design inspiration, why I keep scrapbooks and sketchbooks and how these little collections often turn into the spark for my next client project.
How I collect design inspiration
Inspiration doesn’t always arrive on demand. Sometimes you’re waiting for that “aha!” moment and nothing. That’s why I’ve built a habit of gathering ideas wherever I find them.
Over the years, I’ve collected all sorts of things in my sketchbooks: my own photos, doodles, bold typography, interesting architecture, graffiti, colour combinations that make me stop, even quirky quotes. If it catches my eye, it gets a place in my book.
Why my sketchbooks matter
This started way back in college, when we called them “Personal Development Books.” Looking back through those pages now feels like opening a time capsule. I see how style has evolved, how design trends have shifted, but never less a small idea always grows into something bigger.
There’s no system. I just add what inspires me, even if it’s a little random (yes, once even a dead butterfly I spotted on the pavement ended up in a book!). It’s a way to clear the clutter in my head and make space for creativity.
Turning random finds into creative ideas
My scrapbooks aren’t about finished designs, they’re about planting seeds of ideas. A photo, a sketch, or even a bit of graffiti can spark a chain of thoughts that lead to a new design direction. Sometimes it’s practical, sometimes it’s just fun, but either way, it always fuels my creativity.
So when you look inside a designer’s mind, it’s not tidy or predictable, it’s messy, colourful and full of random ideas that (with a little work) grow into something meaningful.
Final thoughts
This way of collecting inspiration is what keeps my design work fresh and exciting. It’s part of how I approach every project: starting with curiosity, exploring ideas and shaping them into visuals that connect with people.
If you’d like to see how these sparks of inspiration turn into finished designs, check out my portfolio and if you’re looking for a graphic designer who can bring fresh, creative ideas to your project, please get in touch I’d love to hear from you.
