What Inspires Your Creativity Outside of Work?

What Inspires Your Creativity Outside of Work?

As tech users, every time we try to spark fresh ideas, new solutions, or even the inspiration to keep creating. But where that inspiration comes from isn’t always in design use or in work itself.

For me, I’ve realized that my creativity is best inspired outside of the office—through plain, ordinary situations.

Nature is a big one for me. Being able to just sit in a garden or walk under trees sometimes clears my head in a way that no screen ever could. The pattern, color, and movement of nature also have a tendency to spark new ideas for layouts or design mood boards.

Music is also another source of inspiration. I find that listening to calming or instrumental music doesn’t just help me chill out, but I am also able to think visually. The random song has the power to inspire a whole direction or concept.

Conversations with other individuals, especially non-designers can give amazingly inspiring. A random conversation with a relative or friend might present me with a fresh concept I never thought about. It reminds me that creativity is not all about visuals, but about connecting to human experience as well.

I also gain inspiration from reading, especially brief posts or design blogs. Even though they’re not necessarily project-specified to my project, the new ideas have a tendency to stimulate new design styles.

In the end, I think that it’s important that we—and especially those in creative fields—don’t limit our creativity to simply “designing.” The world outside of our tools is rich with inspiration, and sometimes the greatest inspirations strike when we’re not even looking.

What about you?

What inspires your creativity outside of the office?

Is it music, books, people, art, or something entirely out of left field?