Why inspiration is key for designers
For designers, inspiration isn’t just about pretty visuals. It’s so much more.
For me, it’s a crucial part of my daily work as a designer - a practical tool that fuels creativity, speeds up decision-making, keeps me in the flow, and kickstarts new projects with ease.
Think about a plumber. When you call someone because you have a problem in your home, the best-case scenario is that they already have an idea of how to fix it. They draw from their experience and knowledge of similar situations. As designers, our inspiration library works the same way — it equips us with solutions, references, and ideas before we even start working on a new project.
Having a well-organized inspiration library gives you a huge advantage. You start projects faster, spend less time searching, and more time creating. Fresh ideas are always within reach, and that’s a secret weapon many designers overlook. Instead of getting stuck, you can maintain momentum and stay focused on solving problems creatively. A curated library keeps you ready.
But here’s the question: where should we organize our inspiration?
For me, it’s crucial to have a Central Source of Truth, a single place where all your inspirations live: typography, colors, layouts, logos, images, books, movies, websites, UI patterns, architecture, a nice drawing and so on. When everything is stored in one easily accessible space, you save time and mental energy. It becomes your go-to resource whenever you need quick answers, fresh perspectives, or a solid foundation for new ideas.
When talking about inspiration, it’s important to highlight that you should not copy someone else’s work. Don’t do that. Instead, learn how to combine different sources of inspiration to create something unique, something tailored to the project you are working on and reflective of your own style.
In my experience, the best designers don’t wait for inspiration to magically appear.
They prepare for it.
