My Creative Process: The 4 E’s - Explore
Part 2/4
In the last post, I spoke about the "Evaluate" stage of my creative process, where I try to establish solid foundations for each project. Now, it's time to unleash the fun part: The Exploration phase! This phase is all about igniting my imagination, gathering inspiration, running ideas / prompts past ai and experimenting with different possibilities in regards to colours. It's where the spark of an idea first takes flight, and it's often my favourite part of the journey.
Inspiration Stations: Fueling the Creative Fire
Exploration begins with actively seeking inspiration. I like to think of myself as a creative sponge, constantly absorbing visual influences from various sources. Here are some of my go-to websites that consistently spark my imagination:
Creative Boom: This website celebrates creativity across various disciplines, from oadvertising and illustration to animation and product design. Creative Boom showcases innovative projects, insightful interviews, and thought-provoking articles, providing a well-rounded perspective on the creative landscape.
Awwwards: Renowned for its annual awards program recognizing outstanding web design and development, Awwwards is a treasure trove of cutting-edge digital experiences. Here, I can explore innovative website layouts, user interfaces, and interactive elements, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the digital realm.
Dribbble: Dribbble is a vibrant online community for designers and creative professionals. The "Shots Popular" section showcases the most liked and viewed work on the platform, offering a glimpse into current design trends and popular styles. Here, I can discover fresh design approaches, innovative typography choices, and inspiring color palettes.
The Dieline: This website focuses on the world of packaging design, showcasing creative and functional packaging solutions from around the globe. The Dieline provides valuable insights into branding strategies, product presentation, and the power of thoughtful packaging design.
Creative Review: Creative Review offers in-depth critiques and analysis of creative campaigns, advertising work, and design projects. By delving into these critiques, I gain valuable insights into the thought processes behind successful creative endeavours, learning from both triumphs and shortcomings.
Pentagram: A world-renowned design studio with a rich history and a stellar reputation for excellence, Pentagram consistently produces groundbreaking work across various design disciplines. Exploring their portfolio is a masterclass in design thinking, branding, and visual storytelling.
Design Studio: In my opinion Design.Studio have worked on some of the best projects I’ve seen recently for example the Premier League rebrand and the brand evolution of Borussia Dortmund. The studio showcases their best work and its a standard to aim towards.
Hypebeast: A leading platform for streetwear culture and trends, Hypebeast offers a unique blend of fashion, art, design, and music. It's a great place to discover emerging artists, explore bold graphic design choices, and stay on top of the latest visual trends.
These websites are just a starting point, of course. Inspiration can be found anywhere – from a walking the dog to a conversation with a friend. The key is to be open to new experiences and new environments.
Experimenting with Fonts and Colors: Finding the Perfect Fit
Once I'm brimming with inspiration, it's time to translate that energy into tangible elements. Font selection and color exploration are crucial aspects of my exploration phase.
Fonts: Choosing the right typeface sets the tone for the entire design. I experiment with different fonts, considering factors like readability, personality, and brand alignment. Websites like Google Fonts and Adobe Fonts offer vast libraries to explore, allowing me to find the perfect typographic voice for each project. I recently found a designer who created a font using Sriracha sauce which I think would be a good font for a project in the future so its always good to collect any that catch your eye so you can use them when the moment arises.
Colors: Colors evoke emotions and influence user perception. During exploration, I create mood boards and experiment with various colour palettes. Tools like Adobe Color and Coolors help me explore colour combos that resonate with the project's goals and target audience. I also find inspiration for colour palettes in the work of artists such as KAWS and Daniel Arsham whose use of colour often pushes boundaries and evokes unique moods and atmospheres. I'm also drawn to the natural world, and often find inspiration in the colors of seascapes, rivers, and the countryside. The muted tones and earthy hues I've observed on dog walks have even influenced some of my branding and artworks in the past.
Mood Boards: A Visual Representation of Inspiration
Mood boards are a powerful tool for visually representing my ideas and gathering inspiration. I collect images, textures, colors, and even physical objects that evoke the desired mood and aesthetic for the project. This visual collage helps me to define the overall tone and direction of the design.
Sketching and Ideation: Bringing Ideas to Life
Sketching is an essential part of my exploration process. It allows me to quickly translate my ideas into visual form, experimenting with different layouts, compositions, and concepts. I use sketching to explore various possibilities, refine ideas, and develop a deeper understanding of the design challenge.
Understanding the Competition: A Strategic Advantage
While inspiration is vital, it's equally important to understand the competitive landscape. By analyzing competitor designs, I gain valuable insights into market trends, identify potential gaps, and ensure my design stands out. Here's how I approach competitor analysis:
Identify key competitors: I start by pinpointing the main players in the market space relevant to the project. This might involve researching similar brands, products, or services.
Analyze their visual identity: I take a close look at their logos, branding materials, websites, and marketing collateral. I pay attention to their use of fonts, colors, imagery, and overall design style.
Identify strengths and weaknesses: By analyzing competitor designs, I can identify what works well and what could be improved. This helps me avoid replicating existing solutions and allows me to develop a design that offers a unique and compelling value proposition.
Riding the Wave of Trends: Finger on the pulse
The design world is constantly evolving, and staying on top of trends is crucial for creating work that feels fresh and relevant. However, it's important to avoid blindly following trends. Instead, I use them as a springboard for exploration, incorporating elements that align with the project's goals and target audience. Here's how I stay informed about design trends:
Industry publications: Subscribing to design publications, blogs, and newsletters keeps me informed about the latest trends, technologies, and industry news.
Design conferences and workshops: Attending industry events provides opportunities to learn from leading designers, network with peers, and gain firsthand insights into emerging trends.
Social media: Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Behance are invaluable resources for discovering new talent, exploring emerging styles, and staying connected with the design community. Thanks to social media I’ve found some amazing designers such as Aaron Draplin, Trey Ingram and Jessica Walsh.
Film: Film has always been a significant source of inspiration for me. From the vibrant color palettes of Wes Anderson to the iconic title sequences of Saul Bass, and the dark, brooding atmospheres of Christopher Nolan films, filmmakers have a unique ability to capture mood, create atmosphere, and tell compelling visual stories. I often analyse the visual language of films, paying attention to cinematography, set design, and costume choices, to extract design inspiration and apply it to my own work.
The Importance of Feedback:
Throughout the exploration phase, I actively seek feedback from trusted colleagues, connections and even potential clients. This helps me to refine my ideas, identify potential issues, and ensure that I'm on the right track. Constructive criticism is invaluable in helping me refine my concepts and develop a stronger, more effective design.
The exploration phase is a dynamic and iterative process. It's about experimenting, discovering, and allowing my creativity to flow. By embracing inspiration, exploring different possibilities, and actively seeking feedback, I can ensure that my designs are not only visually appealing but also effective and impactful. Welcoming feedback makes the process feel like a team effort and helps with buy in with ideas being shared at any point.
Summary
The exploration phase is a critical step in my creative process. By actively seeking inspiration, experimenting with different elements, and analysing the competitive landscape, I lay the groundwork for innovative and impactful design solutions. This phase is about embracing curiosity, pushing creative boundaries, and discovering the unique and compelling ideas that will bring the project to life.
In the next post, I'll share the "Execute" stage of my process, where I bring my ideas to life and aim to create designs that stand the test of time.