Are you the type of designer who thinks that you don't need to see other people's work because you don't want to be known as someone who is been influenced by other's work? Sadly, I know a few of them.
For certain artsy types, they pride themselves in saying that everything they do is original. This is not such a bad thing at al! Who wants to copy someone else's work anyway, right? But then, my argument is how will you know that what you are doing is really an original if you do not know what is out there. Also, would you know what is good and great outside if you dont' look?
I am of the camp that thrives on inspiration coming from other designers' work. The keyword
here is inspiration. There are a lot of great sources out there.
That is why it is very important for any "creative" person to be always on the look out for great design that may be used as inspiration for future projects.
In my office, I keep a box I call my "idea box." In this box, I stash pieces of direct mail, magazine ads, brochures and other design ephemera that I think is great design. I especially like the promo mailers of paper manufacturers who are known to be all-out in giving creative license to their designers to show off what their paper can do.
I visit this box from time-to-time which I have accummulated for the last few years. I am especially privileged that I can request great design samples from the US and receive them here. The best part is that most of these samples I get are FREE!
Then there are the works of famous and not-so famous designers. You will be surprised at what these people can do. You also realize that what you thought was your first-class work, really isn't. Its a sad reality.
Email me your feedback at edwin@edwinarceo.com
For certain artsy types, they pride themselves in saying that everything they do is original. This is not such a bad thing at al! Who wants to copy someone else's work anyway, right? But then, my argument is how will you know that what you are doing is really an original if you do not know what is out there. Also, would you know what is good and great outside if you dont' look?
That is why it is very important for any "creative" person to be always on the look out for great design that may be used as inspiration for future projects.
In my office, I keep a box I call my "idea box." In this box, I stash pieces of direct mail, magazine ads, brochures and other design ephemera that I think is great design. I especially like the promo mailers of paper manufacturers who are known to be all-out in giving creative license to their designers to show off what their paper can do.
I visit this box from time-to-time which I have accummulated for the last few years. I am especially privileged that I can request great design samples from the US and receive them here. The best part is that most of these samples I get are FREE!
Then there are the works of famous and not-so famous designers. You will be surprised at what these people can do. You also realize that what you thought was your first-class work, really isn't. Its a sad reality.
Email me your feedback at edwin@edwinarceo.com