"where does it come from..."

Retail

There is nothing better than a day at the mall. As a designer I believe that you must keep up with the trends that surround you. Most of the time, our audience is the same as in the retail industry. People tend to accept what is familiar to them.

Other Designers

As I said from the start, you must surround yourself with the best. I can't emphasize how important collaboration is to designers. Often we design great pieces, but they just need a little tweaking to get them to that next level. Designers have to be open and receptive to suggestions. We are often blinded within our own work.

The Educators

Ever read a book by Tufte? Often we get lost in the look of a design and forget the message it is intended to communicate. Reading books and articles by these educators help bring you back to the real world. They make you ask questions. Is simple better? Is my design contributing to the content of the piece? Who is my audience?

Inspiration comes from many different places. We must not just sit in a cubical, and hack away on the computer all day. We must get in the center of things. We must strive for more education. We must see the world. This is what will make us successful.