Getting Started
The second step in design methodology is research. Research comes in two parts. There is reseach that must be done to understand the audience and topic for which you are designing, and research to build your idea base. This section will focus mostly on the second kind of research because the first is too broad and varied to cover for everyone in one sitting.
There are many places to get ideas. The world. The library. The cute boy in your history class. However, one of the strongest tools in this process is the Internet. The Internet is full of inspiring ideas, you just have to know how to find them... and that is the purpose of this page. Below is a list of links, with short descriptions of each. Hopefully something here will spark your attention.
Design Portfolios
Portfolios are a great source for design ideas. They are all over the web and some of them are really ingenious.
- Behance Network
- Deviant Art
- The Graphic Design Portfolio of Ben Barry
- Will Duris Photography
- Dave Werner's Portfolio
- I am Christopher King
- RobKellas.com
- Tony Diterlizzi's Imaginopolis
- Ashley Killpack's Portfolio
Inspiring Ideas
Sometimes you just have to immerse yourself in a little bit of culture to spark new ideas and get creative juices flowing. The web is a terrific community in which this is possible. Music, movies and entertainment are industries that thrive off of new ideas, and by checking out their new ideas you may be able to spark your own.