What is your Inspiration for Web/Graphic Design?

What do you do when you need inspiration when you design besides looking at other websites?

I listen to music and play video games for inspiration You?

Edit: Oh, and movies.

I personally think looking at other websites for ideas is a TERRIBLE way to do things. No matter what, then you end up replicating things you saw that you liked.

TV and music are helpful, so are magazines, like the Ikea catalog.

Originally Posted by Bennett I personally think looking at other websites for ideas is a TERRIBLE way to do things. No matter what, then you end up replicating things you saw that you liked.

true true, all you do is mearly "change" a few things from that "inspirational website"

BTW you didnt say what inspires you?

Um normally music or MONEY inspires me lol jkjk. Most of the time i'll just get an idea out of the blue

Inspiration is overrated. It's all about appropriate content presentation, the design will flow with that.

Originally Posted by Blue Ire Inspiration is overrated. It's all about appropriate content presentation, the design will flow with that.

Thats a very cynical way to look upon things though, although i agree that in the end it is all about content presentation and the overall flow. Without inspiration in a designer, surely you lose the essense of design.

Originally Posted by Blue Ire It's all about appropriate content presentation, the design will flow with that.

how do you define appropriate? you an have two extremes and both would still be appropriate presentation.

I'm going to assume the appropriate method would depend on the specific project?

think like a forum skin. you've got multiple styles, but the content is going to be the same. the mentality applies to design outside a forum.