I don’t think it would be too presumptuous to say that many of us were drawn to the creative field because of the potential for personal expression. It comes in tandem with the services we provide clients. Our work is not necessarily about us personally, but in the end, our fingerprints are all over it. Like any good craftsman, we take pride in our work. The ideal outcome for any project is where the client is thrilled with the results and we as creatives feel like proud parents sending our child off into the world.

This happens when we get excited about the work we’re doing. Sometimes it’s easy: you get a job that’s right up your alley and immerse yourself in it. Other times, projects can be challenging. It seems like what makes a creative professional really shine is the ability to make incredible things happen from the very constraints that seemed daunting at the outset.

I guess for this to happen you need to embrace the challenge and, somewhere along the way, wait for inspiration to strike. It may come to you in your sleep, it may come from a long intense brainstorm session, or it may be sparked by some existing work you’ve seen. However it comes, I think we all have our go-to places for quick inspiration. 

Here are a few I use regularly:

The Web: This one’s obvious, but the Internet is our direct line to what’s going on every day in the creative universe. These are some sites that I’m on almost daily: Behance, Abduzeedo, CardObserver, and Motionographer.

Books: I love books. In my opinion it’s impossible to replace the tactile experience of a good book with a digital screen. Here’s a couple I like:

How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul by Adrian Shaughnessy

Green Graphic Design by Brian Dougherty

The Record Store: We’re lucky to be located right across the street from the only existing record store in town, the Electric Fetus. I go there on my lunch break from time to time just to look at album covers. It’s not the type of work I typically get to do, but it gets me jazzed nonetheless.

Music: Music and creativity go hand in hand. Sometimes it’s good to block out distractions and just get into a rhythm with your iTunes library.

Inspiration is a personal thing and it’s different for everyone. For some people it may be a good cup o’ joe and that perfect yacht-rock song, while for others it’s peaceful silence and a favorite quote. Whatever it may be, that inspiring thing plays a crucial role in the creative process.

What gets you motivated to do your best work? My perspective is that of a designer, but it would be interesting to hear what works for you.