The use of inspirational works by designers to create new ideas
"Designers immerse themselves in environments rich in inspiration: collecting examples, amassing libraries, pinning notes and images around their workspaces, and so on. There is a broad recognition that much of the design proceeds by modification of previous ideas (e.g., Oxman, 1990) and that experts amass collections of examples and precedents to employ in design (e.g., Lawson, 2004). Indeed there are attempts to introduce students to relevant design precedents (e.g., Heylighen and Verstijnen, 2003). However, much of the previous research has tended to focus on reference, recall, and reasoning, and to neglect the vital role of explicit external sources of inspiration in triggering and guiding designers' activities. It appears that many attempts at computer support and most research starts with conceptual design; this paper reports on research which attempts to investigate the even earlier gathering of sources of inspiration and exploration of ideas and hence to understand the mechanisms by which inspiration is harnessed (see also Eckert and Stacey, 2000)."
(Marian Petrea, Helen Sharpa and Jeffrey Johnson, 2006, Design Studies)
Marian Petrea, Helen Sharpa and Jeffrey Johnson (2005). "Complexity through combination: an account of knitwear design", Volume 27, Issue 2, March 2006, Pages 183–222
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Simon PerkinsSHARE
Striking ideas and inspiring showreels
"Maybe you noticed that I'm a big fan of showreels. I like it to see how is the style of an artist in one film. Here I collected 21 fantastic examples you should see. So take the time and you will be impressed by so many stylish pictures and amazing ideas."
(Toni Polkowski)
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Simon PerkinsSHARE
Popular culture blog of the German Spex magazine
"Offizielle Webseite des Sportmagazins für Popkultur. Alle Artikel der Printausgabe sind Online recherchierbar, darunter aktuelle Albenrezensionen. Mit Forum."
(Max Dax)
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Simon PerkinsSHARE
Jim Jarmusch: authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent!
"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: 'It's not where you take things from - it's where you take them to."
(Jim Jarmusch)
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Simon PerkinsSHARE
Ophelia re-visited through vacant expressions and alienating surroundings
"In 1851-1852 John Everett Millais painted a canvas that would become his most famous work: Ophelia. This compelling picture of the tragic heroine of Shakespeare's Hamlet, floating in the water, has inspired artists for generations. Striking parallels to Millais's oeuvre are to be found in the work of contemporary photographers, such as Rineke Dijkstra, Hellen van Meene, Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin. The influence of Ophelia is noticeable in the models' vacant expressions, the hushed atmosphere of the compositions and the alienating surroundings. ...
Ophelia is also referred to in film and pop music. For instance, Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue based their music video where the wild roses grow on the painting by Millais. Another example is the cover picture of PJ Harvey's album To bring you my love."
(Van Gogh Museum)
Fig.1 Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue (1996). "Where the Wild Roses Grow".
Fig.2 PJ Harvey (1995). "Down By The Water".
Fig.3 John Everett Millais (1851-52). "Ophelia".
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Simon PerkinsSHARE
