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Veerle is one of the fascinating minds behind Duoh!, whose love for design in all its various forms shines through. She is a graphic/Web designer hailing from a … More about Veerle

Breaking Out Of The Box: Design Inspiration (September 2016)

Quick Summary

Inspiration isn’t tied to a specific timeframe or shows up when you need it. There isn’t a magic formula to rely on. Luckily, this year’s summer vacation was fruitful in providing us with many visual stimuli to get the creative process going. Enjoy! This illustration, just like all the other ones featured in today’s article, takes on curiosity and exploration of different tastes and flavors. Its composition and color palette are truly inspiring.

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Inspiration isn’t tied to a specific timeframe or shows up when you need it. There isn’t a magic formula to rely on. Luckily, this year’s summer vacation was fruitful in providing us with many visual stimuli to get the creative process going. Enjoy!

Further Reading on SmashingMag:

The Hollywood Reporter

This editorial illustration for the Hollywood Reporter has a really nice style. The face expressions are so well done with just a few simple lines. That’s not easy to accomplish!

Image credit: Ale Giorgini. (Large preview)

Wanderlust Alphabet #A

A fantastic series to get the travel bug. Just by looking at this you’ve probably already guessed that the ‘A’ in this case stands for ‘Amsterdam’. Lovely usage of two complimentary colors cleverly applied, especially to add depth into shadows and highlights.

Image credit: Jack Daly. (Large preview)

Wanderlust Alphabet #B

Second installment of the travel bug illustrations I’ll be sure to follow. The letter ‘B’ stands for ‘BarcelonaÄ. Again, look at how depth is created by using a strong color palette and this beautiful clean 2D style. The famous parts of this city are so well done with such simple lines.

Image credit: Jack Daly. (Large preview)

Giphy Pool

James Curran is one of the masters of animated gifs to watch. This one made laugh and is so colorfully pleasant. And look at that jump! Just perfect.


Image credit: James Curran>

Slack — Work Simplified

Great integration of the colors used by Slack. It shows how crazy work life is. Beautiful illustration style. Just perfect branding material.

Image credit: Multiple Owners. (Large preview)

Stamps Inspired (1965)

Illustration based on original stamps from Bulgaria. Quite beautiful! I love the bright yellow in combination with the darker color, as well as the red and orange tones.

Image credit: Fe Ribeiro. (Large preview)

Saga Magazine

I first noticed the interesting structure/texture that works so well with the chosen colors. Love the circles, and ‘straight’ 90° lines — very geometrical. Feels a bit like a puzzle.

Image credit: Jonny Wan. (Large preview)

Vans Surf Pro Classic

The colors just pop so magnificently off the screen in this surf-related illustration. Very fitting for the subject. Inspiration came from late 80s and 90s surf artwork.

Image credit: Ian Jepson. (Large preview)

Firenze Duomo

Lovely illustration of the Duomo in Florence. Color palette is on point. Tasty texture, too. Simply beautiful to look at and get inspired.

Image credit: Bailey Sullivan. (Large preview)

In The Woods

Well taken shot of one of my favorite moments in the month of May. The smell is just overwhelming of these beautiful bluebells. Magical light and bokeh.

Image credit: Kirstin Mckee. (Large preview)

Mastercard Campaign

Some clever use of white space. The dog is just so awesomely done.

Image credit: Stephen Kelleher. (Large preview)

City Bike Miami

Love the eyes and the illusion of the hair in the wind. Same with the dog ears, so cute. That lovely summer feeling on the bike! Perfectly expressed.

Image credit: Pietari Posti. (Large preview)

Umami

An illustration which takes on curiosity and exploration of different tastes and flavors. It’s a great composition and an inspiring color palette.

Image credit: Aleksandar Savić. (Large preview)

Cinque Terre

Great color scheme! Illustration that documents a trip to Italy to see Cinque Terre. It’s a must-see apparently. The geometry combined with how the colors are applied is just so perfect.

Image credit: Bailey Sullivan. (Large preview)

Protected Trees

An illustration for The Telegraph’s property section on buying a home with protected trees in vicinity. Some inspiring choices of shapes and lines.

Image credit: Aleksandar Savić. (Large preview)

Shop Magazine — Eye Blue

If you like interesting collages, you’ll love the work of Jimmy Turell. The colors and the half-tone effects are the items that made me pick this one.

Image credit: Jimmy Turell. (Large preview)

Year In Ideas (2014)

Created for Wired. Another color combo that works wonderfully well together. I always look at how things are constructed, and I’m quite impressed by this illustration.

Image credit: Vesa Sammalisto. (Large preview)

The Westfjords

Beautiful colors of the sky — almost like fire.

Image credit: Conor MacNeill. (Large preview)

Saison

Wonderful die cut beer label design. I always admire such great lettering work. Be sure to check the rest of Ben Didier’s the portfolio as there is some stellar lettering work in there.

Image credit: Ben Didier. (Large preview)

Wanderlust Alphabet #C

The third installment in the Wanderlust alphabet that Jack Daly is creating. This time I believe the ‘C’ stands for ‘Copenhagen’. Interesting palette of colors in this one.

Image credit: Jack Daly. (Large preview)

No-Li Small Batch Festival

Nice logo for the No-Li Brewhouse’s Small Batch Festival. The different styles of typefaces really work well together. Beautiful and elegant!

Image credit: Riley Cran. (Large preview)

SHOP Magazine Austria Spring/Summer 2016

The cover illustration for the spring edition of SHOP magazine in Austria. It depicts the Museum quarter of Vienna. Lovely combination of geometrical and elegant organic lines. Such perfect soft color tones combined with a few more brighter accents.

Image credit: Andrew Lyons. (Large preview)

Girl On The Go

Such a wonderful scene! Especially the colors used and the inspiring details such as the skirt of the woman and the boots of the guy sitting on the bench on the right.

Image credit: Steve Scott. (Large preview)

Wanderlust Alphabet #D

The fourth installment in the Wanderlust alphabet that Jack Daly is creating. This time the ’D’ stands for ‘Dublin’. Just look at how shadows and highlights are applied — such perfect contrast.

Image credit: Jack Daly. (Large preview)

An Afternoon At Miticocha

Well worth a two-hour round-trip hike I would say if you get to see a scenery like this. This place has a beautiful view of Ninachanca, Jirishanca, and Jirishanca Chico. Pure wanderlust!

Image credit: Zolashine. (Large preview)

Ponderosa 2016

Not just because there’s a bicycle in it ;) Most of all picked because it has a wonderful composition with fine details.

Image credit: Mads Berg. (Large preview)

Music Girls

A wonderful fusion between contemporary and retro. Some inspiring texture work going on in there as well. The wooden floor and the little details on the faces — look at those eyes!

Image credit: Loris Lora. (Large preview)

Facebook Events — Naomi

Part of a set of illustrations created for Facebook’s event cover images. Totally loving these colors! Lovely simplistic style, too.

Image credit: Naomi Wilkinson. (Large preview)

Hiding Behind Mom

A great example of what is possible with a few pencil strokes. The socks on the girl are adorable.

Image credit: Simona Ciraolo. (Large preview)

Look Around

An illustration to get the travel bug going. Great style and subtle usage of textures. For a touristic guide of the Garda Lake.

Image credit: Federica Bordoni. (Large preview)

Summertime

“Let the waves hit your feet and the sand be your seat!” Exactly. I love compositions where there is much to discover. Great mix of colors.

Image credit: Putri Febriana. (Large preview)

Summer Bike Ride

Love how the diagonal line adds to the whole composition. Subtle use of shadows and transparency. Such perfect curved lines, especially hair and hat are done so perfectly in every way. Looking at this makes me want to go outside and ride.

Image credit: Tjeerd Broere. (Large preview)

Wanderlust Alphabet #E

The fifth installment in the Wanderlust alphabet that Jack Daly is creating. This time the ‘E’ stands for ‘Edinburgh’. The color treatment is great again. So many good details.

Image credit: Jack Daly. (Large preview)

American Illustration 33

Super clean and the character really gets your attention. Love how the stockings are done. So simple, yet so elegant.

Image credit: Federica Bordoni. (Large preview)

The Westfjords

Beautiful colors of the sky — almost like fire.

Image credit: Conor MacNeill. (Large preview)

Saison

Wonderful die cut beer label design. I always admire such great lettering work. Be sure to check the rest of Ben Didier’s the portfolio as there is some stellar lettering work in there.

Image credit: Ben Didier. (Large preview)

Wanderlust Alphabet #C

The third installment in the Wanderlust alphabet that Jack Daly is creating. This time I believe the ‘C’ stands for ‘Copenhagen’. Interesting palette of colors in this one.

Image credit: Jack Daly. (Large preview)

No-Li Small Batch Festival

Nice logo for the No-Li Brewhouse’s Small Batch Festival. The different styles of typefaces really work well together. Beautiful and elegant!

Image credit: Riley Cran. (Large preview)

SHOP Magazine Austria Spring/Summer 2016

The cover illustration for the spring edition of SHOP magazine in Austria. It depicts the Museum quarter of Vienna. Lovely combination of geometrical and elegant organic lines. Such perfect soft color tones combined with a few more brighter accents.

Image credit: Andrew Lyons. (Large preview)

Girl On The Go

Such a wonderful scene! Especially the colors used and the inspiring details such as the skirt of the woman and the boots of the guy sitting on the bench on the right.

Image credit: Steve Scott. (Large preview)

Wanderlust Alphabet #D

The fourth installment in the Wanderlust alphabet that Jack Daly is creating. This time the ’D’ stands for ‘Dublin’. Just look at how shadows and highlights are applied — such perfect contrast.

Image credit: Jack Daly. (Large preview)

An Afternoon At Miticocha

Well worth a two-hour round-trip hike I would say if you get to see a scenery like this. This place has a beautiful view of Ninachanca, Jirishanca, and Jirishanca Chico. Pure wanderlust!

Image credit: Zolashine. (Large preview)

Ponderosa 2016

Not just because there’s a bicycle in it ;) Most of all picked because it has a wonderful composition with fine details.

Image credit: Mads Berg. (Large preview)

Music Girls

A wonderful fusion between contemporary and retro. Some inspiring texture work going on in there as well. The wooden floor and the little details on the faces — look at those eyes!

Image credit: Loris Lora. (Large preview)

Facebook Events — Naomi

Part of a set of illustrations created for Facebook’s event cover images. Totally loving these colors! Lovely simplistic style, too.

Image credit: Naomi Wilkinson. (Large preview)

Hiding Behind Mom

A great example of what is possible with a few pencil strokes. The socks on the girl are adorable.

Image credit: Simona Ciraolo. (Large preview)

Look Around

An illustration to get the travel bug going. Great style and subtle usage of textures. For a touristic guide of the Garda Lake.

Image credit: Federica Bordoni. (Large preview)

Summertime

“Let the waves hit your feet and the sand be your seat!” Exactly. I love compositions where there is much to discover. Great mix of colors.

Image credit: Putri Febriana. (Large preview)

Summer Bike Ride

Love how the diagonal line adds to the whole composition. Subtle use of shadows and transparency. Such perfect curved lines, especially hair and hat are done so perfectly in every way. Looking at this makes me want to go outside and ride.

Image credit: Tjeerd Broere. (Large preview)

Wanderlust Alphabet #E

The fifth installment in the Wanderlust alphabet that Jack Daly is creating. This time the ‘E’ stands for ‘Edinburgh’. The color treatment is great again. So many good details.

Image credit: Jack Daly. (Large preview)

American Illustration 33

Super clean and the character really gets your attention. Love how the stockings are done. So simple, yet so elegant.

Image credit: Federica Bordoni. (Large preview)

Procesni Mehanize

Illustrating the never-ending cycle. I always love to analyze the many elements that make a fantastic illustration. You can learn a lot from it.

Image credit: Aleksandar Savić. (Large preview)

Blossom

One of the hardest things to get right is shooting directly into sunlight. This one nails it beautifully. Summer vibes!

Image credit: Anders Jildén. (Large preview)

Focus Magazine Illustration

Adorable cuteness and great usage of some basic shapes. Look at that cute mustache of the guy on the left. The color palette is absolutely perfect.

Image credit: Loulou and Tummie. (Large preview)

The Joy Of New Roads

Getting out on your bicycle and discovering new roads and amazing sceneries is a joy hard to describe in words. Lovely light in this photo.

Image credit: David Marcu. (Large preview)

City Guide Berlin-London-Paris

Inspiring arrangement of all the different items in this composition. Beautiful 2D style with lovely subtle textures and patterns to finish things off. The colors also draw you in.

Image credit: Maite Franchi. (Large preview)

Velorama — Lightyear

Love the combination of line art and typography. Looks so elegant! The bike is so well drawn. It shines! Look at the frame, the handlebars and the saddle.

Image credit: Silence TV. (Large preview)

Els Amos Ocults Del Totxo

The Brickmasters in the Shadows. Great editorial illustration. The duplication of the gentleman withthe hat is the eye-catcher. The chosen colors make the whole scene complete.

Image credit: Raúl Soria. (Large preview)

Bison

Right on target! Love what is done with the lines here.

Image credit: Matt Carlson. (Large preview)

No Man’s Sky

Pretty fly! It looks highly complicated but is quite simplistic at the same time. The color scheming is on point, too. The subtle background gradient is so perfect.

Image credit: Justin Mezzell. (Large preview)

FiveThirtyEight Election

This looks fantastic! The many layers of typography are so inspiring.

Image credit: Bethany Heck. (Large preview)

The Secret To Sleep

Lovely muted color palette for starters and some subtle textures work in combination with double shading makes this interesting. I really love the imagination and fantasy.

Image credit: Owen Davey. (Large preview)

On Geoengineering

Created for an editorial piece about geoengineering. Love how it all has been translated to the screen.

Image credit: Raúl Soria. (Large preview)

Bicycle Adventure Meeting (BAM)

In my opinion, a bit of humor always adds something special to any illustration. This one is about the Bicycle Adventure Meeting, a place where lonely, adventurous bike travelers join together. The lovely bright colors give this illustration a happy feeling.

Image credit: Fabio Consoli. (Large preview)

Brooklyn Bridge

Well captured! The tranquility of the water is what does it for me. Just the right shutter speed I’m assuming to get the effect.

Image credit: Alexander Rotker. (Large preview)

SHOP Magazine — Czech Republic

Charming textured style and an inspiring color palette.

Image credit: Maïté Franchi. (Large preview)

Bicycling Magazine

Editorial illustration for an article on the importance of teamwork when learning road biking. I like how the three guys are nicely aligned and how the legs are drawn. As an illustrator, you have the freedom to break with reality in order to achieve beautiful compositions.

Image credit: Douglas Jones. (Large preview)
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