Where do you go for inspiration?

I usually do the same, browse template sites, or look at other sites relevent to the market for which I'm currently designing a site.

I usually browse on the internet for free templates or even premium once but I get bored easily. So, what I do is I try to make my own design.

I like looking through stock photo sites and website design contests. You will see some pretty amazing things that will change your thinking about web limitations. The photographers at some of these stock photo sites also come up with some really neat conceptual pictures that may flip a switch for you.

only just getting into this so will try them out

Sometimes to templatemonster and sometimes I accidentally get one but it always helps me maintaining my creativity.

Cheers

I listen to music, take a walk and talk to friends and then mix those up and see what i get. My latest project is a complete redo of www.juggleitall.org but that is not done yet, i am trying to get contact forms to work, Any ideas?

ms2134 - ask in another topic about your contact forms. The right person will be more likely to see it in it's on topic.

Lately I've been using Elements of Design too get ideas for specific problems such as comment forms. I also surf for pages similar to the one I'm working on and see what others have done with the same content (I work for a University and most universities have similar website structures and content, at least at the front end).

I've also been inspired by other forms of graphic design, such as Art Nouveau posters and retro 70's TV graphics.

Hello,
Websites or books are untill useless if you have not will power so increase your will power, confidence these things by which you can inspired.

i dont go anywhere, i have corner (i call it my silence corner) in my office..and when i am not able to think of anything or i am short of idea i go to that area, and surprisingly it works!!! dont laugh its real!

I find that when I sometimes seek inspiration, that I have a hard time pinpointing a direction. It seems that when I just look around me, the answer is usually right in front of you. Kind of like the reason some comedians are so funny, is due to the fact that they take usual every day events or peoples responses and relate it back in a personal way. Hope this helps.

i live to smoke a little doobie for inspiration when drawing, i find it very relaxing

the best inspiration is outside in the world

CSS Zen Garden
CSS Beauty
CSS Showcase (Navigation menus)
Accessites (Accessible sites)

Css play co.uk
you will find above allot of menu examples, layouts, boxes and more.

I like to visit my favorite blogs, and notice how the design enhances the reading experience. I also like to visit a few of the more dynamic sites, like kurzweilai.net, where they have some cool gadgets that you can go through. For me, looking at a design means less if there is not real content that goes with that design; I need to see how design and content fit together to learn what will work for me.

I just type in search engine and
find a good and fancy sites.

I remember one time viewing this list of award winners in web design. It was some formal competition. So I began clicking on the winners to see their sites. And while I wasn't a fan of all of them, it was good to see what was considered top dog among professionals. I like to keep that in mind when working on my own site, so you could call it a form of inspiration.

I usually visit templatemonster to get some ideas but as I scanned this thread, I found many interesting websites like design meltdown, the FWA and etc.. Thanks guys..

I think checking website competitions is a great idea, that way you can see what the professionals think is good quality. I remember looking to one set of results one time and a Harry Potter site was among the top rankings, for one of the later movies. It looked appealing, but it is less functional for a non-movie promotion site. So it's good to take a look but also see what each design should and should not be used for.

I used to like cssvault.com 0_0

Since I'm a fan of art exhibits anyway, I think that I would really enjoy viewing the winners of various online competitions for the best site designs...thanks for that mention! That way you get the best of the best, and you can learn a thing or two about effective design for business.

I also keep a list of websites that I come across, that may not intrigue me, but get me thinking about their design elements. You know, you come across so many different websites per day, just by chance and by clicking links, that's it's good to track that for any of the good finds.

Lately I've been keeping an eye out for good artwork, not necessarily of graphic design. I keep framed posters up on my walls to inspire me, and I look to artwork to see what about it gives the viewing experience a special quality. Eventually I'll want to design my own artwork for my site, but I'm still trying to decide what would capture its personality, because any visual sets a tone one way or another.

I also get my idea from this site templatemonster.com, but having a unique and natural art talent we can do more. What I need now is a peace of mind to focus and be creative on my designs.

I'm also visiting template sites and leading web design agencies portfolios to get ideas. Then i browse stock photo websites for conceptual ideas.

Nice music, literature, and lots of live communication bring really fantastic design ideas!

These are all great suggestions...and yes, creativity that is not necessarily visual is an excellent source of inspiration. Whenever I'm writing, I use music to keep the creativity flowing, and I go outdoors to stay engaged with what's happening outside too. Music can do wonders for the brain, helping you focus, carry with a certain mood, or come up with new ideas.

For me music is a massive source of inspiration. Being a writer (a bad one at that) I find film soundtracks often help. Without doubt the best for simply going off in your own world has to be Cliff Martinez. His soundtrack to Solaris has got me through many a creative block!

Yeah, soundtracks are good too. Especially really moody ones. I seem to remember that Solaris had a pretty eerie soundtrack...I'll have to check it out again. But yeah, that's great that it got you through a block! Just goes to show how you need to try different angles at getting the creativity flowing again.

TemplateMonster.com
I search for a good template and reproduce it with small changes.

I go Templatemonster.com for inspiration. and also I search in google to see any other web design company or any template design company to see what they do.

For inspiration I go http://thebrandbuilder.blogspot.com/

As for me I often use just people around me

I haven't used any of the links you provided,
but I do browse at templatemonster and occasionally browse
Joomla templates as well. But I mostly get my design inspiration from photos. like the ones on deviantart.com

I usually google graphics and stuff, but yeah I go on some of the websites people have site like http://www.cssvault.com/ and http://accessites.org/site/

CSS zen garden is really cool. Personally i couldn't create those designs, they're really amazing works of art.

I try to take inspiration from the real world and think about what the client wants too.

it's very easy for to get inspiration. I just go to nature and relax

I'm new here, so I don't know if someone else has posted this but I like http://sixrevisions.com/ ...not only does it have plenty of examples of great looking sites, there are lots of tips and tutorials too.

I like to refer to books, movies, art, template galleries, and so forth.

But when it comes right down to it, the web is TOO BIG to find all the great designs out there that appeal to me. SO what I do is keep folder, saving all the great pages I come across. Then every now and then I revisit that folder to recall those unique sites that made a lasting impression on me. It's like creating my own library.

I used to sit down for an hour or so in the toilet to let my busy head enter some deeper alpha brainwaves. Then all the finest inspirations rejoice my mind and allow me to see things in clarities. I changed this habit some time later into a more decent way, such as sitting properly in meditation in a cozy room

I also used to visit so many css galleries and portfolio showcase of sites.

{Mod edit: Please use your signature for personal links, cheers}

I use to see other pages, or blogs that can inspires me. Or just go out and walking, the outside always has something to show you!

i like to go to those site that are simple and more interesting topics that can read. :)and those are my inspiration.

My suggestion is to use Template Monster is the best resource for flash templates Flash Mint.

I normally just google "web design" and take a look through a few portfolios of the best companies.

This thread is one cool and informative post, it's loaded with so much places to get ideas for.

Though I like to browse the net for a flash of ideas and I also love colors too, simpler the better.

Thanks for sharing this.

Soh Tanaka's http://www.designbombs.com/ is one of my favorite galleries for inspiration. Not only is it a very clever design itself, it has some wonderful work displayed. Also you cannot forget CSS Zen Garden.

Buytemplates have lots of free designs and video graphics for ideas
http://www.buytemplates.net

sometimes when i was bored i create my own design but i want it to be more in my creation...

Blues

I visit various designing sites and forums.in forum I get to discuss on ideas and share view and looking through more designs..I get lot inspiration

most often I do a google search.if am not satisfied with it.I try template monster.but I believe they best way is to take inspiration from various sources around you.

Its really interesting information you have provided here. Site design and image are really important for everybody. It is helpful to attract people for your site.

I also prefer www.ccvaults.com. It is quite user friendly.

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I go to

drupal.org - of course! So many leads to develop my drupal site

-and-
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interesting!

I usually do the daily routine of fresh ideas at www.smashingmagazine.com

I usually get ideas from Templatemonster com and bestwebsiteawards com as well

yes template monster is the very good website

I go for forums and sites the offer website templates and some sites that are similar to what kind of site I'm creating.

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I agree , the http://www.templatemonster.com/ is very good idea!

For graphics inspiration You could look at http://www.deviantart.com/

no definite destination site for inspiration...its the roll over through different sites....thats how I derive my inspiration

I agree with Kinlet. It's different for every one.

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I used to go at www.oswd.org{links removed}

cnn.com

deviant art is good inspiration for me.

For anything art design based I go to FWA, they have some fantastic work

Deviant Art is a great inspiration to me, but sometimes just regular everyday things inspire me to design things

Old books of any category.They mostly have those elaborate curvy designs which motivates and inspires one to even produce modern days quality work.
These are the best motivators and resource bank for anyone out there trying to make their output attractive.

Hi!

any body can tell me, how to add signatures? i am new comer. plz help me.

Thanks