Inspiration is everywhere if you know where to look. From the gritty, type-covered streets of New York City to the bold geometry of modern art installations, sparks of creativity can appear in unexpected places. In this post, I share how I gather design inspiration from urban typography, fine art, and nature — and how these influences shape real-world branding projects like logos, visual identities, and brand refreshes. Whether you’re building a visual brand strategy or searching for creative design ideas, this is proof that fresh thinking doesn’t always come from a desk.
Graphics meet grit (and grime)
One of my greatest sources of graphic design inspiration is one of the things I miss most: my weekly trips into New York City. The typography is EVERYWHERE, good, bad, and meh. Lately, I’ve been drawn to words with a single letter filled in, stacked sans-serif-justified lettering, and skinny sans-serif letters. I snap photos of signs wherever I am. When in Cuba, my husband actually took a photo of me taking a photo of a sign and sent it to our daughters — this is what your mom does on vacation!
Indulgence for days
For days that need a little extra something, I would walk to MoMA to indulge in the new and permanent exhibits. Inspiration for color and shape from Monet and Picasso. Form and structure from Picasso and an unexpected installation, Handles, by Haegue Yang.
Yang’s piece, commissioned for MoMA, features six sculptures that explore dazzling geometries and the play of light and sound. The colors shift as you walk around them, and the light changes based on your angle. Handles act as points of attachment and catalysts for movement and change. Steel grab bars are mounted on the walls amid an iridescent pattern and used functionally in the sculptures. The shapes themselves look like they could be transformed into typographic design.
When I was designing a logo for a women-led non-profit startup, Fly Female Founders, Yang’s work came to mind immediately. I snapped a photo, sketched out a concept on the train, and turned it into a final brand logo that carried the same sense of movement and geometry.
Nature’s palette
I also love being inspired by nature, especially when I’m working on a branding project. For a recent logo project for the Town of Westport, I made it my business to visit the beach and the golf course, telling myself that was required to “get the colors just right.” Then I open the photos in Photoshop, use the eyedropper tool (note the dots on the photos as my color references and choose colors that are “native” to the client.
Inspiration is the mother of reinvention.
I’ve been busier than ever, reinventing marketing materials for clients: refreshing brands with new typography, revamping newsletters, creating annual and impact reports, and creating more than my share of emails and presentations. My clients are rediscovering that all these visual branding tools remain their most powerful, flexible, and cost-effective tools and continue to serve as key means of communication. They remain essential components of a successful marketing strategy and brand storytelling plan. Many are choosing this politically crazy time to pivot their messaging and reimagine their visuals.
And here’s the best part — not everything has to start from scratch. Sometimes all you need is a fresh dose of design inspiration to spark new ideas.
If you’re ready to rethink your visuals, refresh your brand identity, or explore creative ways to tell your story, let’s talk.
LINK LOVE
— I’m a notebook person. I have tons of note-keeping options that range from the Shit to Do which my friend Felicia gave me for Xmas and is my personal favorite, to the Notes app that syncs on my iPhone and computer (and I just wish it was a bit better). I’m going to give Google Keep a try — have you used it?.
— I especially love the NYC FaceMask Initiative started by a Creatives Roundtable and Fly Female Founders member Nancy Rhodes who is helping make masks for front line workers. To date, her team has made over 15K masks. This was a quick pivot from a just-launched business for on-demand clothing alterations and repairs.
— For your new “desk” — hidden peel and stick drawers.
— I believe in the Pomodoro method but sometimes the timing is too long. I recently discovered Llama which enables you do make different length timers – it is a game-changer for me.
— Our house is surrounded by trees. That plus everyone working at home has made us search for a wifi extender — here are some recommended ones.
— Kids love temporary tats and what I love about these is that great design and art can let kids and adults have a little fun.
If you need some inspiration, or design, let’s talk!
A few questions you might have had when reading
Q: How can I find design inspiration in everyday life?
A: Start by paying attention to your surroundings. Look at street signs, murals, packaging, and architecture. All of these offer insight into typography trends, color palettes, and layout ideas. Nature is another excellent source; photographing landscapes and extracting colors can spark ideas for branding projects and logo design.
Q: What’s the best way to translate inspiration into a branding project?
A: Capture what catches your eye (photos, sketches, or screenshots) and study the patterns, shapes, or color combinations. Then, experiment with how those elements can be applied to brand identity design, logo creation, or marketing materials, such as websites, newsletters, and presentations.
Q: Why is it essential to update brand visuals regularly?
A: Over time, your audience’s expectations and digital platforms evolve. Updating brand typography, expanding your color palette, or refining logo elements can help your brand feel current while staying true to your story. Even small design refreshes can significantly boost visibility and engagement across social media, email marketing, and other channels.
Q: Can inspiration really improve marketing performance?
A: Absolutely. Strategic design driven by authentic inspiration can make your messaging more memorable, visually cohesive, and emotionally resonant. A well-designed brand identity system supports everything from storytelling to conversion, turning creative sparks into measurable results.