Some days, the creative well doesn’t necessarily run dry, but it gets a little low. Browsing websites and blogs for inspiration can be fun and efficient, but there are times when something can just catch our eye and spark some creativity. This usually happens when we’re not looking for it.

In any design firm or ad agency, you’ll always see designers hanging up torn out pages from design magazines, annuals, or just any random printed piece, converting their workspace into a small nook of creativity. I’ll hang up something interesting not because I have an idea of how it can inspire my work that same day, but because that inspiration will creep up on me one day when I’m not expecting it. And in the meantime, I get to surround myself with exciting ideas.

Here are the walls of three of our designers.

Plenty of design magazines and publications are still out there and ready to be torn apart for your own personal inspiration. This website has a nice list of 21 Magazines Especially for Designers. Take a look, subscribe, start hanging up some pages, and wait for unexpected inspiration. Whether these mags contain nice visuals or informative and instructional articles, there’s a little something for everyone looking to get creative.

- Ted

At a social media seminar this week the discussion was on the value of driving traffic to a company or their website through vehicles like: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, GroupOn, Living Social, Constant Contact, etc.

Many business owners get hung up on their lack of familiarity with social media and want to know what the “Return-On-Investment” is for time spent on Facebook and LinkedIn. And there isn’t really a number or equation that can be given for your investment of time – and it’s time only that is invested, because remember, Facebook and LinkedIn are free….

But my rebuttal is this: what is the ROI on networking, brochures, phone calls, client meetings or attending events? There isn’t an exact number for those efforts, but we know that to build our business, we need to make those efforts in order to built sustainable relationships.

The truth is that social media is the result of our need as a society for user-generated content. And why not give it a try if there is potential to drive some traffic to your company or website, or to continue to support the customers/clients who have come to you for your expertise in the past?

And the key to getting started isn’t just working with someone “young, who gets this social media thing.” The key is working with someone who understands social media and who ALSO understands the values and goals of your company/business. Marketing is strategic, whether the vehicle is a website, printed piece, an email campaign or social media.

Consider this: If 98% of Starbucks’ new concepts are developed by customers, primarily through Starbucks efforts on Facebook and Twitter, what’s the downside of your company giving it a try?

~ Erika

I pulled together some images I have on my pin-board. At the current moment, scripts are inspiring me especially when used in an unexpected way.  Enjoy!

1. Let’s be Friends business cards 2. Guimaraes Jazz 2009 Poster 3. Belvoir Fruit Farms – Fruit Crush packaging

4. National Repertory Orchestra Poster 5. Oneline Logotype 6. Crimson Pies  Logotype

7.  Benny Gold business card screenprinted by Mama’s Sauce 8. Gorgeous hand-drawn chalk typography 9. Typographic Illustration