My "Dory's"… My inspiration

Inspiration. What does that mean? Where do we find it? How do we propagate it? Can it be generated? Is there a formula? A blueprint? A recipe? ? ? ?

For me – a designer – I am always searching, scouring, and scraping for inspiration. I look for it even when I'm "not looking for it". And then… it usually hits me, like a ton of bricks. There is a saying that "Everything happens for a reason", well, Inspiration is kinda like that, it happens for a reason. You may not be able to identify why it happens at that moment, but it happens. There is no straight answer.

Today, it [inspiration] happened for me. Let me share: First you should know that my short term, current goal as a designer is: to increase my presence on the web and in social media.

Inspiration 1
A couple of weeks ago, I spent two hours in the car with my cousin, Brittany (an amazing designer with innovative ideas and a bubbly sarcastic personality to match - a true delight). We talked about design and blogs and shared ideas and our experiences for almost the whole ride and the conversation could have kept going and going had she just stayed at my house and called in sick the next day. Well, this was awakening for me, because I had never talked so much about "design" in one sitting and I never knew that I had so much to share. This was my first real clue that I need to start a my own blog.

Inspiration 2
Today, my friend Karina (a recent grad of Plymouth State, a fabulous designer, colleague, friend, and author of http://pixelpixiechic.blogspot.com/ ) e-mailed me to say that she had started a blog of her own. Now, I have worked with Karina for about six months now and prior to our work history together, I don't think Karina had that much experience with social media or blogging (I am sure she will let me know if I have quoted inaccurately :). But Karina is a "sponge" - so enthusiastic and motivated. She really embraced the new ideas and concepts related social media, blogging, etc. – always keeping me on my toes with new links or connections – that alone is inspiring.

This got me thinking… as designers we are do-ers, we make things happen, we INSPIRE… so why shouldn't we all be taking an active role as designers and creators to do the things we say we want to do – enlighten, provoke, trigger, and execute new ideas. So today, I am taking an active role in my own design destiny – instead of "saying", I am doing! I am acting on all of the opportunities that will lead me to great things - so today marks the day that I begin my adventures in blogging!