How can today's designers get inspiration while also staying fresh, authentic, relevant... and not rip other people's ideas off in the process!? Designer Alaric - whose clients range from Joss Stone to Atkin Guitars - shares his experience.

1. Alaric King
@alaric_king
alaricking.co.uk

2. Inspiration good. Imitation bad: developing your digital design mojo.
Doing your job as a visual designer / digging yourself out of hole

3. What is a visual designer?

4. Who do i work for?

5. Who do i really work for?

6. Common mistake:
Looking for inspiration first.
(Dribble / Behance / Design Blogs)

20. Step #1
Do some thinking away from the screen...
Who is your demographic?
How do we want them to feel about this product/service?

21. Step #2
Once in the mindset, try to look offline.
History may have solved this problem before.
Printed material is often better curated.

22. Step #3
Collect and organise.
Be a magpie.
This helps with burn out too...

23. Step #4
Start playing (Designing).