Find a lot of design inspiration at shopping with that simple trick

Sometime we wonder how to get more inspiration daily for our project at school. We may be tempted to buy books but they are pretty expensive as a student. Your teacher tell you to go to library, exposition and/or to be observant and get inspired from your daily surrouding wherever you go – which I fully agree.

Let me share with you something I used to do when I was student: I simply grabbed product catalogues from the shop. They are free and you may also get inspiration from the presentation of it for your own boards.

Whenever you go for shopping, look for the catalogues and bring some for your personal study. Feel free to take a minute to chit chat with the sales about the product to learn even more. you may ask question like: How does it work ? Who buy this product the most ? And why do they like it ?

product-design-the-design-sketchbook-inspiration-catalogue-of-products-e — Some catalogues mainly from the cosmetics department

product-design-the-design-sketchbook-inspiration-catalogue-of-products-h — Ask yourself about the size of each product. I am not a user of cosmetics, but I believe the 2 on the right are smaller and thinner to be carried in a handbag.

product-design-the-design-sketchbook-inspiration-catalogue-of-products-i — Tiny step-by-step explanation

product-design-the-design-sketchbook-inspiration-catalogue-of-products — Some catalogues from the tech department

product-design-the-design-sketchbook-inspiration-catalogue-of-products-g — Browse and study products you like

product-design-the-design-sketchbook-inspiration-catalogue-of-products-d — Showing people using the product is a great way to attract attention

product-design-the-design-sketchbook-inspiration-catalogue-of-products-f — You may also study the colours and ask yourself why these choices.

product-design-the-design-sketchbook-inspiration-catalogue-of-products-c — Think of new way to hold/use your product

Of course, Internet has a lot of pictures of products, but I invite you to see them in real. You will get a better idea of scaling and proportion. You will aslo be able to touch and feel the product surface, to manipulate it, hear the sound it makes when you push a button… and son on.

To get inspired, your curisosity is the key !

Hope it helps !
Cheers,
Chou-Tac

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How to Become a Concept Artist | by Edward Eyth – ✏️THE DESIGN SKETCHBOOK says:

May 10, 2025 at 5:11 pm

[…] your assignment is to design a doorknob. Your first impulse is to research doorknobs. Good. Look at catalogs, websites, and see what’s out there . . . not to inspire you, but to inform you about what NOT to […]

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10 Tips for Industrial Design Students Who Want to Be Successful – ✏️THE DESIGN SKETCHBOOK says:

October 25, 2024 at 5:55 pm

[…] A designer is 24 hours connected to his surrounding from what he sees, feels, hears, eat… His source of inspiration can come from anywhere. […]

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