Question from Ragavendran, Architecture student from India:
Q: Where, When, How do you get inspired for any designs?
Sometimes we wish we could simply switch on a button and have inspiration appear like a bright lightbulb. Don’t panic, lacking inspiration is actually a good thing and a normal part of every designer’s journey. It challenges us to think differently and pushes us to become more innovative.
Interestingly, design and cooking share a lot in common. Let’s explore 4 tips to design like a chef!
Ratatouille – Chef Gusteau’s 4 Tips to Design Like a Chef
Feed your brain well to cook (create) better.
Choosing the information you consume is like selecting ingredients for a dish—you decide what to digest and serve to others.
1| Be aware of your “Media diet”
If we constantly eat and remain tempted by junk food, the body won’t feel good (overweight, high blood pressure…). Our body is directly affected by what we eat.
Logic, right? …
> Same for your sources of inspiration and creation.
If the information that comes into our brain is made of low quality (reality shows, TV news, Tik Tok… are the equivalent to junk food), our design thinking won’t be much better inspired. You need a Media Diet.
2| Picky selection of ingredients
A strict diet is not necessary. It’s good to be fed all kinds of food though. It’s all about the ratio and frequency. quality food
> We receive information from multiple directions and are subject to all kinds of influence. Yet we can decide to be exposed to some more than others. Select what you want your brain to be made of or influenced by.
eg. Cut down on watching TV passively. Look for documentaries or movies for education and/or pure entertainment. Looking for training, seminars is a great alternative.
3| Try “exotic taste”
Look for foreign ingredients even if they are far from your own culture. Put aside your personal taste, and discover unknown/unexpected flavours!
> Try to avoid preconception. Our subconscious often talks first. Be empathic and twist your point of view beyond the cliché – Different people, different stories. The world is big and worth exploring.
eg. FIDM gives some basic courses of FENG SHUI to Interior architect students in Los Angeles.
I even heard about Feng Shui Architect and consulting in New York.
*Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
4| 1 + 1 = 3 !
Be a chef ! Combine different ingredients and create your own recipes.
> Create unexpected ideas by merging simple one.
eg. Air bubble + sneakers = Nike shock absorber outsole!
Ratatouille, Disney – Creating new flavours by mixing ingredients.
See you for the next TIP !
And feel free to leave a comment or like the article. See yah !
Cheers,
Chou-Tac
Learn more about Design Innovation
[…] You may feel it is risky, intimidating to propose ideas coming from sources none ever approved, but the magic is there! Look for new ideas like a chef travelling the world to find new flavours! […]
Hello Chou, my name is Jose and I’m the creator and designer of a sketching methodology with emphasis I in learning the basics of drawing in order to communicate concepts visually.
I would love if you can share this event with your community:
http://www.sketchinglab.com
The Sketching Lab is a three-day intensive workshop to endorse creativity through sketching, mind mapping, concept development and visual communication and it takes place in San Jose, Costa Rica.
We often use biomimicry as a methodology to foster concept iteration.
Thank you for your support.
You are doing a great job highlighting the power of sketching.