What’s on a designer’s mind

I have lost count of how many people over the years asked me where I get my inspiration from. It always catches me unawares. For me it is just a matter of keeping my eyes open, making loads of photos and screen-shots, and filing them by theme. 95% of the material I never use. 

Dutch artist Auke de Vries once said to one of my students when I was still teaching, that he was not interested in hearing stories about what inspires someone; ‘inspiration is for amateurs’. And although I do not completely agree with him, I do recommend, when coming across an interview with an artist or designer who is extensively talking about his or her inspiration, to add a dose of skepticism.