{"id":32293,"date":"2017-07-07T03:00:10","date_gmt":"2017-07-07T07:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/?p=32293"},"modified":"2017-07-31T14:20:02","modified_gmt":"2017-07-31T18:20:02","slug":"finding-inspiration-pinterest-process-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/finding-inspiration-pinterest-process-people","title":{"rendered":"People, Process, Pinterest \u2014 and Other Places to Find Design Inspiration"},"content":{"rendered":"

We first met as art students, both of us ex-painters who turned to 3D as our new primary medium. But TheLaserGirls<\/a> are a textbook example of how opposites attract. And it was fascinating to see how two people using the same tools but completely different workflows arrive at their final pieces.<\/p>\n

One big difference between us is our sources of inspiration, which affect not only what we make, but how we make it. Here’s where we draw inspiration, and we hope to inspire you to find ways to catalogue and organize ideas for your own projects.<\/p>\n

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Some of Sarah’s “fashionable” Pinterest boards!<\/p><\/div>\n

Sarah Finds Inspiration IRL<\/h3>\n

I try to get out and see as much as I can. While I rely on Pinterest, Google Drive, and other digital forums to build my library, you still can\u2019t beat seeing things in their natural habitat, up close under a microscope, or staged in a beautifully lit room in the presence of others. Go to your local museums. See the new exhibits. Visit your local parks, go window shopping, and check out that lecture at your local library.<\/p>\n

When it comes to 3D modeling and printing, design and function are more important than you might expect. Whatever you make will eventually leave digital space and enter our world, where it must weather the laws of physics. Seeing things in person, touching them, and really getting to know them will not only provide you with new inspiration but also show how you can go about making.<\/p>\n

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A piece of TheLaserGirls’ library<\/p><\/div>\n

Another great resource is the art book, which Dhemerae really got me into. As a New Yorker living in a tiny apartment, I have to edit my belongings. So, while my collection of books may be small, they collect work and subjects that make up the foundation of my inspirations, the motifs I love to use, and the pieces or images that I cherish most. \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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A snippet of Dhemerae’s ROBOTS! Pinterest board<\/p><\/div>\n

Dhemerae Watches Propmakers and Process<\/h3>\n

Much of my inspiration comes from processes and watching how people make things. I find it exciting to see how others solve a specific construction problem, and the scaffolding around those decisions. This directly explains my love of DIY videos. Shows like Robot Wars<\/a> and MythBusters<\/a> inspired me to tinker from a young age. They provided engaging documentation of process on both macro and micro levels. From prop makers\u2019 work logs to digital speed-sculpting, I can always learn something new and get inspired by others.<\/p>\n

I also look to toy and figure designers as a source. Creating beautiful toys and figures is an under-recognized art, and they are imaginative, whimsical, sculptural, and mechanical. These pieces heavily inspire my 3D work.<\/p>\n

Resources<\/h3>\n

We all have our own means of unlocking what inspires us, so don\u2019t be hard on yourself! Your inspiration is yours and what you do with it is yours, so don\u2019t get too bogged down in every who, what, when, where, and how. Just make, trust your tangents, and let you surprise you!<\/p>\n

Below is a list of our favorite online resources to utilize. We encourage you to check them out:<\/p>\n