Surfing for Inspiration: digital inspirational material in design practice

Janin Koch; Magda Laszlo; Andres Lucero; Antti Oulasvirta

Surfing for Inspiration: digital inspirational material in design practice

Janin Koch, Magda Laszlo, Andres Lucero, Antti Oulasvirta

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceedings › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

Over the last decade, many new opportunities have emerged to support creativity and problem-solving in design by finding inspirational materials via the Internet. Online design communities such as those of Behance and Pinterest showcase portfolios and user-made artwork, and they offer support for designers’ day-to-day work to find and collect inspirational material. However, very little is known about how these communities affect inspiration-related practices of professional designers and how designers view them. This paper presents new data on the practices designers employ when seeking digital inspiration sources online and reflecting on, tracking, and managing them in today’s Web design. Current practice and views on sources of inspiration were described based on responses from 51 professional designers. The results suggest that the Internet has become a prevalent source for ideas in design, yet designers experience mounting issues of trust and relatedness with regard to online sources. Therefore, encouraging both should be considered a guiding principle for tools aimed at supporting designers within the realm of design practice.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of DRS 2018
Subtitle of host publication	Catalyst
Editors	Cristiano Storni, Keelin Leahy, Muireann McMahon, Peter Lloyd, Erik Bohemia
Place of Publication	London
Publisher	Design Research Society
Pages	1247-1260
Number of pages	14
Volume	3
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-912294-18-3
Publication status	Published - 2018
MoE publication type	A4 Conference publication
Event	Design Research Society International Conference - University of Limerick (UL) and Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) , Limerick, Ireland Duration: 25 Jun 2018 → 28 Jun 2018 http://www.drs2018limerick.org/

Publication series

Name	DRS International Conference Series
ISSN (Electronic)	2398-3132

Conference

Conference	Design Research Society International Conference
Abbreviated title	DRS
Country/Territory	Ireland
City	Limerick
Period	25/06/2018 → 28/06/2018
Internet address	http://www.drs2018limerick.org/

Keywords

inspiration
online design platform
design practice

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Surfing for Inspiration digital inspirational material in design practiceFinal published version, 860 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-SA

Cite this

@inproceedings{a3afa8dbcd1440ef8c6bf7fcdffac9bd,

title = "Surfing for Inspiration: digital inspirational material in design practice",

abstract = "Over the last decade, many new opportunities have emerged to support creativity and problem-solving in design by finding inspirational materials via the Internet. Online design communities such as those of Behance and Pinterest showcase portfolios and user-made artwork, and they offer support for designers{\textquoteright} day-to-day work to find and collect inspirational material. However, very little is known about how these communities affect inspiration-related practices of professional designers and how designers view them. This paper presents new data on the practices designers employ when seeking digital inspiration sources online and reflecting on, tracking, and managing them in today{\textquoteright}s Web design. Current practice and views on sources of inspiration were described based on responses from 51 professional designers. The results suggest that the Internet has become a prevalent source for ideas in design, yet designers experience mounting issues of trust and relatedness with regard to online sources. Therefore, encouraging both should be considered a guiding principle for tools aimed at supporting designers within the realm of design practice.",

keywords = "inspiration, online design platform, design practice",

author = "Janin Koch and Magda Laszlo and Andres Lucero and Antti Oulasvirta",

year = "2018",

language = "English",

volume = "3",

series = "DRS International Conference Series",

publisher = "Design Research Society",

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editor = "Cristiano Storni and Keelin Leahy and Muireann McMahon and Peter Lloyd and Erik Bohemia",

booktitle = "Proceedings of DRS 2018",

address = "United Kingdom",

note = "Design Research Society International Conference, DRS ; Conference date: 25-06-2018 Through 28-06-2018",

url = "http://www.drs2018limerick.org/",

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Koch, J, Laszlo, M, Lucero, A & Oulasvirta, A 2018, Surfing for Inspiration: digital inspirational material in design practice. in C Storni, K Leahy, M McMahon, P Lloyd & E Bohemia (eds), Proceedings of DRS 2018: Catalyst. vol. 3, DRS International Conference Series, Design Research Society, London, pp. 1247-1260, Design Research Society International Conference, Limerick, Ireland, 25/06/2018.

Surfing for Inspiration: digital inspirational material in design practice. / Koch, Janin; Laszlo, Magda; Lucero, Andres et al.
Proceedings of DRS 2018: Catalyst. ed. / Cristiano Storni; Keelin Leahy; Muireann McMahon; Peter Lloyd; Erik Bohemia. Vol. 3 London: Design Research Society, 2018. p. 1247-1260 (DRS International Conference Series).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceedings › Scientific › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Surfing for Inspiration: digital inspirational material in design practice

AU - Koch, Janin

AU - Laszlo, Magda

AU - Lucero, Andres

AU - Oulasvirta, Antti

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Over the last decade, many new opportunities have emerged to support creativity and problem-solving in design by finding inspirational materials via the Internet. Online design communities such as those of Behance and Pinterest showcase portfolios and user-made artwork, and they offer support for designers’ day-to-day work to find and collect inspirational material. However, very little is known about how these communities affect inspiration-related practices of professional designers and how designers view them. This paper presents new data on the practices designers employ when seeking digital inspiration sources online and reflecting on, tracking, and managing them in today’s Web design. Current practice and views on sources of inspiration were described based on responses from 51 professional designers. The results suggest that the Internet has become a prevalent source for ideas in design, yet designers experience mounting issues of trust and relatedness with regard to online sources. Therefore, encouraging both should be considered a guiding principle for tools aimed at supporting designers within the realm of design practice.

AB - Over the last decade, many new opportunities have emerged to support creativity and problem-solving in design by finding inspirational materials via the Internet. Online design communities such as those of Behance and Pinterest showcase portfolios and user-made artwork, and they offer support for designers’ day-to-day work to find and collect inspirational material. However, very little is known about how these communities affect inspiration-related practices of professional designers and how designers view them. This paper presents new data on the practices designers employ when seeking digital inspiration sources online and reflecting on, tracking, and managing them in today’s Web design. Current practice and views on sources of inspiration were described based on responses from 51 professional designers. The results suggest that the Internet has become a prevalent source for ideas in design, yet designers experience mounting issues of trust and relatedness with regard to online sources. Therefore, encouraging both should be considered a guiding principle for tools aimed at supporting designers within the realm of design practice.

KW - inspiration

KW - online design platform

KW - design practice

M3 - Conference article in proceedings

VL - 3

T3 - DRS International Conference Series

SP - 1247

EP - 1260

BT - Proceedings of DRS 2018

A2 - Storni, Cristiano

A2 - Leahy, Keelin

A2 - McMahon, Muireann

A2 - Lloyd, Peter

A2 - Bohemia, Erik

PB - Design Research Society

CY - London

T2 - Design Research Society International Conference

Y2 - 25 June 2018 through 28 June 2018

ER -

Surfing for Inspiration: digital inspirational material in design practice

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Publication series

Conference

Keywords

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