Putting "Pin" to Paper

My Offline Inspiration Board

I am one of those people that you see on planes tearing pages from magazines and sticking them in a folder. I take them back to my office where I created a metal board on which I can "pin" (with magnets) these ideas. When I need ideas, you can find me pacing in front of that wall. I'd say that a good 30 percent of those pictures have become the basis of my design inspiration on one project or another. The one big problem that I've always had is that I can't easily add cool photos I find on the internet to this wall. Enter...


I recently discovered Pinterest and love it. It's a great way to save all the ideas and inspiration that you find on the internet in one space.

It's my new addiction!

And my online inspiration board!

You have to be invited or request an invitation. The latter sometimes takes a while. But if you request an invitation from me, either by e-mail or Twitter, I'll send one out to you. I just need your e-mail address. Once you are on it, I'm easy to find; just type David Merrell or link here: DavidMerrell.

FINDING INSPIRATION ON PINTEREST

I get a lot of my color inspiration from Mother Nature. No one can put together stunning colors like her! In fact, one of the my board is actually categorized as "environmental inspirations" and here are a couple of the photos I've "pinned" on it.

This is one of my favorite images and a crazy great color combo! I have it earmarked for a job I'm designing for the end of July. When the event is done, I'll post both again so you can see the inspiration and the result.

Another of my favorite pins, and once again, a very strong color combination.

PUTTING "PIN" TO "PAPER"

Here is a recent example of some more combinations I pinned and then used in a design.


The combination of pink, blue and teal where the inspiration for this event below.

The stage pieces on the right and left are from Dazian. (And if you are wondering about that middle light, the client's name was whited out for confidentiality reasons.)

Even the centerpieces have the whisper of that initial color inspiration.

See you on Pinterest! And please let me know what you think of it. I guarantee you will find inspiration there, and in turn, your pins will inspire others.