In a time when the internet is almost always at our fingertips, it can be way too easy to get stuck looking at the same websites over and over for design inspiration. While websites and search engines like Pinterest can be very helpful for design inspiration, the experience of looking for inspiration in the real world is unmatched. Furthermore, it's important to break free of the cycles of sameness that one can fall into when only looking online for inspiration.
There are so many benefits of looking for design inspiration in real life (as opposed to online). When you go on a scavenger hunt or field trip for inspiration, you get to experience the reality of objects and spaces, have a tactile interaction that involves more than just the sense of sight, and, best of all, you’ll see things that you weren’t even looking for, opening up more possibilities and the delight of being surprised. Beyond looking at images and videos, you’ll experience scale, texture, scent, and unexpected juxtapositions. Plus, when you’re walking around and moving your body, your brain will be engaged in a different and active way that you miss when sitting and looking at a screen.
Design inspiration can be found anywhere, but in this blog post I’m sharing some of my favorite spots to look for design inspiration in my local community, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the greater Twin Cities area in Minnesota. Without further ado, here are a few of the best spots to explore for design inspiration in Minneapolis and Saint Paul:
The American Swedish Institute is so special, and an absolute treasure trove for design inspiration! It's a historic mansion, museum, cafe, store, and cultural center all in one. The mansion features floor to ceiling artifacts of Scandinavian design, and the museum shop showcases more modern pieces inspired by the history and tradition of Nordic culture.
H and B Gallery is chock full of antique and vintage treasures. Inspiration is endless amidst their enticing stacks of artwork, china, pottery, jewelry, furniture, books, and trinkets.
Golden Fig is cutest little grocery and gift shop! They carry specialty, high quality food items and plenty of local delicacies, along with a curated assortment of goods and wares. It's a great place to be inspired by new packaging design trends in the food and beverage industry, alongside more old fashioned and handmade items with a bespoke and heartwarming vibe.
MIA hardly needs an introduction — it is the largest art museum in Minnesota and home to a wonderful collection of art from all time periods and parts of the world — over 90,000 pieces from 5,000 years of history! It's easy to get sucked in for hours perusing the gorgeous and thought-provoking art within.
Solo Vino is an exquisitely charming wine shop in Saint Paul with an incredible wine selection and exemplary customer service. The joy of browsing their wooden, ceiling-height shelves for a new favorite wine largely comes from the beauty and variety of label designs on the rows of bottles. I leave every visit to Solo Vino with dozens of pictures of wine label designs that caught my eye and inspired me in some way.
No matter where you live, the adventure of getting out and about, going to new places, and finding beauty in your surroundings will lead to ideas and creativity that wouldn't have come to you from limiting your search for inspiration to the digital world. Next time you start a project, make time to go for a walk or go on a field trip as part of your inspiration journey — it'll be fun!
