ideation...
INSPIRATION
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What is the aim?
To find inspiration for ideas when you get stuck that may lead you to think creatively about a new solution. Essentially this can be found by looking at existing products that don't necessarily have to be linked to your design brief and there are a number of places to go or ways that you can do this which are listed below.
Pinterest is full of good design and ideas that might be helpful for you to look at. Think about your search and what you want to look at and how it can be helpful. Looking specifically at any industrial designers will be useful. We have our own account and you can use that as a starting point for getting ideas.
Moodboarding (literal)
Either visiting shops and looking at products or looking at them online can really help, particularly those linked and connected to your design brief in some way. Once you've visited the shops (in person or online) you can start to gather images and putting them on a page. These are products that you like for whatever reason, whether it is a functionality it has, an aesthetic you like or the way it feels. Add images of all the products you are drawn to on a page. You then have a moodboard full of inspiration and you can use that to start designing some more concepts or to use as the basis for other techniques like copy, combine, transform or SCAMPER.
Crowdfunding
Look at sites that are full of new and interesting ideas and design solutions by 'ordinary' people. There are a number of crowdfunding sites linked below and you can refine your search to most popular and different product categories. See if there is anything that might inspire you and your brief.
Design Blogs
Looking at some of these Design blogs may also help.
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https://www.fastcompany.com/technology