Hasta La Ideas

We’re knee-deep in research for our upcoming Top 20 logos issue and one of the things that has struck us so far is just how many of them were dreamed up when their designer was doing something else: travelling, playing cards, walking round an exhibition etc. So we wondered where and when you get your best ideas.

From what we have been uncovering so far from working on our April Top 20 logos issue, the history of identity design owes a great deal to napkins, backs of envelopes and chance conversations. Travel seems particularly productive, with many ideas coming while sitting on planes and trains.

So far, no-one has mentioned anything productive happening in ‘brainstorming’ sessions or in the presence of a flipchart.

This also goes for the ad world where many of the great ideas of the past came to their creators in similar fashion: Nike’s Just Do It, for example, was a throwaway remark by Dan Wieden in reference to Nike’s positive attitude: “You Nike guys, you just do it.”

So our question today is: where and when does inspiration strike you?

What is the most unusual/funny situation in which you have had a great idea?

Have you ever had a great idea as part of a formal ‘brainstorming’-type session?

And, if you are struggling to come up with an idea, what do you do? Go for a walk? Meditate? Play the spoons? Let us know.

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