I live in Chicago.
RockMelt is the new kid on the Web-browser block. Early access is being offered by signing up on RockMelt.com. According the their blog, "RockMelt does more than just navigate Web pages. It makes it easy for you to do the things you do every single day on the Web: share and keep up with your friends, stay up-to-date on news and information, and search."
A friend of mind tuned me in to the concept of these codes a few years ago. At the time, the inclusion of a camera on a cell phone was becoming commonplace. It was a great idea to use that technology to return information to you within moments of snapping a picture of a modified bar code. With the explosion of smart phones and their capability to render web pages, images, multi-media, it makes even more sense now.
If you are a designer, I'm sure you've been there. That place where you can't seem to come up with that little spark of an idea to get your design juices flowing. It's frustrating but I know that if I step away, shift gears and take in as opposed to try to push out, inspiration will come.
As much as I love the Web, I still love the printed page. I'm a magazine person. Maybe because I come from a print-design background I will always have a soft spot for printed layouts. Magazines not only serve as a catalyst for layout and design but also feed the imagination through pictures, colors and even words. Sometimes reading something will trigger that little idea that's been lodged in the deep recesses of your right brain.
I know that we all find inspiration in many things, not just things that have been designed. People, mother nature and activity all can provide the jump-start we need. I still love to flip through the glossy pages of a magazine when I need to find a little inspiration.
Where do you find yours?