Replies

1. 
   RickL | May 06, 2009 03:30pm | #1

   Magazines like Dwell, Interior Design, Nat Geographic.  Design is everywhere, even at the dentists office, backyard. Keep looking and take lots of chances no matter how silly it seems. You do keep a sketchbook to draw and doodle in?!?!?!  Go to the library. Not everything is on the web. Lack of imagination is the biggest holdback for design. Let it flow no matter how silly it seems. http://www.furnituresociety.org

   http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A31431&page_number=1&template_id=1&sort_order=1

   The cinderella table was conceived by http://www.Demakersvan.com and is a compilation of styles done on a CNC router.  Using CNC as a creative tool versus doing simple repetitive work is a creative approach as well. I'm betting they said the same thing about using a table saw when the saw first came out. A few folks anyway.

   
   

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   Edited 5/6/2009 8:58 am ET by RickL

2. 
   flairwoodworks | May 06, 2009 04:20pm | #2

   Chris,

   I especially enjoy looking through the 500 series by Lark Books.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
   and now www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

3. 
   dustymctevish | May 06, 2009 05:44pm | #3

   Most times it’s the little things that catches my eye that influences my designs, otherwise one ends up copying some one else’s work.  These influences aren’t always from another piece of furniture.

    

4. 
   md2453 | May 07, 2009 12:41am | #4

   Habilis:

   While I am not in any way attempting to toot my own horn here, I do possess degrees in design and industrial design and work as a furniture maker as some others around knots will attest.  I will tell you the very best thing you can do is to read about other artisians be they potters, textile or furniture folks.  Frequent the web and books and magazines, go to museums.  If you are not now photograph everything you see and make files for your photos so you can reference them in the future.  Watch for colors, shapes, pleasing and not.  I've just this week made the leap from my trusty Canon A1 film camera to a shiny new Nikon D80 digital so I can start keeping the photos on disks or my hard drive, maybe even figure out how to share some here!

   Probably the single most important thing you can do is draw, draw everyday.  Draw from life draw from your imagination, what ever just draw.  I've kept sketch books for over 30 years and spend between 30 minutes and 2 hours everyday with pencil in hand.  I am currently drawing various views of a root that hubby pulled out of the garden between snowfalls a week or two ago and am using the basic shapes to develop the understructure for a short series of sofa type tables for a client down in Denver.

   There now you have one girl's take on where to look for design ideas, have fun exploring and keep the pad and pencil with you always!

   Madison.

5. 
   RalphBarker | May 07, 2009 07:10pm | #5

   I think it also helps to recognize the range of design-inspiration sources, along with how you want those sources to influence your work. For me, one end of that spectrum is "function" and the other, "art". All traditional furniture styles fit somewhere in that spectrum. Where a particular piece should fall depends, I think, on how it will be used (if at all), and the environment (both things and people) into which it will be placed.

   If one isn't building to the constraints of a particular style, "inspiration" can be found everywhere - architecture, unrelated objects, even the shapes and ratios of nature.

1. 
   habilis | May 07, 2009 07:28pm | #6

   Even ... nature. I think I start there. While most of the posts have been helpful, few have added to the original post. The point of function and art is meaningful. Mostly I lean towards function, but I like whimsy. Dessert is good with and sometimes without a fine solid meal.

   Edited 5/7/2009 12:32 pm ET by habilis

6. 
   WillGeorge | May 09, 2009 11:58am | #7

   Not selling anything but look at Dover books and such...

   http://store.doverpublications.com/

   OK, so I have alot of stuff from them. Not furniture designs as such but many creative designs in there someplace...

   I am thinking of ideas for design/structure NOT for a final product. You can get a free weekly email from them to 'look' around with what they have available.

   I just bought the... Art Nouveau {ahr noo-voh'}, a French term meaning new art, refers to a style of architecture, of commercial and decorative art CD...

   I got it because our famous Mel (in here.. 6 something ) stated he wanted to carve Art Nouveau things.

   Nothing I would use for my stuff I make but I enjoyed the experience anyway!

   GREAT stuff for a Carver in the stuff the Dover sells! I would think.. And just nice to look as what the human mind can think of!

   
   

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   Edited 5/9/2009 5:03 am by WillGeorge