Cook Up Inspiration with Graphic Design Cookbook

Flipping through books and magazines is one way to get ideas for a layout. Spend time at the library or bookstore looking at books that focus on specific projects such as a collection of brochures or business cards. Pick up magazines on design, and really almost any topic, for more visual stimulation.

One book designed for all kinds of inspiration specifically for designers is Graphic Design Cookbook (Compare Prices). It offers hundreds of thumbnails of borders, page numbering ideas, grids, mixing type sizes, text columns, pull-quote styles, drop caps, cropping, and other ideas for entire pages and parts of a page.

Stuck for a new way to do initial caps? Turn to that section for inspiration. Tired of the typical square coupon with a dashed line? Get circular, wavy, or graphic options. It's not cutting-edge and some examples aren't great, but as an idea-starter that's easy to thumb through it's useful for jumpstarting the layout process.

More Ways to Brainstorm and Get Inspiration

• Use a Mood Board
• Take Pictures for Inspiration
• Draw Thumbnail Sketches