One of my favorite things to do when walking around a city (either here or abroad) is keeping an eye out for visual inspirations, so aside from a travel diary, I also have a photo diary of anything interesting that catches my eye. Usually I just snap a photo with my phonecam to keep for my moodboard. The biggest preconceived notion that most people have about design (or fashion, or art) is that it should always be glamorous, dazzling and larger-than-life, when in fact, many of the best design elements are sparked by the most common, overlooked things.
A golden reflection in a puddle on mottled cobblestones
Vibrant graffiti against dust and rust in a sidestreet
Neon & silver striped garbage collectors
Smoking corner with lime green florals against geometric shapes
Feathery grass and powdery gray sky on a hilltop
Squiggly lines and vertical stripes under a shed
Pretty blossoms on a metal rain grill
Flirty and fringed promotional banners
Couture table napkins
A pop of blue against brick red stripes
Abstract splatters of house paint against midnight blue
Graphic graffiti patterns on a parking wall
Lacy branches tangle with geometric lines on the service road