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Sometimes you are not inspired, and when this happens you can't just force it. We often tend not to think about what we are doing and just function on autopilot. By doing the same thing over and over again we reach saturation point, where we have exhausted the resources available to get inspired.

This is what the internet does to you. The internet can be a good source of inspiration, but we need to be able to look beyond it and go back to basics.

I would like to think that as human beings we still feel and do things without the internet interfering in our lives. Don't get me wrong, I like the internet and work with it every day, but I also like sitting down in my backyard with a coffee and just taking the time to look at the garden or read a book.

You can't force inspiration. It has to come to you and you usually find it in the most unusual places.

Here are some places to seek it:

Books have a the power to make you see things in a completely different light, or through a completely different lens. You can find a wealth of inspiration in literature, you just have to take the time to look.

Whether the market you visit is dedicated to craft, design, thrift or food, as a designer I feel that there's always inspiration hiding amongst the stalls.

Much like markets, antique stores - or even garage sales - hold endless opportunities for inspiration. Each object has a story - and whether you know that story or not - you just have to let your imagination do the rest.

Going overseas - particularly somewhere completely foreign to you - can jump start your creativity by opening your eyes to how the rest of the world sees things. Sometimes just going interstate and experience new sights, smells and sounds can get your brain ticking.

I'm a big fan of festivals and find that whether they are focused on music, food or visual art, the atmosphere and conversations is a great source of inspiration to me.

A lyric line or a beat can paint an inner picture and get the creative juices flowing. 

Visit a gallery, see an exhibition or take an art class in a medium you don't usually use. Draw inspiration and learn from the creativity of others.