We all know food is — at the most basic level — fuel for our bodies. (Products like Soylent have taught us that much.) But for most of us, food is a way of life. Many people choose food based on personal ethics, religious beliefs, and perhaps most commonly, how delicious it is.
What’s more, the Internet has exploded with food art, from mirror cakes to spoon designs. With the breadth of creativity online, it can be easy for us to spend our time looking at art for inspiration, rather than making original pieces.
Luckily, looking at art is a pleasurable experience on par with being in love. In addition, looking for inspiration can help artists garner ideas for their own designs. So, if you’ve spent hours looking at foodie pics, you may actually be spending your time more productively than you think.
In this article, we explain 5 reasons why food is more than fuel for your body—it’s fuel for your creativity, too.
Fonzy Nils via Dribbble
Trying new things
We’ve all experienced coming home after a long day and realizing there’s nothing in the fridge. Maybe you check your bank balance and decide you don’t have the option to order takeout. After going back and forth, you may be forced to get creative in the kitchen. What do you do?
Like the rest of us, you probably pull up Pinterest and plug in the ingredients you have in your cabinet. After a few searches, you might find a recipe for a delicious concoction you’ve never considered before.
For designers, especially those with a niche, trying new styles can be difficult. Like cooking, however, a unique mixture is sometimes just the thing to create an effective product. You can easily take one concept and apply it to another to make something new—what this article calls the power combo.
So, in the same way you might realize chicken and strawberries are actually delicious together, you might also notice that applying two different design styles to one artwork is just what your project needs in order to pop for a specific client. Trying new things keeps you from falling into ruts that can be dangerous to self-esteem.
Ayaankabir via Vecteezy
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Embracing your identity
Growing up in the south, I had a tendency to make self-deprecating jokes about my home state. After all, American southerners get a pretty negative reputation when it comes to—well, everything.
I thought my Kentucky hot-brown, mint juleps, and derby pie were something to be ashamed of, but have you ever tried that stuff? It’s amazing. Go ahead and look it up. I’ll wait.
The point is, I embraced my culture, and the same should be true for designers. Each culture and place has its own flavor and style, so why not incorporate some of that into your designs?
Take, for instance, Anna Kulacheck, a designer who created a typographic project based on her hometown, Moscow. Or take Derrick Castle, a Nashville-based designer who mixes his unique style with Tennessee pride. Your culture is part of who you are, so don’t be afraid to let it be part of your art, too.
Chi-Wai Un via Behance
Finding the right aesthetic
Part of the appeal of “food porn” is how beautiful food can look with the right lighting and camera. Long gone are the days when a cheeseburger ad is more aesthetically pleasing than a photo of vegetables.
As you review your favorite food blogs and drool, consider what pictures really stand out to you. Are you pinning adorable tarts? Bookmarking super salads? What makes the photos eye-catching?
Perhaps you like the color palette, contrast of textures, or lighting. Perhaps you simply think it’s a beautiful meal. Whatever the case, you can use that inspiration in your next design, or even in your next series.
Sunbzy . via Behance
Learning about new trends
We’ve all seen food trends come and go. Restaurants constantly redesign their menus to offer fad foods, like kale-based this, avocado that, and gluten-free everything. (And honestly, no complaints here.)
These trends are usually born out of something else, though, be it fitness, diets, or simply healthy-living.
Pay attention to these trends as you mock up designs for others, because culturally relevant art can often reflect what is important to certain generations, whether it’s making a difference or simply appealing to popular interests.
Lucie via Behance
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Connecting with bloggers
The food and design spheres are different, of course, but good connections can be extremely beneficial no matter the industry.
For example, let’s say you follow a food blogger and consistently like their posts. You comment on their blog, and maybe they do the same. Over time, your mutual support establishes good rapport.
One day, this blogger may decide they’re going to redesign their site with graphics and a new layout. This blogger really likes your style, and they hire you to do some work for them.
Not only do you get to work with someone you admire, but you’re familiar with the brand and the mission. And even if you don’t establish a strong connection with other bloggers, viewing other styles in other industries is a good way to keep ideas fresh and inspiration flowing.
Drawmatthewdraw via Instagram
Conclusion
The design world, like food blogging, is saturated. However, as long as you continue to produce good-quality, inspiring work, people will take notice. And sure, it can be difficult to create fresh designs, but it’s not impossible. Take a break. Research and try new food. Snap a few pics. Because, ultimately, your designs will be better for it.
/Featured image: Artsiom Grlmc Hlushchenia via Dribbble/
