Inspiring nature

Often we designers ask each other where one finds inspiration. You can get inspired for great new designs from a big variety of sources, but in this post I would like to focus on the subject of nature.

Nature is all around us and it defines us. Our sense of beauty and order is largely based on natural forms and colors. This is why the proportions and rhythms of naturally formed subjects feel just right for a human eye.

We live in the "middle world" to borrow a term from Richard Dawkins. This is the world that we perceive without the aid of technology. The beauty of middle world is well known to us and while it provides a lot of inspiration, one may want look into the micro or macro world to find fresh forms and patterns that are equally pleasant to the eye and less cliche.

Such imagery is fascinating, for example check out these examples:

1. Slime molds that form on food
2. Real snow crystals
3. Micro world images
4. Deep space photography