When seeking inspiration, it’s often beneficial to look beyond an object’s surface appearance. Take this plate, for instance—its unique character emerged when the clay was dropped. The resulting ridges, dents, and organic shape prompted me to pause and consider, “What if?”
Experience plays a key role in this process, as it helps build an internal library of ideas, enabling you to connect the object in front of you to imaginative possibilities. This approach is something I frequently use in the kitchen when designing new menu items. Sure, it’s a pepper, but what if you roast it, puree it, set it with gelatin, and mold it into a garnish for cheese?
By setting aside the conventional understanding of an object—how it functions or what it traditionally looks like—you open the door to creative exploration.
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