11 Sites Guaranteed to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

My last two posts dealt with my process for getting ideas out and also how to turn everyday situations into idea gold. However, what happens when you hit a creative wall and can’t think of anything new?

I’ve put together a list of 11 of my favorite sites that help me to see things from different perspectives.  Each of these sites have a knack of finding interesting, weird and wonderful links that I wouldn’t be able to find on my own.  Well actually, I probably could find them but suspect that the time involved would be extremely counter-productive.

1) The Browser

What

The Browser is run by a small team that recommend 5-6 pieces of reading each day that they believe are exceptional (plus the occasional video and memorable quote.)

Why

The pieces are chosen by the editor, mostly from trawling RSS feeds, home pages and Twitter streams, and he has an uncanny knack of finding amazing new and niche publications with very different points of view.

Recent Gems

Peek into my inbox

Check out how I built lasting win-win relationships with some of the most powerful editors in America

2) NotCot.org

What

NOTCOT.ORG is a community of creatives, design lovers, and trendsetters – where .org serves as the studio bulletin board gone digital – each image and caption brings you to a place worth visiting.  It’s about sharing what inspires you. Think of it as a PICTURE BOOK to their novel.

Why

NotCot.org fills the need for a place to collect and share fascinating images and links.  It focuses on instant gratification in both reading and posting.  Contributions are open to the public, and ideal for those who are lazy to post and love eyecandy.

Recent Gems

Identify the 20 most influential people in your existing network

(most likely to whip out their phone and send the intro of your dreams)

3) Waxy Links

What

If Waxy.org is the sandbox of Andy Baio (the guy who runs XOXO, built Playfic and Supercut, helped build Kickstarter and does a bunch of other cool stuff), then Waxy Links is the stuff that inspires a lot of the sand.  Andy curates an awesome list of links ranging from educational to controversial and some just plain cool.

Why

You will find stuff that makes you think and challenges you.  Baio often takes a stand against censorship on the Internet by hosting or linking to controversial content which some parties wish to suppress.  This bold approach makes me value his contributions even more and respect his support of an individual’s voice.

Recent Gems

4) swissmiss

What

swissmiss is run by Tina Roth Eisenberg (she founded and runs CreativeMornings, TeuxDeux, Tattly and a coworking space called Studiomates).  Tina is a ‘Swiss designer gone NYC’ who started swissmiss as a personal visual archive which has grown into a popular design journal averaging 1 million unique visitors a month.

Why

“Wow. You are on posting FIRE lately! I’m getting over-stimulated design seizures, it’s great!”
– Joe

Recent Gems

5) MagCulture

What

magCulture is an amazing resource for anyone interested in editorial design.  The blog is written by Jeremy Leslie (the creative director), but relies on suggestions and submissions from many others around the industry and across the world.

 Why

magCulture serves as an excellent counterpoint from the all digital world that seems to encompass us nowadays.  It celebrates the innovation, creativity and thought that goes into magazines, and the endless surge of opportunities around effectively combining print and digital.

Recent Gems

6) The Presurfer

What

The Presurfer is an award-winning blog run by Gerard Vlemmings, a Netherlands native who has been blogging since September 24, 2000.  Check out his awesome About page…

Why

The point of Presurfer is to find interesting links, so you don’t have to.  Sometimes diversion is a good thing and Gerard has an undeniable gift for finding weird, funny and interesting things that help divert my attention in a good way when needed.

Recent Gems

7) Dark Roasted Blend

What

Started in 2005 by Avi Abrams, Dark Roasted Blend is a visual, online magazine that features the best in art, travel and fascinating technology.  They showcase awesome photographs, videos and articles intended to be read during coffee breaks (hence the name).

Why

“Dark Roasted Blend is a perfect morning wake-up – a site filled with images of Earth’s strange dreamers, oddballs, visionaries, travelers and destinations”
— Time Magazine

Recent Gems

creative-juices

8) Coudal Partners

What

Coudal Partners is an ongoing experiment in web publishing, design and commerce.  It is edited at an interactive studio in Chicago.

Why

An awesome showcase for creativity and experimentation in writing, design and commerce, and to test new technologies and tools.  In the words of co-founder Jim Coudal: “Unable to focus. OK with that.”

Recent Gems

9) Kottke

What

Kottke.org is one of the longest and consistently run blogs on the web, having been in operation for almost 16 years.

Why

Jason Kottke began blogging in 1998, before the word “blog” had even been coined. He’s still at it, and now an undisputed master of online aggregation. Like a one-man Reddit, he calls attention to items all over the web on a dizzying array of topics.

 Recent Gems

10) BookForum

What

Founded in 1994 and described as a “a showcase for rigorous and elegant writing”, BookForum.com is a one-stop hub for literary enthusiasts.

Why

“I love Bookforum, because it gives me intelligent long reviews, and, most importantly, of a range of books not covered in other journals or magazines. Sometimes I think that Bookforum, in its gently subversive way, is America’s real Book Review.”
–James Wood

 Recent Gems

11) It’s Nice That

What

It’s Nice That brings ideas, originality, imagination and creativity in any context.

Why

The site’s mission is centered around championing creativity across the art and design world. Their website is updated with at least 9 stories each day and they have one of the most beautiful link roundups on their Best Of The Web page.

 Recent Gems

The Power of Sharing Should be Applauded

Ideally, we would always like to find ourselves naturally surrounded by inspiration to fuel our creative juices; unfortunately, fate doesn’t always work that way.  When you hit a dry spell and find yourself craving some thought-provoking scenarios, go online and check out some of these sites.

The Internet has provided a platform for thousands of previously unheard voices, many of whom have now made it their mission to share their unique perspective on this wealth of information now available.  Why not embrace their expertise and analysis skills to help you craft your own viewpoint and broaden your creative repertoire?

Please help make this list into an even better resource by sharing your favorite sites in the comments below.

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