I’m four weeks into teaching a course at Drexel and one thing my students asked me for was some sources of inspiration. As a result, I’ve been creating these sections in my lectures where I look at things that have inspired me in the past (I’ll probably share those in some post in the future).
But it got me thinking about what inspirations I can start to pull in in my day to day. I always like the idea of surrounding yourself with meaningful objects and experiences and it got me thinking about the one object I carry with me everywhere - my iPhone.
I recently took the case off of it, and wow do I have a newfound appreciation for the object. I find myself sometimes just holding it, and enjoying the feel of the textured glass, the stainless steel frame, and the camera bump (which always makes me nervous anytime I put my phone down on a non-soft surface). It’s definitely changed the interaction I have with my phone, but it’s also a slight moment of inspiration to think about an every day object in a new light. My god it’s an expensive product, but having it without its case makes me enjoy the experience so much more. The varyings materials, the lighter weight… it all adds up to something that I really really like to hold!
It’s inspiring and got me thinking about other ways I can change up my day. Maybe I don’t wear headphones on the train one day? I don’t know… but the one thing I really enjoy about teaching is it’s a good check-in with myself on how I can be a better designer.
I’d also encourage you to take a minute and take your case off your phone. Close your eyes and just hold it. Enjoy the tactility of it. Enjoy the materials, the finish, the weight. After all, there was a lot of work that went into creating those experiences, and you paid a lot of money for phone. Take a minute to enjoy it. Trust me, it’s worth it.