5 Great Places to Travel Abroad for Graphic Design Inspiration
If you’re an art student, an aspiring graphic designer or an employed professional, the world truly is your oyster. You can follow your dreams and satisfy your love for adventure as you find inspiration in these global design destinations.
Marrakesh
Designers are almost guaranteed to feel at home in Marrakesh or any other Moroccan city. Some renowned artists have found rich sources of inspiration during brief and extended visits to the country. Any destination you choose will be filled with colors and patterns that are the foundation of modern and traditional designs. Then, there’s the fascinating history, flavorful food and crowded souks. Everything in Morocco can influence your current designs and be incorporated in all types of projects in multiple mediums.
Havana
With the recent restoration of governmental relations between the United States and Cuba, many voyagers are including Havana in their travel plans. For graphic designers, Havana and other Cuban cities offer something more than coffee and cigars. They are a treasure trove for typography. There are vintage signs on street corners and above shop windows. On sidewalks, visitors will find ornate business names and mosaic logos inlaid in sidewalks and facades. It’s easy to be inspired by the colors of the city and the locals’ eclectic fashions. The vintage beauty of Havana has been largely untouched, which makes it an irresistible design destination.
Berlin
In 2006, Berlin became a UNESCO City of Design. Creative people can discover a side of the city that most visitors will never see. Hotels, tour companies, neighborhoods, markets, museums and businesses cater to travelers with an interest in art and design. With its many schools and organizations, including nine fashion colleges, you could even take a fun design workshop while you’re in town. Visitors can be inspired, meet new friends and learn exciting skills. Berlin is arguably the most contemporary and high-tech art center in the world.
Kowloon
Hong Kong has a beautiful and inspiring coastal location, but travelers with an interest in stylish marketing and advertising can find something else in the heart of Kowloon. Thoroughfares like Nathan Road and Fa Yuen Street are lit up with artful neon signs. They are colorful and eye-catching iconographic advertisements for jewelry stores, family-owned restaurants and global brands. These famous advertisements are slowly disappearing from the streets. Unfortunately, city ordinances claim that the signs are illegal structures although they have been hanging over shops for some 40 years. By 2019, many of these historic signs will appear in M+, a museum dedicated to visual culture.
Copenhagen
For dedicated fans of minimalism, there are many temping destinations in Europe and Scandinavia, but Copenhagen wins the popular vote. If you need a reason to go, here are a few. Danes are the happiest people on the planet, and Denmark probably has more design aficionados per capita than any other city. It was also home to Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton and many other celebrated designers. If you aren’t prepared for a shopping spree in the city’s trendy boutiques, you can always window shop. Copenhagen’s warm and cozy style is particularly charming in autumn and winter. It’s the perfect city to learn more about Scandinavia’s simple and tasteful style.
Conclusion
The world is full of exotic and intriguing destinations for people who love seeing and creating beautiful things. The gestalt of each city and region can be discovered with open eyes, a good sketchbook and a little effort.
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