Where do you get your graphical ideas from?

What makes you guys come up with fresh and good looking layouts for things like web layouts. I can never think up a good idea in my head.

Thanks

Im with you, idea's dont come easy, if at all.

Most everything I create is a child of screwing around (lol..in photoshop). A couple hours/days of just trying different things, finding what i like and fixing it until it works.....is basically my process.

Though your really supposed to plan out a site. Write down what you need, figure out who your audience is and what design fits them well, and go from there. Though not always helpful, planning can provide you with starting idea's for colors, resolution, content, layout etc. Then its your job to take those ideas and make them interesting.

No one, other than the abosultely gifted, can snap their fingers and end up with a fantastic layout. It's a process.......thats why we crit each other in the website showcase.

Hopefully some of that was helpful.

here's an article that might help a bit ->
http://9rules.com/whitespace/elements_of_web_design_the_message.php
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but mostly for me, ideas come from whatever is around me, especially music.

[QUOTE=zyconium]here's an article that might help a bit ->
but mostly for me, ideas come from whatever is around me, especially music.[/QUOTE]

I agree with that. Inspiration can come from anywhere and everywhere. There's no definitive answer, its different for everyone.