UI and Interaction Patterns
We are influenced by what we see and like. That is how our taste and style is developing.
When we create something we don’t exactly replicate the work we like, because that would be copying. We reconstruct our image of it from memory which in fact is creating something new. The output will be influenced by what inspired, but will have “us” in it.
You may have heard this anecdote. Picasso is sitting in the park, sketching. A woman walks by, recognizes him, runs up to him and pleads with him to draw her portrait. He’s in a good mood, so he agrees and starts sketching. A few minutes later, he hands her the portrait. The lady is ecstatic, she gushes about how wonderfully it captures the very essence of her character, what beautiful, beautiful work it is, and asks how much she owes him. “$5,000, madam,” says Picasso. The lady is taken aback, outraged, and asks how that’s even possible given it only took him 5 minutes. Picasso looks up and, without missing a beat, says: “No, madam, it took me my whole life.”
Taken from Networked Knowledge and Combinatorial Creativity
As digital designers we look for inspiration not just online, but in our daily routine. Being outdoors, shopping and using everyday things.
Besides that it is pretty common to do our research online.
Starting by googling it there are a handful of places where I find myself ending up at again an again.
Here are some resources that I recommend visiting when you are looking to solve certain design problems or are in need for ideas.
Patterntap
Curated by creative agency Zurb, comes with patterns not just for mobile. Organized in a clean and concise way, browse through thousands of specific designs and patterns of user interaction. Is is place where designers learn what is working well on the Web and why.
Mobile Patterns
This one is dedicated for the mobile and comes with a collection of UI screens broken up in different categories.
Inspired UI
An easy to browse collection of app screens for iPhone, iPad and Android by category and device.
Android Patterns
This is a set of interaction patterns that can help you design Android apps giving a guide on interaction patterns that have been proven to work more than in one situation.
Pttrns
Pttrns is a curated library of iPhone and iPad user interface patterns. All patterns has been hand picked. There is currently 2430 patterns in the library. iOS7 has its own category besides iPhone and iPad.
Lovely UI
A collection of mobile UI elements that can be browsed by category.
Dribbble
Dribbble has a huge collection of UI elements besides many other design shots. Make sure to use the search by tag functionality. Use broad terms like ‘UI’, ‘UX’, ‘interface’ or ‘iOS’, ‘Android’, ‘mobile’ or you can be even more specific like ‘calendar’, ‘swipe’. You will get some nice results if you keep looking.
Pinterest has a plethora of resources for inspiration, UI being one of fields where we are getting more and more quality pins. Go crazy!
Stackexchange UX
Finally there is Stackexchange UX, where quality answers can be found to some very qood quesions. Ask, Answer and Browse and keep learning!
So what are your favorite places you visit when you have design questions? Where are you looking for inspiration? Let us know in the comment section below.