HOW TO TRAVEL LIKE A DESIGNER: PACKING TIPS, CREATIVE JOURNALING AND ESSENTIALS FOR INSPIRATION

Travelling like a designer is not just about arriving at a destination; it’s about embracing the journey as a canvas, ready to be filled with inspiration and creativity. Designers don’t just travel—they observe, document, and curate their experiences. From packing thoughtfully to creating visual travel journals, their approach to exploration is equal parts practical and poetic. Here’s how you can travel like a designer, finding beauty in the details and crafting your own creative narrative on the road.

Pack Like a Creative Minimalist

Designers know that creativity thrives within constraints, and that starts with how they pack. It’s not about taking everything you might need but about curating what will enhance your experience.

1. Pack Your Creative Toolkit:

• Sketchbook: A pocket-sized Moleskine or an A5 watercolour pad is ideal for quick sketches and notes.
• Writing and Drawing Tools: A set of fine-line pens, a mechanical pencil, and a small palette of watercolour paints. Designers favour tools that feel good in hand—think Muji gel pens or Koh-I-Noor graphite sticks.
• Portable Tech: An iPad with Procreate or a digital drawing tablet for more refined work.
• Analogue Inspiration: A small stack of postcards from home to exchange with locals or use as a makeshift inspiration board.

2. Style Meets Function:

• Layering Essentials: Designers favour pieces that can transition from day to night—think oversized scarves, versatile jackets, and well-made basics.
• Textures and Patterns: Bring a few signature items that reflect your aesthetic. Whether it’s a hand-printed scarf or a pair of statement shoes, these pieces become conversation starters.
• The Multi-Functional Bag: A leather tote that holds your sketchbook, camera, and essentials. Designers lean towards bags that age well—something that gains character over time.

3. Leave Room for the Unexpected:

• Designers know that travel means collecting—whether it’s local textiles, vintage books, or small crafts. Packing light at the start leaves space for these meaningful finds.

Journaling on the Road: Capture Ideas in Real Time

Designers document not just what they see but how they feel about it. A travel journal isn’t just a diary; it’s a visual archive, a collage of thoughts and inspirations.

1. Create a Ritual:

• Dedicate time each evening to reflect—whether it’s in a quiet café, a hotel balcony, or a park bench. Designers value routine, even when on the move.

2. Layer Your Experiences:

• Sketches and Doodles: Capture the pattern on a café floor or the texture of a building facade. These quick sketches become prompts for bigger ideas later.
• Colour Swatches: Designers often use watercolours or coloured pencils to record the hues of a place. A sunset in Marrakech or the soft pastels of a Parisian street—recording these colours helps cement the memory.
• Thoughtful Notes: Jot down snippets of conversations, local sayings, or even the texture of the paper at a boutique. Designers notice small details others overlook.

3. Mix Mediums:

• Combine photography with illustration—print small photos, stick them into your journal, and annotate them with sketches or quotes from locals.
• Collect ephemera: ticket stubs, pressed flowers, and packaging designs from local shops. Layer these elements for a tactile, multimedia experience.

4. The Daily Challenge:

• Set yourself a creative task each day—capture the city’s rhythm through five quick sketches, or list five things that surprised you about a place. Constraints fuel creativity.

Essentials for Inspiration: Be Open to the Unexpected

Designers know that inspiration doesn’t always come from iconic landmarks. Sometimes it’s in the mundane—a well-worn handrail, a faded mural, the geometry of a crumpled map.

1. Find Texture Everywhere:

• Visit local craft shops or textile markets. Feel the weight of handwoven fabrics, study the patterns, and learn from the artisans.
• Take photos not just of grand vistas but of peeling paint, cobblestones, and hand-painted signs. These images can later influence design concepts.

2. Connect with Local Creatives:

• Visit small galleries or studios. Designers are drawn to process, not just final products—understand how local creators think, how they choose materials, and how they conceptualize their work.
• Engage in workshops or pop-up events. Whether it’s pottery in Kyoto or printmaking in Copenhagen, hands-on experiences ground your creativity in a new context.

3. Observe the Everyday:

• Sit in one spot for an hour. Notice how people move, how shadows shift, and how light changes the mood of a place. Slow observation leads to thoughtful inspiration.
• Pay attention to typography in public spaces—street signs, café menus, and product packaging often reflect the aesthetic pulse of a city.

Slow Down to Absorb

Designers inherently value process over product. They know that rushing through a destination means missing the nuances that make it unique. By intentionally slowing down, you’ll start to notice how patterns repeat, how sounds change from morning to night, and how colour palettes shift with the weather.

Travelling like a designer is less about capturing the iconic postcard shot and more about embedding yourself into the layers of a place. It’s about finding beauty in the unexpected and using each journey as a palette for future ideas. Whether it’s a quick sketch on a café napkin or a thought scribbled in the margins of a guidebook, each piece becomes a fragment of your creative journey.

So next time you set off, resist the urge to see everything. Instead, choose to see deeply. Let your travels shape you, leaving behind not just memories but inspirations to carry forward into your work. Travel like a designer—thoughtfully, curiously, and with your senses wide open.