Don’t Let the Internet Box You In
Explore the hidden corners of the world that challenge what you thought was possible.
When current culture and creativity seem to be built almost entirely online, sometimes it's important to step outside the digital bubble and seek inspiration beyond the internet.
It's surprising to me how quickly "inspiration" cycles through, with even most original ideas feeling fresh for only a fleeting moment.
Take this scenario: I see a video featuring a cool pair of shoes I’ve never seen before. “Wow, those are cool, and no one else is wearing them yet,” I think. I order them. But by the time they arrive, I’m seeing them everywhere and now they no longer feel novel.
Algorithms control the narrative, quickly rendering what’s outdated because everyone’s already seen it. Graphic designers are drawing from the same Pinterest mockups, interior designers are watching the same lamp unboxings, and fashion enthusiasts are scrolling through the same fit pics.
Sure, originality is possible—you can put your twist on a trend or popular idea. And I agree that creativity shouldn't be about being completely original. However, if everyone’s inspiration is dictated by algorithms, things are bound to get... boring.
As I’ve been curating links for this newsletter each week, I’ve discovered weird, creative corners of the internet—content that often flies under the radar of Google searches and social media algorithms. (Shoutout to Sublime for helping with that!) But I’ve also found a new appreciation for offline inspiration. There is richness in finding ideas that would never have been sparked from your feed.
This isn’t about hating on the internet, which seems to be a trend in itself right now. Instead, I want to highlight the joy of reaching a creative breakthrough without relying on a Google search or a scroll through my feed.
Recently, I was searching for fresh graphic design and branding inspiration. Frustration set in as every online search led me back to the same places— mockups I've seen, familiar concepts, and color palettes repackaged in slightly different ways. As I was feeling stuck, I found myself in a local used bookstore. There, I stumbled upon a collection of Communication Arts magazines from the early 1980s, each issue packed with in-depth breakdowns of branding and design.
Suddenly, my creative block disappeared. Flipping through hundreds of pages, I found a wealth of fresh ideas. Sometimes, the best inspiration comes from stepping away from the screen and trying to look elsewhere.
It’s not like I forgot books existed or had never drawn inspiration from one before. I’d just become so accustomed to finding ideas online that when I hit a dead end there, I kind of just stopped searching.
The internet hasn’t stifled creativity—if anything, it’s opened up endless opportunities for people to live more creative lives. However, it’s easy to get stuck online, especially now when it feels like we’re all seeing the same things.
I hope this letter encourages you: if you’re feeling creatively blocked, step beyond your usual sources of inspiration. Fight to find ideas that can only be unlocked by breaking out of your routine. Don’t get caught up in trying to be the coolest, the newest, or the most novel—just seek what truly inspires you. Explore the hidden corners of the world that challenge what you thought was possible. Go for a walk, climb a mountain, sit in a library—there’s so much out there waiting to be discovered.
Creativity is an adventure. Don’t let that adventure start and end on the internet.
Keep creating and repeating.
- James
The Create.Repeat Podcast
On today’s episode, Zack and Morgan dive into the emotional highs and lows of feedback—how to give it, take it, and use it to grow. From Zack’s near-job loss at BuzzFeed to Morgan’s pivotal feedback moment at a modeling agency, they share raw stories and practical tips to transform critiques into creative fuel. Whether you’re a freelancer or battling self-doubt, this episode is your guide to embracing feedback’s power.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
• Why feedback feels personal—and how to reframe it.
• Turning harsh critiques into growth opportunities.
• Giving feedback that sparks creativity, not fear.
Do you want the Create.Repeat aesthetic on your videos and graphics?
We’ve teamed up with Happy Editing to bring you a curated collection of select editing assets, including film textures, text presets, and an exclusive film-inspired LUT—everything you need to elevate your creative projects. This collection is perfect for any creator’s library, with tools to bring both videos and photos to life.
These film textures and LUTs are what we use in all our videos, and the text preset is how we achieve that cool, grungy look. Right now, Happy Editing is offering a huge early Black Friday sale on the Create.Repeat pack and all their other packs. Don’t miss it—check it out here!
This Week, We're Happy to Spotlight Colson Ayars—a production designer, builder, and filmmaker based in Glendora, California. “I like to immerse people in worlds. Whatever that is called, I do that,” he says. From his room and garage, Colson brings his visions to life, transforming everyday objects into miniatures, sets, costumes, etc.
Embracing Every Experience:
A recent piece of creative advice from Colson: “All I do is part of my creativity—interaction, work, the mundane, the wild, and the awful experiences. These are all vital to my work having humanity in it.” His approach? “Don’t shun that which seems unrelated or distracting from your work, but learn to be inspired by it.” From everyday conversations to tough moments, Colson finds that every experience adds something real to his work.
The Takeaway:
Rethink how you view creativity. Inspiration doesn’t just come from obvious places—it’s woven into every interaction and experience. By embracing all aspects of life, we can create work that feels more authentic and human.
If you want to get more insight into the worlds he’s building, check out his Substack:From the Library of Colson Ayars
If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming Talent Show, apply at CreateRepeat.com.
Links keeping us creative:
📘 Communications Arts Magazine: Those magazines I mentioned earlier, Commarts has them all online as free PDFs, just need to sign up with an email.
🎻 Library Music: Report: In the age of streaming, public libraries offer small-scale alternatives for local archiving.
🚶A plug for small afternoon walks: “Whenever I leave my computer screen, I immediately come up with the answer (or an answer) to whatever I was trying to figure out when I was sitting in front of it.”
📇 Gutenberg Project: Project Gutenberg is a library of over 70,000 free eBooks
Create.Repeat is a community for creatives.
The Create.Repeat Substack is a project designed to be a weekly diary on creativity. Sharing inspiration for artists to keep creating and repeating.
Written and curated by Zack Evans & James Warren Taylor
Each week we will be sharing recent thoughts on creativity, some links helping us stay creative, and a talent show featuring an artist from the community. Thank you for engaging with us.
Thank you guys! Glad to be apart of Create Repeat! ✍️
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