What every designer can learn from Picasso

Pablo Picasso is one of the most popular artists of all time. He was a Spanish draftsman, painter, printmaker, and sculptor. Picasso’s charismatic personality was reflected in his work and in his bohemian life. He found inspiration from great painters and movements. He was also a source of inspiration for many other visual artists and designers.

Let’s discover together what ideas we can “steal” from Picasso’s works and try to implement them in our design projects.

Find inspiration from artists and art movements

Anyone who has a creative job knows how important it is to look at other artists’ works and be inspired by them. Learn about their techniques and strategies, and mix their ideas with yours. Picasso looked up to Goya, El Greco, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse. And you can find some similarities with those great painters in his works.

Art movements can also be a great source of inspiration. Picasso’s works were inspired by Impressionism, Post-impressionism, Art Nouveau, African Art.

For example, you can notice the influence of African mask in his representative painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907).

Experiment with pink and blue like Picasso

Color is an important characteristic in painting. It has a powerful meaning in expressing emotions. Picasso had a period (1901-1904) when blue was the predominant color in his work. The subjects of his painting were poor people from the streets and the blue tones express well the pain and the suffering.

Boy with a pipe (1905)

The Tragedy (1903)

Rose Quartz and Serenity are the colors of 2016 (Pantone). You can use them together or separately. Blue and pink can be a great inspiration for your project.

This illustration made by Abbey Lossing is a great example of how these two colors work together.

Use collages

Picasso used pieces of paper and glue, to express his ideas. Now the collage technique is very popular and you don’t have to use glue and paper, you can create a digital collage to create a brand identity or a poster.

Play with different styles

Pablo Picasso had an eclectic style. He often moved between different styles even in the same work. He was dynamic in his work and he frequently changed styles.

Don’t be afraid to try new techniques, experiment and be creative.

Use these simple tips from Picasso and you will create amazing works that will inspire other new designers.

Picasso had a long career which brought about a lot of amazing paintings. What he created had a huge impact on great artists like Amedeo Modigliani, Arshile Gorky, Willem de Kooning.

He inspired new movements like Cubism, Abstract Art, Surrealism, Pop Art, Conceptual Art.