I was walking along, minding my business…

Do you ever look down?

No—not at your phone (although, guilty).

I mean down out there in the world…

Sidewalks. Curbs. Old walls. Gates.

Maybe it’s because I live in Salem, MA where the streets are literally older than sliced bread, but if you pay attention long enough, there’s a surprising amount of design underfoot.

And yes, that includes manhole covers.

I spotted one just last week when I was out walking off a creative block (you know those moments…nothing’s clicking, every idea feels meh, and suddenly you’re considering whether early retirement might be a vibe).

I popped in my headphones, hit play on my “brain fog begone” playlist, and let my feet lead.

About 20ish minutes in, I took a random left turn I never take—and bam. Right there in the middle of an otherwise boring road was this circular, cast-iron moment. 

A funky hexagonal pattern that looked like a beehive-meets-Marvel-esque shield, tucked into the pavement like it had something to say.
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It piqued my curiosity and got me out of my funk!

I walked (wicked fast) home, made a beeline to my desk, and started searching for more inspiration. 

I Googled creative manhole covers (yes, really). And HOLY DESIGN RABBIT HOLE. 

Turns out cities all over the world have been turning these mundane metal lids into mini masterpieces.

There are colorful, hand-painted ones. Other more intricate, floral styles. Minimalist but modern designs. Even New York has some serious grunge-chic going on.

It’s like… street art meets utility.

And funny enough, this little exercise worked!

Legit.

That one unexpected moment of visual interest snapped me out of my funk. 

Many messy ideas later… boom. 

I landed on a few new symbols for a client that *actually* have legs.
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And I couldn’t help but think—this is why design matters.

It’s not just for logos or packaging or websites.

It’s culture. It’s creativity in public. It's getting you out of a funk.
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It’s proof that even the most practical things can be beautiful.

So if you’re ever feeling uninspired.

Especially during the day to day of running a business…

Go on a walk. Look down. Look around.

Take the looooooooong way home.

And when the spark hits? Follow it.
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You never know where it might lead. (For me, it led to some pretty killer client concepts — and a whole new level of appreciation for urban infrastructure lol)

Need help turning your inspiration into something real?

You know where to find me.

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Matthew
Founder, Good Brand Partners