Design with Curiosity

Behind every impactful creative decision is a simple question: why?

At Novara, we’ve found that curiosity is the engine of great design. It pushes us beyond trends, tools, and templates—and leads to ideas that feel original, relevant, and human. When designers ask better questions, they build work that solves problems instead of decorating them.

Start with the user. Instead of diving straight into color palettes or layouts, ask: What do they need? What emotions are we trying to evoke? What pain are we trying to relieve? Empathy opens the door to creativity with purpose.

Next, turn curiosity inward. Challenge your own assumptions. Why does this design choice feel “right”? Is it solving the real problem or just following what’s been done before? The answers will either affirm your direction or lead you somewhere unexpected and better.

We also encourage teams to explore outside of their field. A documentary, a piece of architecture, a lyric—they can all trigger new thinking. Curiosity thrives on cross-pollination. Inspiration doesn’t always come from looking at other websites or branding decks.

Lastly, don’t rush to solve. Sit with the question. Make space for ambiguity. Great ideas often emerge when the mind has time to wander and connect dots.

Creativity isn’t just a skill—it’s a mindset. When you design with curiosity, you create work that doesn’t just look good, but makes people stop, think, and feel.