During the early 20th century, several art movements emerged that changed the way we see art and design. Futurism, Dadaism, and Surrealism provided us with new ways of thinking that were inspired from the ever changing world around the artists of the time.
While Futurism emerged from Italy and was kickstarted by the Italians desire to seek technological innovation, movements like Dadaism and Surrealism stemmed from the desire to turn to nonsensical and illogical art as a reaction to the devastation of World War 1.
These movements differ in many ways, and aimed to achieve nearly opposite goals, yet they were all inspired by perception of the world the artists were living in.
I think as artists and designers, the most important thing we can learn from any art movement is the context that lead to its creation. Absorbing the world around you, the events you’re living through, and the people around you provide the greatest inspiration for creating something new, whether that creation communicates a need like Futurism, or your own feelings and reactions like Dadaism and Surrealism. Looking for inspiration in music, movies, and other artworks often helps you produce something beautiful, but seeking inspiration from what is around you helps you create something impactful.