Solid advice! I develop desktop software and also get a lot of inspiration from video games. UX patterns and aesthetics are often overlooked in games. They also use lots of subtle cues to educate the user of the rules of the environment.

When you see posts asking why big bold fonts are currently "a thing" on DN, you really have to ask if people look outside of the sphere of digital.

I can't judge on naivety but being being so blinkered and taking inspiration solely from the field you work in is, for me, upsetting. It shows a lack of imagination, creativity and having a small silo of inspiration and influence.

great advice - I find a lot of inspiration in nature :)

As a developer, I find working on machines a fascinating way to do what the author is describing here.

When disassembling the top end of an engine (for instance), you have to put thought into the way it was put together from the beginning. What components are assembled in which order, and why? What was the restrictions in the overall design that lead to certain components being designed the way they are? And are there any ways to improve the design?

These are concepts you deal with all day long as a software developer. Having a physical, tangible object in front of you to do the same with can bring a lot of inspiration.

I enjoy finding inspiration in the non-digital realm. Makes me wonder if there are any design resources for real-world UX? Maybe there's a place for all those odd photos of doorknobs and watch faces and surprising hotel room details?