Look to the environment for inspiration. By observing textures and patterns found in both natural and manmade surfaces --- from seashells to metal grates --- an idea can form for a belt buckle design. Take a photograph of any unusual textures, or search for royalty-free images online as a visual starting point. Use the influence from the source material to experiment and create an unusual buckle shape and pattern to be engraved on the belt buckle.
Find belt buckle ideas by studying art movements of the past. Look at the work of a particular artist with the intention of designing a belt buckle based on that artist's themes or style. For instance, if exploring the Arts and Crafts Movement, an elaborate belt buckle could be designed following the ornate leaf and floral wallpaper designs of William Morris. If you find Pop Art and Andy Warhol's work inspiring, create a buckle in his style. Alternatively, a buckle design could have an embellishment of a famous painting on it.
Embellish a buckle with an iconic emblem like a flag, a famous cartoon or movie character or a popular inanimate object. Other motifs can look distinctive, too, such as leaves, flowers, insects or animals. Keep the buckle design simple by making the motif the primary focus so that it stands out and is eye-catching.
Create a belt buckle design using just a letter or word. Initials that represent a brand or place can be the focus of the design. Or, simply embellish the buckle with a quirky word used by teenagers to appeal to a younger demographic. The design could also contain other elements, such as combining letters with symbols or pictures to create a belt buckle in a logo-type style.