Keep an eye on what is going on in the world and get used to scanning the magazine racks every month. Getting familar with design magazines is obvious but more importantly look at what is happening in the areas of lifestyle, technology, art and fashion.
If you are so fortunate to to attending an art school, definetly take fine art classes and spend time with other sculpture and painting students. Fine art will give you the opportunity to develop your artistic voice and soul. It also will allow you to focus on the core elements of color, form, and emotion with out all the added constratints of a design project brief.