explodingboy

Creativity isn’t constant. Every designer sooner or later has to deal with their creative flame fizzling. All designers have had a time where they have stared deep into a blank screen, page, or canvas. Time constraints, outrageous client requests, and outside stress are a few on the long list of items that can drain one’s creative side. So what can you do when you can’t come up with anything, and every idea is a bad one?

Here are some tips that I use to help me fuel my creative flame. Feel free to share some of your own.

Step away from the project.
Sometimes you just need to take a breather from a project. Get away for a while and be active. Go for a walk, hike, or play your favorite sport. Exercise always seems to juice up my brain.

Break it down.
Do things piece by piece. If I am having trouble tackling a large project. I will focus and complete some smaller tasks. Making a little headway always seems to boost confidence, and help me move forward.

Hunt for inpiration.
If inspiration isn’t finding you, go find it. I visit creative websites, and see what others are doing. I also have luck visiting bookstores, and music stores. Examining color combinations, and layout styles always helps.

Play music.
I listen to various genres of music, and find listening to the right kind of music helps reduce stress and sparks my creative side. People process music differently, so find the style that suits you.

Talk with others.
If I am going at a project solo, I try to get input from friends, coworkers, or other respected designers. They might have good ideas or different ways of attacking a problem. I find that bouncing ideas off other people is a surefire way to break down creative barriers.