Staying Inspired: Things I Love To Do When Designer's Block Hits
This is a common occurrence for anyone in a creative field, whether we are working as a student, intern, or an experienced graphic designer, I imagine that we all fall victim to creative blocks. It’s quite easy when you push yourself to reinvent the wheel with every design, making every job better than the last. I tend to exhaust my mind with this everlasting cycle of trying to out-create myself, forever competing with my own abilities. When you live like this it is bound that your tank may run out of fuel and you have nothing to start with. I have been there a time or two, and while I may be a young designer, I believe that I have mastered this aspect down. So here’s some things that I have found to be helpful in my creative process.
It may seem redundant to mention, but I always remind myself of the five stages of design thinking process. By not focusing on the end product, you allow yourself to take a step back to do the research. With reaching an understanding of who and why you are creating something, you might be inspired along the way. I find that this is especially the case when you are solving a problem for a specific audience. When you can identify the issues or needs it becomes quite apparent what is needed from you as a designer.
Now for the times that I did my research, but the ball still isn’t rolling. I try my best to put pencil to paper, mocking out even the absurd ideas that will never again see the light of day. Just by getting the pencil moving starts the process for me personally.
Using resources also is a major part of getting me out of a creative rut. Whether that’s talking it out with clients or just another set of eyes to get a new view on your work. Taking advantage of online inspiration is also an excellent way. I tend to fall into Pinterest a lot looking for specific styles, but sometimes it gets too general and I want to find something a bit more design specific. This is where I get into resources like Dribble or Behance where there are real graphic designers who share their work to get hired. I like this because you can really stay up to date on the latest trends and styles across all design fronts.
If I exhaust all of my previous options, I run back to the basics. Anila Hasnain breaks this down in her Design Dash article, “The Science Behind Creative Block: Why It Happens and How To Beat It.” In this she states,“From a psychological perspective, it [creative block] can arise due to fear of judgment, perfectionism, or external pressures, leading to heightened stress and anxiety that inhibit the free flow of ideas.” Her advice is something that has proven itself repeatedly in my creative process, some of them being:
Changing your environment: I found this to be a great help when I would remove myself from the place that I’m struggling in and maybe going somewhere that’s more quiet.
Taking a step away from the work: This may work differently for other, for me, it was switching gears and working on something a little less taxing for at least 30 minutes. This way I would keep my workflow but also get away from the original work to have fresh eyes on it again.
Getting your body moving: When I am stuck and I can’t do anything but stare at the screen, I try to move my body. Whether that is getting up to walk and stretch or going to the gym, I try to fit it in when I can. Your body will be stimulated and so will your mind, which will only set you up for success.
There are so many different ways ones can get out of a creative rut, it’s all trial and error. These are what help me the most when I find myself stuck in my own way.