RE: Creative Block

Well I am dealing with creative block now and have found no means of resolution. Normally, I would walk away from a project to come back and have a clear mind, but as of lately, my schedule has been hectic. So, walking away then gets me distracted and on to another thing on my "to-do"list and ultimately, I forget what I was walking away from in the first place. At work though, I sit down with people and pretty much brainstorm. Hearing other opinions and ideas always helps.

RE: Creative Block

Ah yes, I experience this at the beginning of every project. I find that if I keep working on something it eventually gets to a point where I like it--this isn't the most efficient approach, but it works. Putting things down on the page, seeing what I can and can't accomplish helps me see what I'm capable of and allows me to play around with different ideas.

What if there are no ideas though? That's a whole other ball game. I commute to work on the bus. Listening to music and staring out the window usually help me think of things. Just observing things in my environment helps. If I'm at the computer, I'll look on Tumblr, just to see images and designs that are pleasing. Sometimes, I just take a break, drink some wine, crochet, and watch crime procedurals. Taking my mind completely off of the project can help--I'll be sitting there and boom, something will come to me when I'm not even trying.

Personally, creative block can also come from insecurity about my ideas--that they aren't "right" for the project in some way. The best way to see if this is true is to give them a shot--waffling on an idea that could work is a waste of time I've found. Usually when I'm not confident about an idea, it works out better than expected. Trusting your judgement can really help you move forward in the creative process.

Re: Creative Blocks

Creative block!!!!!! I was experiencing this last night with the final project and it was driving me crazy. I am in the same boat as Rebecca when I have mental block, I completely step away from the project to clear my mind. Usually, not all the time, but when I step away I tend to have a lightbulb go off in my head that is a great idea. Now, rushing to my sketchbook is something I have to do when it comes to my mind before I forget. Listening to music sometimes helps me as well.

Re: creative blocks

If I'm at the concepting stage I make lists of words and phrases and try to work stuff out in my head before I start looking at any kind of visual references. I find I can keep things less cluttered in my brain that way. I usually try not to look at other work unless I'm really, really stuck because there's a tendency to be seduced by the execution rather than the concept. But if I get to that point my inspirational go-to is the AIGA online archive: http://designarchives.aiga.org/#/home

Re: Creative Blocks

When it comes to writer's block, I find it's best to write whatever comes to my mind-no matter how off-topic it seems. Usually, my brain works its way around to the topic at hand and I get a few ideas down that I can work with. Or, if I've really worked myself into a corner, I'll write the same sentence over and over and over again until my brain is so bored that the idea of working on the topic at hand is exciting and new. 

Designer's block, however, is a different beast. I don't have a method for tackling it. If I had a way of defeating designer's block, I wouldn't be struggling on this final project. Overcoming designer's block is difficult because it takes me too long to figure out an idea isn't working. Then I end up tossing hours of work away and starting fresh on a new idea. There's nothing worse than feeling like I've wasted my time, which is a feeling I experience far too often. 

I suppose my method for conquering designer's block is creating every bad idea until I have nothing but good ideas left. This proves time consuming, but it is what it is. I'm hoping that unblocking designer's block will get easier and easier the more I design. 

RE: Creative Blocks

Creative blocks, we all hate them! When I have a creative block I usually do the following (in no particular order):

1. Skim three books (sometimes more):
• Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas, by James Adams...which never helps, but I continue to look through it.
• Visible Signs: An Introduction to Semiotics in the Visual Arts, by David Crow
• Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual, by Timothy Samara
2. Take a walk or go to places where I can people watch.
3. Talk about my ideas with others, normally my dad, my mom, and three friends (one a writer, the second a writer and designer, the third a lawyer/politician). This either confuses my thought process or clarifies it.
4. Either sit in my sons room and stare at his toys or play with his toys.

If none of the above works out, I will just sleep on the idea and come back to it later.

Re: Creative Block

I haven't really come up with a tried and true method of getting over a mental block. When I am really struggling to come up with an idea, the best thing I usually think of is to step away from the project for a bit and come back later with a fresh mind. Sometimes the harder you try to think of something, the more elusive that idea is. Also, rereading the guidelines of an assignment sometimes helps me because something I didn't really take notice of before stands out to me in a different way.