Four and a half ways we stay creative and keep our inspirational levels up
December 12, 2018 |Categorised in: Ask The Designer
Everyone loves working at a creative agency here at Tidy Studio, but having that creative dial turned to 11 everyday comes with its own pressure. So, what do we do in the studio to keep the creative well from running dry and our inspiration levels topped up?
Pick up a pencil
There’s something very comforting about the feel of graphite on paper. Somehow it seems to get the creative juices flowing.
You don’t even need to draw anything related to your project. Even simple doodling in the margins of your notebook, doing some zentangle, or writing down words that are loosely related to your project can be a massive help.
Get outside
It’s a scientific fact that exercise boosts creativity. Whether it’s running, cycling or simply walking in the park, getting outside exercise under your belt is a great way to reflect on where you are with a project. It’s amazing how solutions can just pop into your head because your focus is elsewhere!
Visual stimulus
Flick through old magazines, pick up a book, visit a record store, your local library, a gallery or museum. Paying attention to all the visual stimulus that surrounds us can be a great way to kick start the creative process when it’s stalled.
Don’t be afraid to look at something unrelated to the project you’re working on either. If you’re stuck on a drinks packaging project, endlessly looking at really cool drinks packaging designs on Pinterest is unlikely to help you. But you might find that spark of inspiration you need by flipping through the shelves at a record store.
Talk to people
Getting feedback on an idea can be a great way to get yourself out of a creative cul-de-sac. Sometimes you’ll get great feedback but even if you don’t the conversation itself might spark an idea or connection, that’ll get things going again.
Take photos
This is something we don’t do enough of as a team but have pledged to do more of (hence four and a half). Looking and seeing are not the same thing. Getting out and about with a camera in hand and really noticing what’s going on around you and responding to it can be an amazing way to get the creative juices flowing again.
If you think about it, everything we’ve discussed above are really just great excuses to take a break from a project and get out of your own head.
It’s only then you can absorb everything that’s going on around you and that’s usually when inspiration hits and ideas flow.
Allowing yourself that headspace to reflect on your work without directly thinking about it is a crucial step in producing good work. Here at Tidy we call this the creative pause.
Got another design-related question that needs answering? Drop our friendly team of creatives a message.
