Web Design, uses your creativity and can run low from time to time, just like a writer can experience ‘writer’s block.’ However as much as that can be an excuse, there really is no such thing as a creative block. It is all in the designer’s mind. Some of this can be spurred on from the following:
- Physical limitations due to lifestyle choices (ex: stress, sleep problems)
- Lack of confidence in your own work
- Too busy or too much on your plate
- Not enough knowledge in field to complete certain projects
- Lack of motivation.
These are things that can be changed by taking a positive approach. I love to write as much as I love to design. I design like I write, which means I do the following: make sure I keep focused with the design before doing anything else.
- 1. Write down in notebook or type in notepad what you do not know in my field. Once this list is made, go out and search for books, and online resources to help teach myself how to do something.
- 2. Look around the internet for web trends and take notes. A lot of clients like to give example sites for something that they have in mind. These also can help you learn different tools that you can design for websites even if you code it your own way.
- 3. Keep designing. Do something, even simple stuff. You will find that if you work with one photo, you could discover dozens of ways to change or enhance it. Look for sites that offer graphic challenges. Some might offer a prize (even a small graphic), but the prize is not the goal. The goal is to keep designing and create something. A prompt sometimes helps and these challenges, even ridiculous ones can help. Here is a site called Graphic Competitions that may be handy for helping you get in the design mood.
- 4. Try joining forums for graphic and web designers to share pointers or visit blogs of these genre to get in touch with your field better.
- 5. Try drawing offline. Make mockups of layout ideas without the graphics on paper.
- When designing, try designate a time. Occasional breaks are great, but distractions can be a nuisance. If you are a mother, perhaps during naptime, during school hours, or after the kids go to bed might be the best times to design without being distracted.
- 6. Be confident in your work. Yes, rejection might hit hard for you, but you can always change the work. Take your client’s constructive criticism seriously and try to apply. You are working with a client which is a partnership. Most of the time, it is communication failure that breaks the partnership. The client chose you because they liked your past work and believe you can do the job because you said you could, so think about your past work and what your client wants. Do not let fear get in the way. You got the job, so you can do it
- 7. Be honest about your work. In the case that you cannot complete a project for some reason, be up front with your client. However, try to be resourceful and refer them to a possible web design buddy you may have met according to my 4th suggestion.
- 8. Keep a positive attitude. It is not the end of the world if your first proof is rejected. Persevere and you will definitely come up with something better second time around.
Remember, even if you design professionally, have some fun. It will help keep you motivated.
Hi Nile,
What you say about designing so applies to writing, or any other kind of creative work.
When I get stuck for blogging I just write, what ever comes to mind. If I am working on a piece and am not sure where to go next, I’ll write where I want it to end up and then go back in fill in the missing connecter.
I would imagine with designing you could step aside from your current project and do a little creating for a future project, something you really like that will come into use another day. That way you can build momentum to return to what’s current.
Thanks for your thoughts. I’ll be back.
RICK
Awesome think. Really These are things that can be changed by taking a positive approach.
Thanks for sharing these valuable tips.
great valuable tips, a positive approach always works with everything, what a shame we cant be positive all the while
cool tips,I really appreciate the positive approach towards it.
I agree with a lot of the sentiments in your article Nile, however, I do not think the creativity block is always just all in the mind of the designer.
Personally, I am a writer, designer, musician and a therapist all of which need me to be creative all the time, and I do come across the lull you mentioned quite often.
In my experience as a therapist, I have come to realise that there are some natural limitiations to creativity we as humans have. We would do well to understand respect these limitations if we want to experience even more progress in our creative abilities.
For the most part, these limitations are fluid in existence and by that I mean that, the limitations are only produced if we run into certain conditions. As soon as those conditions disipate, the limitations also vanish.
An example on the lighter side could be some stress related issue (like you’ve mentioned).
however this could be either physical or emotional stress.
(I find that people tend not to be really aware of the effects emotional stress.) We can all expereince stress as a result of things outside our control. If we begin to blame ourself for the lack of creativity we are experiencing due to stress, this way of thinking alone can create negative loop back which just drives our stress upward. however if we aknowledge this limitation caused by stress, we are more likely to entertain spending time doing some stress reducing activity. Less stress gives us more room to be createive.
On the more complex side. I have treated some well known musicians and designers who have either lost a loved one or lost a job who could not even face the idea of picking up their art just to play. Ironically, these individuals had unintentionally made some painful connections with between what the had lost and thier creative activites. Hence the temporarily lost the pleasure they got from the activity. Unfortunately, these individual would ruminate over the fact that they could sense no pleasure in the acivity which only made them more unhappy. In these sort of cases, I would have to work hard to get them to a point where they are not blaming themselves for not feeling pleasure so that they could start their creative work again.
Sorry that this is a long post, I just felt a strong need to mention that a lack of productivity is not always in the mind. However even, though this may be the case, there are still many practical ways to break throught this creativity block.
Great Idea and listing the things you want or develop before actually starting the project can be a good idea and can help in developement.