It’s a moment of dread that everyone in a creative role has experienced: you are expected to deliver innovative and original ideas or concepts, but you have lost all inspiration and for the life of you cannot come up with anything that looks or sounds good. No matter what profession, brain blocks happen. That’s why it’s important to try and think critically and creatively while mastering your craft. Web design professionals frequently face the task of creating unique ideas to help their customers stand out from the crowd. Although most professionals in the field make it look easy, the truth is that all creative professionals have encountered blocks in their creativity. The next time it happens to you, remember these tips on how to enhance creative thinking for web design professionals.
How to Enhance Creative Thinking for Web Design Professionals
Step outside.
Both literally and figuratively, stepping outside of your project can help to influence new ideas. If you’re obsessing about how you’re going to design something, stop thinking about it completely and do something else like going for a quick walk, taking a ride in the elevator or reading a quick passage in a book. A change in both mentally and physical scenery allows your subconscious to wake up and you’ll soon find your “random” ideas flowing again.
Think outside of the box, inside the box, & from above the box.
Try to get a view of your project from different perspectives and angles. Have items on hand that can help you to visually experiment with subtle ideas that are just whispering to you from the recesses of your mind.
Often times sketching seemingly unrelated images like clouds or letters can help. Another favorite trick is to have shaping clays or art supplies nearby. Using them allows you to physically manifest creative tendencies that you might not have thought of if you were just sitting at your desk trying to come up with a list of ideas to write down.
Read.
Creatives often cite the power of reading as a source of design inspiration. Reading takes your mind off of the task at hand and allows you to absorb new ideas without realizing it.
Sketch.
Sketching, penciling, doodling, whatever you want to call it, the act of drawing out an idea or concept can help to open the pathways of creativity and originality in your mind.
Shut it down.
If you’re facing a creative block, it can be very simple to go into panic mode and search for ideas on the Internet, especially if you’re a web designer. Suddenly you’ll find yourself clicking over and over again, lamenting the talent and brilliance of everyone except you.
The best course of action to restore your creative energies is to simply force yourself to shut down your computer and go offline for a bit. Undertake tasks that require you to be away from your desk and allow your mind to wander.
Routine and organization: creative sparks & protectors.
When people hear the words “creative” or “creative process,” they often picture an individual that is suddenly overcome with a brilliant idea in the midst of disarray. The truth is that while creatives are often thought of as scatterbrained or disorganized, this is largely a stereotype. Having a routine and organization actually lend to being able to be more creative.
Every decision that you make requires energy; this is why by lunchtime, you begin to feel worn down and less productive. If you have a routine in place that allows you to streamline decisions, you’re saving up energy for your brain to use in more innovative capacities. The same goes with organization. Frequently writers and artists are portrayed as being unorganized, needing to look through piles and stacks of items before being able to locate anything they may be looking for.
In reality, having a strong organizational system feeds the ability to create; by not having to expend energy searching for daily needs or wondering where a certain pen, file or brush was placed, you’re saving crucial time and thoughts to devote to the creative process.
