Designers Block – Filling a Creative Blank Slate

Graphic Designers are no different than any other kind of creative person. Like musicians, painters, writers and everyone else, sometimes we find ourselves with a deliverable and a deadline and a blank digital canvas. And just like writer’s block, there are few things as terrifying as staring at that blank screen and having NO ideas. So, here are a few tips and tricks that I’ve used over the years to help me clear that hurdle and keep moving forward. (Deadlines wait for no one, after all.)

• Google is your friend: Go online and research the subject of whatever it is you need to design for. Are you developing a logo for a local brewery’s latest IPA? Well, type “IPA” into your search engine of choice and see where that rabbit hole goes. Look at the pictures that come up. Read an article on the subject. Check out the tweets trending on IPA’s. Is the NAME of the IPA something specific? Look up THAT as a subject. Research almost always gets me going in at least one creative direction.

• Hit the Archives: Were there some designs or logos you’ve created in the past that you really liked but didn’t go anywhere? Sometimes a discarded idea from last year can inspire a NEW idea tomorrow. Inspiration hides in the strangest places sometimes, and it can be beneficial to look back at your past work for fresh ideas.

• Step Away: This might seem like the simplest idea, and sometimes one that might look like you’re not working at all, but a big part of the creative process happens in your mind where nobody can see it happening. And if that mind is clogged, you might need to shake the cobwebs out. Take a short walk and step away from that blank screen for a few minutes to let your mind wander. It’s not guaranteed to make ideas happen, but it sure does help to clear the runway for any that are on their way.

At the end of the day, just try and remember that a creative block isn’t some permanent thing taking root to destroy you. It’s just a rough patch on the creative path and one that can be avoided or muscled through.

Written by Blog Contributor: Dee Fish