When was the last time you truly LOOKED at your surroundings? I don’t mean glancing around as you commute to work. I mean, stopping to pause and SEE the things around you and your environment.

If  you do, you might be surprised just how much design inspiration you’re missing. Whether you live in the city or the country or have the best of both worlds (like living in Oklahoma) your designs can be inspired by the landscapes and skylines that surround you. Now, that isn’t to say that you’re next design will be a hillside of cattle but, have you ever just sat back and taken in the colors that are naturally in such settings?
Some of my best and most creative color palettes come from scenes in nature and things that I see on a daily basis. Don’t let another inspiring scene pass you by. Reach out and make it the foundation for your next great design piece!

Bookmark This!

As creative professionals its easy to get stuck in a particular style or genre of art that we personally like or gravitate towards. We’ve all seen art and said, "That’s a so-n-so". How do we determine the artist based on the piece? By their individual style.

This style, while a necessity in fine arts, can get in the way of the modern graphic artist. If you are working with clients, chances are they are wanting something truly unique for their business.

Recently one of my students asked, after looking at some of my sample Web sites, how we managed to have such a variety of styles . . . The question took me by surprise, but I quickly recovered and shot off a few answers.

As a designer, what can we do to continue to come up with uniquely creative ideas and stay out of the rut of same ol’ design?

Let’s look closely at what I told him:

1. Keep learning. We should constantly be looking at magazines, books and websites for new designs and creative inspiration. Sometimes seeing something new will inspire you greater than any amount of thinking and studying.

2. Learn the Software. The better you know the ins and outs of your design software, the more creative your work will become. Nothing hinders a good design faster than not knowing what is available to you.

3. Collaborate with your Peers. A lot of designers are afraid to bounce ideas off their peers, for fear of stolen ideas and competitive proposals. Find some creatives you can trust and bounce your ideas off of them. A mixture of perspectives and ideas will do wonders to boost your creativity.

4. Listen to your clients. Remember that art is subjective to a certain extent. So while I may think that my designs are incredible, the client may have had something totally different in mind. The more you listen, the more flexible your designs will become.

5. Try new things. Constantly come up with ways to create a look that has never been done before. Don’t allow fear to keep you from stepping out there and coming up with "the next big thing". You can do it!

The list could go on and on. . . . tell me what you do to stay creative and keep your designs fluid!
 

Bookmark This!

The most important part of the creative process? Is it proper training? Innate creativity? A pleasant attitude? Those are all important, but I’ve found that the single most important tip for keeping creative juices flowing is having enough discipline to take a break.

Discipline? Yes, if you are a work-a-holic like me, you may feel guilty for sitting and doing nothing. Knowing that work is piling up around you and clients are waiting with baited breath to see what you are going to come up with. Often it takes shear willpower on my part to get up and walk away from a project. Sometimes something as simple as moving to another room for a few minutes will inspire creativity.

I had a similiar situation occur last night. I had been working on a particular project for several hours. The longer I stared at the piece, the bigger the project seemed to get. I was nearing despair, trying to get water from a well that seemed to be dry. Finally, realizind that I needed to walk away from the work for a bit, I decided to go take a quick shower to relax a bit. While away, I purposed NOT to think about the dilemma I was facing. Instead I sang, made some notes for a party I’m planning and focused on my blessings. Suddenly with soap in hand, the answer I had been seeking flooded my mind.

I jumped out and hurriedly dressed so I could return to my computer and implement the idea. It worked! And was a perfect fit for the piece!

Now, that’s not to say you need to shower everytime you hit a creative wall. There are lots of things you can do. I’ll share some of my favorites:

1. Work out: walk, run, jog, anything to get your endorphins flowing.
2. Hand wash your car: a physical activity will require a different part of your brain.
3. Take time out to devote to a pet: play fetch with fido or spend a few qualities moments with your cat.
4. Get out the crayons: for those of us that work our magic with computers everyday, creative drawing is a great release
5. Make a fun snack: go to the kitchen and see what you can concoct from no more than 3 ingredients.
6. Mow the grass: though it sounds like a chore, getting out in the sunlight will rejuvenate you.
7. Call a friend: never have time to catch up? Call and old friend and chat for a few minutes.
8. Work a crossword puzzle or suduko: Using a different side of your brain will prove very relaxing.
9. Read a "real" book: Real vs. Online PDF. Grab a book and sit outside under a tree.
10. Take a drive: if you want to connect this with work, drive down an interstate or in an area that has lots of billboards.

Remember that a "break" doesn’t need to be several hours. Sometimes, all you need is 10 minutes to get refreshed. Taking a break occasionally and you will see a difference in the work you produce and your quality of life!

Bookmark This!

As a creative professional, chances are the same talents and gifts that make us creative and artsy also leave us with a few more emotions and sensitivities.
 

This blessing can also be a curse. While it allows us to tap into our creativity. It also often leaves us emotionally and mentally connected to our work. As artists we know  that strictly by nature, our jobs are in a purely subjective field.

Unfortunately, merely knowing this and being able to develop a thick skin while listening to a client or colleague rip our design to shreds is hard. How do we deal with this perceived rejection?

1. Step back. Take a step back from the situation and ask yourself, "if this wasn’t my work, would I feel the same way about it?"

2. Evaluate the criticism.  Criticism can be birthed out of many motivations. Fairly evaluate the critic. Is the criticism constructive or cruel? You’ll be able to tell the difference. Constructive criticism is ideas/suggestions that will make your work stronger and should be followed.

3. Categorize the concern. Is the concern demographically related? If so this does not mean that your design was bad. Perhaps the target simply changed. Perhaps your design was just TOO cool!

Above all it’s important for us to realize that regardless of the pieces that are tweaked, changed or rehashed, as a designer, we cannot allow those challenges to destroy our confidence. At the same time, we must balance, between confidence and arrogance.

It’s vital that designers are constantly learning. We learn from our success and we learn from our failures.

Most importantly we have the unique position to be able to recycle our own creativity. Many times, I’ve created a piece that was rejected by one client, normally, they felt the design was "beyond" their target audience. I’ve took the same idea, customized it for another client that absolutely loved it. Not only did it save me time, but more importantly it restored a bit of my confidence.

Keep your feelings off your sleeve and go out and design from your heart. If the first client doesn’t like your work. Keep growing and designing. You’ll make it!
 

Bookmark This!

Public opinion can often sway the trends in design. As a designer do you let it sway you?

If you’re concerned with keeping on the cusp of modern style, it should. Where do you find inspiration and ideas for the latest design trends? All around you!

Inspiration can be found anyway, but keeping an eye out trends takes active observation.

There are tons of ways to gather ideas, here’s some of my favorites:

1. Any time I take a road trip, those who travel with me are constantly bombarded with the oohs and aahs that come from my seat. Billboards are one of my favorite sources for current trends.

2. Business signs also make a great impact on the design world. What better way to keep an eye on successful logo design then checking out the new businesses going up in your city?

3. When we try out a new restaraunt or see new branding at an old one, I make it a point to grab a business card. I collect these business cards in a 3 ring binder with trading card sleeves. When I need ideas, I look through the binder at the cards I’ve collected.

4. Random searches online. Some of the funnest online searches are for candy companies, and other food resources. Often their sites are fun and engaging, with bright colors.

5. Finally, browsing the book covers at Barnes and Noble, or Borders is a great way to see new and exciting designs that big name authors and large publishing houses.

Wherever you find your inspiration, just be sure to take the time to get the most of it!

Bookmark This!

I read an excellent article in a recent edition of HOW Magazine about successful Creative Directors and the things they do to inspire creativity on their team. The article mentioned creating sweet potato stamps, releasing balloons with deadlines written on them, and a variety of other things that let the team break away from the monotony of the everyday design grind.

With this in mind I set out to have the first creative meeting with my peers who had suddenly become my staff. It was a bit scary, introducing this new idea of "creativity" during a production meeting. I wasn’t sure how it would go over. But it went well. The fun was contagious and even those who started out a little leery were soon having a great time with the crayolas and large coloring sheets that I brought in specifically for the meeting.

We got everything administrative that was on the docket accomplished and had a chance to smile a little. The one thing that we didn’t count on was other staff members in the building passing by my office and sticking their head in and asking if they too could "color".

The first meeting was a success. The second one is today, and for it I brought play-dough. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Bookmark This!

Deadlines. The most hated word in the design field. Why? Because creativity isn’t always something that can be "done" it has to be "allowed" sometimes.

Recently, at work, I encountered a situation where my designers all had huge projects due at the same time. Things had been delayed until that week and then suddenly everyone needed their projects immediately.  Pressure was high. Stress was high. Intensity was in the air.

Well, I did what any normal person would do under the circumstances. I cried. No seriously, I did.

Then I made a list. A long list. First, I attacked the small things that I could do quickly, next I used the sense of accomplishment that I got from that, to start in on the big fish.

What do you know? It worked!

We got it all done and our clients, were actually happy!

Bookmark This!

Here are some of the best examples of truly creative advertising that I’ve seen lately.

Enjoy!

Bookmark This!

Sometimes I wish there was a single cookie-cutter process that I could use when designing. I would pull out my "creativity" list, check off each item and then when I’m done a design comes out.

Unfortunately, if you’re a designer, you are already know that it doesn’t work that way. We aren’t just another job on the production line, putting on the bolts as a project travels along the conveyor belt. We have to be original, creative and different. Every thing hinges on our ability to come up with something different, unique, and new.

Where do we start? Below are 5 things I’ve found that help you reach your creative peak.:

1.  Clear your head by writing out all your tasks (on paper or in a digital to-do list).
2.  Pick your music (The faster the music, the faster I work).
3.  Keep your space clean (As I work papers, pens, and file folders start piling up all around me).
4.  Focus on one task at a time (The more you projects you start, the less likely you are to get one finished).
5. Revel in your accomplishments (The best part of the day, is marking a task off your list. Look back at the completed task to get your second wind and keep your energy flowing!)

Bookmark This!