Overcoming Creative Block

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Alex Cornell’s roundup of various strategies for getting past artistic stumbling points, including notes from Erik Spiekermann, Nicholas Felton and others (including yours truly).

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10 Comments

  1. Everybody has there own way of dealing with a block, I sometimes get in block when designing websites, for me the key would be not to think about about it as much and just take 5. Then just brain storm all the ideas you already have. Good topic of discussion!

  2. You shouldn’t really have a creative block, design is an answer to a problem, not an imaginative event that happens. A block will only occur if you don’t have all the facts or are using design as an art form.

  3. You shouldn’t really have a creative block, design is an answer to a problem, not an imaginative event that happens. A block will only occur if you don’t have all the facts or are using design as an art form.

  4. You shouldn’t really have a creative block, design is an answer to a problem, not an imaginative event that happens. A block will only occur if you don’t have all the facts or are using design as an art form.

  5. You shouldn’t really have a creative block, design is an answer to a problem, not an imaginative event that happens. A block will only occur if you don’t have all the facts or are using design as an art form.

  6. You shouldn’t really have a creative block, design is an answer to a problem, not an imaginative event that happens. A block will only occur if you don’t have all the facts or are using design as an art form.

  7. You shouldn’t really have a creative block, design is an answer to a problem, not an imaginative event that happens. A block will only occur if you don’t have all the facts or are using design as an art form.

  8. Web & Graphic Designer, your logic might be flawed.

    If because of A, B happens, and because of B, C happens, it doesnt mean A makes C happen.

    In other words, on the basis of design being a problem solver, there are many different ways to approach such solution.

    And this variety of option con sometimes confuse the designer and block him in the meantime.

  9. Thanks for sharing this.

    Personally, I don’t really have a problem with creative block anymore. I just power through it–make the puppet hands move, and then the brain usually follows.

    A nice, long shower helps, though.

    Did you know that falling/moving water actually sends out negative ions (like an ionizer does)? That’s part of the reason why we feel so refreshed after a shower, or at the beach, or near a waterfall or even a fountain. Especially after marinating our faces in the positive ions of the computer screen for hours…

    A nap is good too. I wake up feeling all angelic and pure, knock back an espresso, and I’m good to go!

  10. @Manuel — Very true. I find most creative blocks are caused by too many ideas that muddy the “best” approach. My answer: sit back, clear your thoughts and push forward. I find the best work comes the day after a long brain storming session.

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