Community Discussion: How to Deal With Creativity Dry-Up?

Posted on December 7th, 2009 under Inspirations, it has 10 Comments and 2,816 Views so far.

I guess this is the ultimate issue every designer (no matter whether you’re a freelancer or not) will have to face eventually – to deal with the time when your creative awesomeness, once your greatest asset, disappears into the thin air without a trace.

You may sit in front of your computer and try your best to regain your power, but you find no matter what you do, you just can’t see that light at the end of the tunnel. And if your project/assignment deadline is something like, umm, tomorrow… well, that’s it mate. End of story.

This brings us back to this question: How to Deal With Creativity Dry Up? What Would You Do if Lacking of Inspiration? What’s YOUR best way of regaining creativity?

So people, participate this discussion and send me your way(s) of dealing with lacking of Inspiration and regaining creativity via contact me or, alternatively, send me a message via my twitter. (Please remember to put your name, your website (if any) so I can link back to you!)

I will also start collecting answers from interviews and post them here in this post.

There will be a permanent button link on the sidebar for assess to this post.

Although everyone is different, I do hope this post can give you an idea or two when your creativity runs dry.

The answers start here …

Answers 1

I keep a bookmark folder of examples for web design, typography, print media, etc. all organized so I can quickly go back to them.

From ajdigitalfocus via twitter – http://www.linkedin.com/in/ajdigitalfocus

Answers 2

I would go in a cafe or a library to read some books and the topic isn’t important. I would go outside for a walk in the park.

From Michael Jedrzejczyk via twitter - http://www.emdesigns.de/

auto dealer software Says:
I look at other work on deviantart, flickr, other graphic design and photography sites. Something will flicker in my mind and get eveyrthing going again.
adam Says:
oddly enough i find that music does the trick
taryarL Says:
hee hee
i don’t know what to do :)
Brian Says:
Going to the Gym and do a work out of a hour or two works for me.
Or grab one of my inspiration books.
TJFX Says:
i would always go and just google “awesome photoshop work” and that will get things rolling.

http://www.infinitygfx.net is a great site for that
Nick Says:
I often saved interesting artwork to my computer because sometimes you might be running out of time and need an idea real fast. A good selected pieces saved into a folder where I can browse easily.
Camel Demilo Says:
I take a coffee or two and smoke several cigarettes, reading old school comic book’s, review past work, make several sketch on paper, select the colors that i’m going to use, and from there on i’m in the game once more.

the real tip is fractionate thins

first sketch
second chose color
third take sketch’s to the digital world
Victor G Says:
music does magic for me..but not all music, some genres..and it has to be high volume.
Kutlwano Says:
I whip out my Vinyls and hook up a nice house mix on my turntables. Always does wonders for me!!!