How 5 Design Pros Break Through Creative Blocks
These pros find that exercise, sleep, hot showers, meditation, travel and family time can help them find solutions
Designers, you know the feeling of staring at plans or an empty space and experiencing the frustration of a creative block. Sometimes it can feel like there’s no solution to the challenges a project presents. But as all creative types have learned, there will eventually be a breakthrough. Here’s how five design pros recharge their batteries and get those creative juices flowing when they feel stuck.
2. Give It Time
Landscape architect Joseph Richardson has also learned to channel his subconscious when he has a tough problem to solve. “Whenever I have a creative block, and it happens often, I put the project down for at least a few hours and in many cases for a day or more,” he says. “In every case, the design solution becomes more clear in one of two scenarios: It bubbles up from my subconscious during other activities like workouts or showers, when my mind is on something else. Or [it happens] once I sit down to take a fresh look at the project after some time has passed.”
Some of his process is more preventative than reactive. “I also take a lot of care to make sure I avoid burnout,” Richardson says. “Fresh creative ideas will not come from a tired mind. I do my best to tackle technical work or writing in the morning, and save creative time for afternoons or evenings.”
Landscape architect Joseph Richardson has also learned to channel his subconscious when he has a tough problem to solve. “Whenever I have a creative block, and it happens often, I put the project down for at least a few hours and in many cases for a day or more,” he says. “In every case, the design solution becomes more clear in one of two scenarios: It bubbles up from my subconscious during other activities like workouts or showers, when my mind is on something else. Or [it happens] once I sit down to take a fresh look at the project after some time has passed.”
Some of his process is more preventative than reactive. “I also take a lot of care to make sure I avoid burnout,” Richardson says. “Fresh creative ideas will not come from a tired mind. I do my best to tackle technical work or writing in the morning, and save creative time for afternoons or evenings.”
3. Vary Activities
Designer Pamela Lin-Tam of Urbanism Designs finds that all sorts of activities help her work through a block. These include looking at resources such as Houzz for inspiration, doing yoga or going on a hike. “I just take a break and take my mind off it for a while,” she says.
Designer Pamela Lin-Tam of Urbanism Designs finds that all sorts of activities help her work through a block. These include looking at resources such as Houzz for inspiration, doing yoga or going on a hike. “I just take a break and take my mind off it for a while,” she says.
4. Take a Walk — or a Trip
Interior designer Jenni Leasia finds that literally walking away from a tough challenge helps her return to it with a solution. “With a difficult project, I have to balance pushing myself through to get something roughed out with walking away from it for a few days to let things simmer. A long walk always helps. Urban is fine, getting out into nature is best,” she says.
For a bigger break and burnout prevention, she takes longer, more far-flung trips. “I find traveling very inspiring. I am stimulated by a different environment and new people, plus I am relaxed. That is a great place to be for creative work,” she says. “I enjoy doing a little work while I am away and find that I have lots of new ideas that I didn’t see in the studio — this is probably not what the anti-stress experts recommend, but it works for me!”
Interior designer Jenni Leasia finds that literally walking away from a tough challenge helps her return to it with a solution. “With a difficult project, I have to balance pushing myself through to get something roughed out with walking away from it for a few days to let things simmer. A long walk always helps. Urban is fine, getting out into nature is best,” she says.
For a bigger break and burnout prevention, she takes longer, more far-flung trips. “I find traveling very inspiring. I am stimulated by a different environment and new people, plus I am relaxed. That is a great place to be for creative work,” she says. “I enjoy doing a little work while I am away and find that I have lots of new ideas that I didn’t see in the studio — this is probably not what the anti-stress experts recommend, but it works for me!”
5. Get Up and Go
Physical exercise also helps interior designer Julia Mack give her brain a breather. “By far my most effective way to keep the creative spirit alive on a daily basis is a bike ride through my local park,” she says. “It’s a 32-minute round-trip ride that allows me to rebalance my mind and gives me both a physical and mental boost to return to work refreshed and energized. No scheduling and no signup — just grab a bike and ride.”
Physical exercise also helps interior designer Julia Mack give her brain a breather. “By far my most effective way to keep the creative spirit alive on a daily basis is a bike ride through my local park,” she says. “It’s a 32-minute round-trip ride that allows me to rebalance my mind and gives me both a physical and mental boost to return to work refreshed and energized. No scheduling and no signup — just grab a bike and ride.”
Share: Designers, what’s your process for breaking through a creative block? Please share in the Comments.
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Sometimes architect Seth Ballard finds that the problem-solving involved with design — mechanical systems, zoning limits, budget — can result in a creative block. Over the years he has honed a process that helps him achieve a breakthrough.
“We study the problem in its fullest extent,” he says. “We make sure to understand all of the variables by documenting them on paper. I start drawing and understand issues. Then I leave the problem fully and move on to other things. I exercise, I spend time with family and live life, or work on other projects.”
Ballard has learned that the subconscious is quite powerful and can solve the problems for him during these breaks. “Some of my best ideas and solutions wake me up at night,” he says. “I keep a sketchbook by the bed. Others pop up in the shower or at the gym.” When he returns to the challenge a day or two later, he finds that his mind is fresh and primed for a solution. “We are always able to find a better solution than if I tried to force one through the creative block,” he says.