Hey,
We've all been there…
You sit down to work on a new project, then, nothing.
Whether it's your first or your hundredth project, brain fog can affect anyone.
Meanwhile, navigating through this dark cloud is easier said than done.
****😟 So what should you do when you're feeling stuck? 😟****
My best advice is to turn to others for inspiration and direction.
Here’s what I mean…
Think about a friend or sibling who perfectly matches your energy.
When you're together, you bounce ideas off of each other…
You share laughs as you brainstorm increasingly ridiculous scenarios…
And you get a new perspective on the decisions that matter most.
But when you're alone, the magic seems to disappear into thin air.
Unfortunately, that special person probably isn't part of your design business.
However, you can replicate the same spirit of creativity in another way.
I'm talking about using structured research to kickstart your design inspiration.
Start by diving into the client’s existing digital presence.
But don't stop there.
Identify their target audience too!
Do the same for competing brands in your client’s niche.
And while you're at it, research the industry as a whole.
By taking these steps before doing any design work, you can spark a wave of value-adding ideas.
Along the way, you'll be surprised by how much clarity you find. That's because our minds have a tendency to build momentum when we start with something more than just a blank slate.
In the words of author William Somerset Maugham, “I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o'clock sharp.”
The point here is that you won't always be in a creative mood.
Trust me, some days you’d rather just stay in bed than churn out another design.
But creativity isn’t a mood.
And contrary to popular belief, it’s not something that’s out of your control.
Only by doing can you get your creative juices flowing.
That’s what the quote above is all about.
At the same time, I know firsthand how easy and convenient it can be to come up with excuses.
But these excuses only lead to procrastination.
Then, when you sit back down, you’re still facing the same stumbling block without any meaningful progress.
Instead, give research a try and let the ideas come to you naturally.
Just remember to be kind to yourself along the way.
After all, the last thing you want is for your design passion to turn into a burden.
The bottom line?
Creativity won’t always come to you.
But by planning out a systematic approach rooted in research, you can get past these stumbling blocks on the path to project completion.
Chat next week,
Abi 🙂
P.S. For more on getting unstuck, you can check out this post. Click through to the end for details on my brand strategy and creative direction template!
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