How to get out of creative block? Artist, erotic painting, Los Angeles.

Anyone who has ever completed any creative task is familiar with the situation when work has stopped, inspiration has disappeared, there are no ideas, and everything around is distracting and does not allow you to collect your thoughts. In English there is a special term for this - creative block. The author of the blog ISO500 decided to ask sought-after designers, artists and representatives of other creative professions about how they overcome creative block and where they get ideas, and as a result, he received 15 tips on how to regain lost inspiration.

Kim Holtermand

The Danish photographer, who specializes in architecture and landscape photography, started his career just a couple of years ago and continues to work as a fingerprint expert in the forensic department of the Danish police.

“Only music can return my creative spirit - it is an inexhaustible source of creativity. Many of my works were created with tracks from Sigur Rós (this is music for all times), Hammock, Max Richter, Air, Dead Can Dance, Helios, Johann Johannsson, Jonsi and Alex, M83, Olafur Arnalds, Trentemøller... In general, I I can go on forever."

Jasper Goodall

Freelance illustrator based in Birmingham. She promotes her own swimwear label, JG4B, and calls them wearable art.

“Several things help me: first, get away from the computer. Go to some city I haven't been to before and just wander around: I sat down in a café in Berlin one day and so many ideas came to mind that I honestly didn't know what to do with them.

I also go to the library at the local University of Art and Design, where you can look through old editions of design and photography magazines. Then I come home, print out the articles and pictures I like and paste them into a thick notebook. After that, there are more than enough ideas.”

Eric Spiekermann

Legendary German typographer, professor at the University of Bremen, compatriot and successor of the pioneer printer Gutenberg. He considers his interest in printing to be an incurable disease and calls it typographic mania.

I have 5 tips:

Take a break. Do something else that will distract you - wash your car or sort through old files on your computer.

Think. Sit back in your chair and just stop controlling your flow of thoughts.

Explore. Search for information, pick up your old projects, but avoid Google -

you can spend too much time before coming across anything useful.

Make sketches. Drawing is great, even if you are completely incapable of it. Visualizing thoughts immediately revives them.

Divide. Take your mind off the problem, break your project into small parts and put them back together into one whole.

Ji Lee

Currently holds the position of Creative Director at Facebook. Before that, he worked in a similar position at Google. He not only conducts creative developments, but also gives lectures all over the world - including giving a master class at St. Petersburg State University.

“When “ideological block” sets in, I do several things. I take a long shower - old thoughts are washed away there, and I feel renewed. After that, I clean the apartment: I can’t think when there’s a mess all around. If there is still no result, I go for a bike ride around the neighborhood and try not to think about my project at all. One way or another, this scheme always works.”

C Scott

Graphic designer and illustrator from the UK, famous for his 3D paper models. He lectures at Leeds College of Art and Design and periodically in different cities around the world. His clients included Vogue, Nike and Tiffany&Co.

“It happens to me quite often that I can’t come up with anything, but this happens to all creative people. I realized that there is only one way to overcome this: do not sit and wait for inspiration to return, but continue to work, use all the ideas that you have, no matter how inappropriate they may seem.”

“There are only two creatives in our studio. For each individual project, we attract different people, freelancers, who, in our opinion, are most suitable for the job. We are always looking for sources of inspiration and make sure to write them down so that we can return to them again later if necessary. These could be objects on the street that the eye stopped at (they must be photographed), books, fashion shows, films, blogs, etc. So every time we start a new project, we discuss things that might put us in the right mood and make mood boards - collections of pictures that inspire us."

MINE

A San Francisco-based graphic design studio with nothing on its website other than this statement: “We make books, packaging, graphics and interactive campaigns for scientific visionaries, educational revolutionaries, best-selling authors, museums, giant telecommunications corporations and Hollywood producers."

You are stuck if you seriously believe that there are no ideas, you don’t know how to get out of stagnation, and if you know how to get out, but doubt your abilities. In these cases, you need to do this:

I ask myself, am I really stuck? Sometimes we still generate a lot of ideas, but for some reason we convince ourselves that this is a creative crisis. And then, a creative crisis is also something new: you need to perceive it as a new experience.

I do nothing. If you're stuck, it means you can't clearly identify the problem that's stopping you from moving on. The best medicine in this situation is a new perspective. By abstracting myself from the problem, I can look at it better. I can go to the cinema or to a museum - one way or another, new experiences themselves will lead me to the right decision.

I switch to what I do well to remind myself that I'm awesome.. Sometimes I know how to solve a problem, but the solution seems very difficult. Then I take on other, simpler tasks: it could be a blog post, cleaning out the garage, whatever. By completing tasks quickly and well, I become convinced that I can do anything: and even that most difficult task seems like just another item that needs to be crossed off from the to-do list. And no unnecessary panic.

Airside

A creative agency from the UK that knows exactly what ideological stupor can lead to a dead end and what to do about it. The creators of the studio, which won many awards from D&AD and Design Week, decided to close it this year and take up their own projects: record a music album, go to Tokyo, go to work for another agency.

“Set your alarm for 5 am. When it rings, either get up and enjoy this unique time of day, or go back to sleep and have vivid, crazy dreams: since you will be in the stage of REM sleep, they will remain in your head even after you wake up, and will charge you with creativity for a long time. all day.

Don't sit and wait for something to pop into your head. Don't read magazines, don't search on Google - go outside, to the theater, to a museum, for a walk. Be sure to turn off your phone and do not take your computer with you.

Expand your area of ​​interest. The more you consume a cultural product, the better you can understand what your client ultimately wants to see. Exchange opinions with colleagues, look at your project from different angles.

On the other hand, you can, on the contrary, not listen to anyone, abstract from all the rules and work the way you feel and how you like. If you are tired of the fact that in the creative industry everything comes down to a compromise between the client and the performer, just rely on your creative instinct and try to infect others with it.”

“I have a lot of tricks for such situations: for example, look at photos on the Internet, change your desktop to a table in a coffee shop and much more. But the best thing to do is just talk to your friends. They look at things completely differently than I do, and tell a lot of new things: they can throw in a cool inspiring photo or just encourage you with a couple of good words - it always makes you move on!”

Invisible Creature

The Seattle-based design studio's two founders are former punk rockers who embraced the DIY aesthetic and incorporated it into their design work. We received orders from Esquire, New York Times, Nike and Sony.

"Leave. This simple word has a million possible scenarios. We're just leaving the office. We never know in advance where we will end up: it could be a bookstore, a cinema, a park, a forest, a river bank, or just a house. The goal is always the same - to find something that inspires. It doesn't have to be something new: it has to be something that makes us want to come back to our desk, pick up a pencil and start drawing. We also hold our weekly meetings not in the office, but in a local cafe - we always get to sketch out more good ideas there.”

Creative stagnation ( creative crisis) - a situation familiar to many. Mental stupor, loss of inspiration, lack of fresh thoughts and ideas, loss of the ability to adequately evaluate the results of one’s own activities, emptiness - all these are signs of creative block.

If inspiration has left you and thoughts don’t come to mind, don’t be upset, you can fight it!

How to deal with writer's block

The problem of overcoming a creative crisis lies in its individuality, therefore, as in the case of getting rid of laziness, first you need to understand the causes of this disease. Ask yourself: “Why did the crisis arise in creativity?” By analyzing the causes of stagnation, it will be easier for you to overcome it.

If the cause is overwork (perhaps the main cause of creative stagnation), get out of creative crisis Rest or slowing down will help. Work without rest almost always leads to loss of performance, fatigue, apathy and depression. When you don’t forget about leisure, when you alternate between work and proper rest, you return to your work again and again - with a charge of new energy, with enthusiasm and cheerfulness. You can go to a movie sometime motivational film, go to a photo exhibition or art gallery (the variety of visual images stimulates imagination and creativity), lie on the beach or go fishing. For some people, to get out of a creative crisis associated with fatigue, it’s enough to just get a couple of days of sleep and spend time with family, while others need a full vacation. It's all about the degree of fatigue.

« If I feel a loss of strength and loss of inspiration, I take a time out and go on vacation for a week or two, where I just look at people and listen to music. For me, this is the best option to distract myself, go beyond my work and overcome a crisis in creativity.». Kelly Gustafson (Photographer, Sweden)

Often a creative crisis occurs due to personal problems - a conflict in a team, a quarrel with a loved one, misunderstanding with a loved one, illness of a relative, financial difficulties, etc. Since a creative person is a vulnerable person, all these troubles can unsettle him for a long time. Overcome creative crisis It will help to realize that life, like the zebra, is a striped thing. Sooner or later, troubles end, and all the bad things are forgotten, but it is better sooner rather than later to do everything in your power to neutralize the impact of personal factors on the creative process. Take measures so that sadness and melancholy do not become the cause of creative stagnation - if you quarrel with someone, do not hold a grudge - rather, make peace. If you have made a firm and final decision to break up with your loved one or have been abandoned, as quickly as possible, so that hopes do not arise in the depths of your soul, burn all bridges - start dating someone, move on with your life.

Sometimes a creative crisis occurs as a result of a lack of information. The only way out here is to find her. Everyone has their own secrets of searching, processing and recording information.

« Usually, when looking for inspiration, I go to a bookstore. A pile of magazines, books and coffee. Sometimes I take my computer with me, but mostly I flip through pages, read, look at other people's ideas, and learn a lot of things. Publications about art, culture, music, design, tattoos, sports - that's what I love most. I get overloaded with information and it almost always brings me out of a creative block..» Chuck Anderson (Designer, artist, Michigan)

« I go to the university library and pore through old graphic design publications and photography magazines, picking out things that strike my fancy. Then I go home, print them out and paste them into a special album for magazine and newspaper clippings. After that, I usually have a lot of ideas in my head..» Jasper Goodall (Illustrator, freelancer, England)

Another reason for a creative crisis may be the monotony of life and the monotony of work performed. To ensure that labor productivity does not suffer, in this case it is necessary new impressions. Diversify your leisure time, change the rhythm of life, and at the same time introduce novelty into your creativity (you can take on some unusual and unusual project or change your work process). Diversity and innovation can be introduced at a variety of levels - make new acquaintances, renovate your apartment or rearrange your office, etc. Creative crisis is afraid of novelty!

When the cause of creative block is dissatisfaction with your own work, you should objectively evaluate your work. Sometimes it happens that we are unreasonably critical of what we do (it’s especially hard for those who are prone to self-examination; Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Kafka often experienced similar crises). If the product of your creativity really leaves much to be desired, don’t be upset, work on the mistakes, try to understand how to make it better. Look at the work of your peers and competitors in your field. Think about what you can learn from them and what skills you are missing.

« When I feel creatively stuck, I go to places where I would like to become even better. I look at other people's creativity and thereby ignite my own creativity. For me, there's nothing better for getting out of writer's block than looking at the amazing things other people have made. Walking through galleries, museums and exhibitions makes me want to get back to work and do something special». Chad Hagen (Designer, artist, Minneapolis)

Crisis in creativity may occur in connection with work on a new large-scale project, at the beginning of which, or at any of its stages, a person may be overwhelmed by emotions. This happens due to the multitude of plans, the huge number of possible implementation options, the interweaving of ideas that have no end or edge. A person is frightened by the scale, he doesn’t know where to start, his thoughts are confused, set deadlines prevent him from relaxing, and as a result, a creative stupor sets in. How to deal with creative crisis in this case? Solution - time planning And goal setting. Break the project into parts (this can help mind mapping), determine the time and timing of their implementation, make a list of tasks that need to be solved within the framework of this project. This way, step by step, you will move forward in the implementation of the project, and the successes already achieved will inspire and motivate you to continue working.

Here are some more tips on how to get out of a creative crisis:

It is known that to achieve good results in any business, it is important to alternate mental work with physical work. As soon as you feel a creative crisis approaching, remember that the best medicine for the head is hard physical work. Go to the gym, volunteer to help relatives in the garden, basically do something that will make you sweat. Physical activity will be especially useful for creative people because most of them have sedentary work.

« To get out of my creative block, I go for a long run. Fresh ideas are stored in fat, so if I burn some of my fat, I can release them and use them. When I go for a run, I take my mobile phone with me and write down the thoughts and ideas that arise in my head.». Justin Christmaier (Creative, California)

« Every time I have a question - “ Where to get a fresh idea?, I use music. Music is an endless source of inspiration; it helps me regain my previous mood. My works were created while listening to such musicians as Sigur Rós (my favourite), Air, Max Richter, Jonsi and Alex, Dead Can Dance, Hammock, Helios, Trentemøller, Johann Johannsson, M83, Olafur Arnalds...". Kim Holtermand (Photographer, Denmark)

« There is only one reason why I lose inspiration - I slept less than 8 hours. I don’t understand how people who are on a schedule and don’t get enough sleep can write anything at all.». Marina Akhmedova (correspondent of the weekly “Russian Reporter”, writer)

« When I get into a creative block, I do the following:

• I stand in the shower for a long time. Under running water I think something different. The water washes away all my previous thoughts and I feel renewed.
• I am tidying up. It's hard to think clearly when everything is cluttered.
• If the previous two methods did not work, then I go for a motorcycle ride and try not to think about the project at all.

In the end, somehow it helps me». Ji Lee (Google Creative Director)

« Being in a creative crisis is quite an unpleasant feeling, so I try to avoid it. In various ways I try to activate brain performance(mental activity) - read books, watch movies, listen to podcasts. It is also beneficial to meet friends who have other interests.». Dat San (Artist, illustrator, California)

What will help you do your work without getting out of a creative stupor:

If you feel strong internal resistance and don’t want to work, you can persuade yourself to do at least something (work for half an hour or write at least one page) and see what happens. As you know, appetite comes with eating.

In moments of creative crisis, it is useful to have blanks (for example, when working as a journalist, the blank will be a started or completed, but unedited article, or some material left over from already published interviews and articles). Perhaps they will not help you get out of a creative crisis, but during a downturn in work they will help you not to lose the trust of customers or management.

At a time when you are overcome by creative impotence, so as not to sit idle, tormented by thoughts about when the torments of creativity will stop, do work that you usually never have enough time for - sort the papers in your nightstand, buy stationery, take care of organizational issues, enrich your knowledge by reading special literature, etc. In a word, get ready for the return of the Muse, because when she visits you again, there will be no time for routine matters.

« Sometimes I have a problem in my creativity, and I seem to know how to solve it, but it seems so difficult that I give up. I manage to overcome self-doubt with the help of one trick - I switch to another job, simpler and unrelated: cleaning up the garage and throwing out unnecessary things, finishing a blog post, painting office switches. Successfully completing many small tasks gives me confidence that I can do anything. And when I return to the unsolvable problem again, it already seems like another item on my list. And no creative crisis!» Christopher Simons (Graphic Designer, San Francisco)

For any person, a creative crisis is a test, for some it is severe, but for others not so much. In any case, if it occurs, you can always use the above methods to normalize your workflow. Also, tips for getting out of a creative block will help not only cope with a crisis in creativity, but also help prevent it.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Alex Cornell

Famous blogger, musician and designer Alex Cornell

Faced with a creative crisis once again, I decided to ask twenty-five creatives a question: “What means do you turn to in order not to lose creative inspiration in your daily professional routine?” As the designer expected, he was presented with a variety of strategies, from listening to "Boards of Canada" all alone in the woods, to cooking up a storm and waiting for his mind to enlighten.

NicholasFelton

Graphic designer, New York

I have several tactics that allow me to keep my creativity flowing. I alternate the course of my life, like crop rotation in agriculture. In odd-numbered years, I try to travel more and mostly work on personal projects and personal initiatives. And in even-numbered years, I prefer to work more and earn money, so that later I can go on long trips. For example, in 2005 I spent five weeks traveling around the world. In 2007 I traveled to Nepal, China and Tibet for three weeks. These trips were so impressive that I returned to my desk with my head full of thoughts and ideas.

Graphic designer, Belgium

I very rarely fall into a creative stupor; a large number of different ideas are constantly bubbling in my head. Everything else is a matter of time and priorities. For a whole year now I have been starting, then giving up, then continuing to work on the headset again. And this process gives me great pleasure, and also gives me invaluable experience, but it also prevents me from working on any other project. Therefore, you can say that I am falling into a kind of intellectual stupor: I want to develop and continue to move forward, but not before I finish the project with the headset. I can call myself slow and meticulous, I want everything to be perfect. So I continue running in circles. The very idea of ​​the typeface came to me while I was looking through an old typeface that I myself had designed (yes, sometimes my own work can also become a source of inspiration, that’s what notes and sketches are for), the Wim Crouwel “Hiroshima” poster "and a vintage book cover. Therefore, the subject factor works in the end.

AudreyKawasaki

Artist, erotic painting, Los Angeles

When I feel like I'm falling into a writer's block, it's because I'm distracted and thinking about something unrelated to my work. Or I just can't sit still and concentrate on what I need to do. To cope with this, for many years I simply turned on music in headphones, or watched various kinds of information programs. Listening to them while working allows my brain to work in two directions: freeing the creative component from unnecessary thoughts and working calmly. Creating a kind of barrier to daily distractions and dividing myself into two parts is the best way for me to enter a meditative state while painting.

KhoiVinh

Head of the design team at NYTimes.com

Draw and read a lot. I can compare reading to strategy: it is a constant replenishment of ideas, metaphors, points of view, details. You store everything you read in your head so that later you have an impressive catalog of “starting points” at your disposal. Drawing makes it possible to activate all the information that is stored in the head and helps to solve problems. The drawing process itself is a visualization of various ideas and allows you to classify a large number of elements and establish unexpected connections between them. The main thing is to draw quickly and not be distracted by execution technique. This is the only way to stay within the content and not get hung up on the form.

KalleGustafson

Photographer, Sweden

If I have a feeling of lack of inspiration, then I need to take a time out. In my case this is the best option. I go on vacation for a week or two to just listen and watch. I look at people, listen to music. I could say that I am inspired by everything around me, regardless of place and time. To find inspiration, you just need to go beyond your usual work and get distracted.

Illustrator, designer, Atlanta

When I need a source of inspiration to get my creative juices flowing, I turn to experimental music, mid-century design or cinema, wildlife, and more. To achieve maximum creative potential, I need to simultaneously sit in the woods, listen to Boards of Canada, and watch Mad Men.

ChadHagen

Designer and artist, Minneapolis

Staying creative all the time is hard work. To be honest, I don't think I was talented enough when I went to art school. I needed to work to stay creative. The only thing that kept me focused was my endless desire to be a good artist. And I thought about it all the time, if I constantly do hard work, study the fine arts, like complex and not so mathematical equations, then I can relax and do cool things, and also let things take their course.

When I get writer's block, the best way to deal with it is to put myself in a place where I want to be even better. And to do this I need to look at other people's work. In my opinion, there is no better way to spark your own creativity than by looking at the amazing things other people have done. Similar things can be seen in museums, galleries, and exhibitions. It always inspires me and also makes me want to get back to work and do something worthwhile.

Freelancer, illustrator, England

I can give you some advice: First of all, you need to take a break from your computer/sketches/notebook, take a walk down the street, visit a new city. One day I was sitting in a cafe in Berlin, and so many ideas came into my head that I had no idea what to do with them now. Sometimes I visit the library and dig into old graphic design books or photography magazines. From them I snatch things that simply amaze my imagination. Then I go home and print them out or paste them into my scrap book. After this I usually have a lot of ideas left in my head.

KimHoltermand

Photographer, Denmark

Whenever I run out of ideas, I usually listen to music to get my spirit back. She is a huge source of inspiration for me. Many of my robots were created by listening to musicians such as Sigur Ros (my favorite), Max Richter, Trentemøller, M83, Helios, Dead Can Dance, Jonsi and Alex, Air, Olafur Arnalds, Johann Johannasson... the list goes on and on. Musical melancholy creates a certain mood in me, in which ideas can easily begin to be produced.

ErikSpikermann

Legendary German typographer

1 Avoid(Do something else, back up your data, wash your car, run errands, etc.) 2 Think(Try to relax and think about the problem, give free rein to your thinking). 3 Explore(Look for suitable material, look at past projects. The main thing is to avoid Google; it takes a lot of time to find something worthwhile and useful). 4 Collect(Everyone has a lot of all sorts of rubbish. And it is among it that there should be something that will be most useful). 5 Sketch(Drawing is a very cool thing, even if you have no talent for drawing. Visualizing simple things helps bring them to life.) 6 Remodel(The problem needs to be broken down into parts and looked at each of them separately, and then put all the parts together).

SiScott

Illustrator, graphic designer, England

I have creative crises quite often (as do most creative people, I assume?). To combat them, the only sure way is to continue working and generate ideas, even if they seem insignificant. Beating your head against the wall in search of a solution is the most difficult and most hopeless thing in the world.

I draw my inspiration from books and poems. Besides reading, music also has a very productive effect on me. Words are able to ignite something in me and there is a desire to create further, to think, to research, to analyze.

Artist, designer, Michigan

The first and best option for me would be to stop trying to force myself to do something and just take a break from work for a while. Taking breaks is quite important.

When looking for inspiration, I usually go to a bookstore. This is my favorite way to spend time. There I can truly relax. A stack of books, magazines and coffee. Sometimes I can take the computer with me, but mostly I take the opportunity to look away from the screen and flip through paper pages, watch, read and learn something new for myself. A publication about music, art, design, culture, tattoos, music - that’s what I like most. I get overloaded with this information and this fact helps me get out of a creative block.

Illustrator, artist, California

I don't get into writer's block very often, but when I do, I just take a break. I don't draw and do whatever I want until I feel like I want to get to work again. I try to avoid creative crises, so I constantly intensify my mental activity, read, listen to podcasts, watch DVDs. I also like to meet friends who have other interests.

There are very few direct sources of inspiration in my field, so most of the work I create is what my friends talk about and what interests them most. For example, I'm not a big fan of horror films or films about the dead rising from the dead or films about magic crystals that have magical powers, but I draw all this because my friends talk about it. In general, this happens differently for everyone. This is how I have it.

Creative Director, Google Create Labs

— I take a long shower. Standing in the shower, I think completely differently. It has the ability to wash away all my old thoughts and makes me feel renewed.

- Do the cleaning. The clutter around me makes it difficult for me to think clearly.

— If these two options don’t work, then I get behind the wheel of a motorcycle and go for a ride, trying not to think about the project at all.

In the end, in some incomprehensible way, the stupor passes.

Design studio, Denmark

Our studio consists of two designers who work quite closely with each other. We very often collaborate with freelancers; they cannot be considered part of our creative process. We try to constantly look for inspiration in something, so we add everything that can inspire us to the archive so that sources of inspiration are always at hand. Anything can serve as such sources. If it's something we see on the street, we take a photo of it. In addition to street events, such sources can be magazines, fashion shows, books, blogs, movies and much more. If we start working on a new project, then first we discuss it, tell each other about how we see it, then leaf through our “archive of inspiration” and make sketches. Once the visual component is already put together, we can begin the creation process.

Designer, illustrator, artist, Brooklyn

For me, the best way to get out of my funk is to take an Amtrak train in any direction. But, unfortunately, I cannot resort to this option as often as I would like. However, I really like this forced sitting in one place. It is much more comfortable than on airplanes. My grandfather traveled to Alaska every year and wrote novels while traveling. It seems to me that traveling by rail is somewhat similar to my grandfather's trips to Alaska. When you move around the world, you begin to feel alive.

However, this is not always easy to do. And most of the time I just rush through my work. If I start to feel a lack of inspiration, then I accept the fact that I may make some mistakes. And I continue to work further.

MINE

Christopher Simons Graphic Design Studio, San Francisco.

There are three factors that contribute to the onset of a creative crisis: the awareness that you are in a dead end, the awareness that you are in a dead end and you don’t know how to get out of it, the awareness that you are in a dead end, you know how to get out of it, but you have doubts that you will be able to do this. First I ask myself, am I really at a dead end? It happens that we think we are stuck or want to think so, but in fact we are following the right path and don’t even know it. Some paths are inevitable. A crisis may be just a hole in the road. I don't do anything. Being at a dead end means not having a clear idea of ​​the problem at hand. In this case, the best medicine is perspective. It is considered in territorial and temporal aspects. When I am distracted from the problem, it becomes easier for me to look at it from the outside. Sometimes, instead of struggling to find a solution, it is better to do something less relevant. Watch a movie or go to an exhibition, for example. Something from another world might be the solution to a problem I'm trying to ignore. I'm becoming cool. Sometimes there may be a problem for which I can find a solution, but it seems very difficult to me. I overcome such uncertainty with the help of one trick: I take on other, easier tasks that are not relevant to the task: finishing a blog post, cleaning out the garage, and so on. After successfully completing these tasks, I become confident that I can do everything. And when I once again return to an insoluble problem, it already becomes another item on the list for me. And there is no excitement.

Creative agency, England

Set your alarm for 5 am, and when it goes off, you have only two options: either get up and enjoy the unique sensation of this time of day, or fall asleep further and have strange delusional dreams. One of the two options will definitely inspire you. Don't sit in a creative meeting waiting for something to click in your mind. Don't read about design or look at pictures on Google or YouTube. You shouldn’t force yourself, it’s better to leave the studio and go to the theater or a concert, or a museum. The main thing is to take a break from work, get some fresh air, stop staring at the monitor, turn off your mobile phone, talk with friends about any nonsense. Expand your interests. The wider they are and the higher the cultural awareness, the more significant your projects will become for clients. Try to put yourself in the client's shoes and try to imagine their train of thought. Produce a bunch of ideas, exchange them with colleagues, test your thinking on them. Think about the project, consider it from all points of view. Be strict and unyielding while creating your project. Or, on the contrary, follow your instincts, because you are tired of far-fetched and forced answers that only take away the joy of life so much that you cannot even imagine why you went into the creative field if committees and compromises decide everything. Draw a lot, just for the sake of drawing. Be bold in your judgment if you are extremely talented, otherwise just listen. Listen anyway.

Dan Covert and Andre Andreev, design studio, New York

Dan: If I happen to get into a creative block during my day job, I go for a walk or surf the net, or take a movie to watch, maybe buy a book or go to a museum, do some of the standard set of clichés of finding a source of inspiration. However, sometimes I get tired of searching for these sources and just try to clear my thoughts after leaving the office. Ideas come to me when I least expect them.

Andre: In terms of day-to-day creativity, I have a strict schedule that I try to stick to. I'm working on a project, that's all. I don't spend all day on one project unless it's strictly necessary. I try to turn off IM and email, or check them only once an hour. Having a strict time management helps me a lot. If I have two hours to finish a piece of work, I focus on details and elements that I might have overlooked.

It seems to me that this helps to be creative. I'm looking forward to taking on the project again and forcing myself to step away from it a little and think about what I could do for it next time. Thanks to the schedule, I can switch from one activity to another. A large number of tasks are not for me, I do not know how to simultaneously talk via IM, carry on a conversation with an intern, sign a contract, try to project something and wait for an e-mail. I need to get rid of all the distractions and also focus on just one project.

Dan: Our studio is set up in such a way that there is very often overlap or overlap in what each of us does. We don't put pressure on people that relates to creative responsibility. This can be a little discouraging, but it allows us to be much freer in some things. And if we talk about creative crisis in the broad sense of the word, we are always trying to develop our business in several directions.

Andre: If we talk about my inspiration in the broadest sense of the word, it appears and disappears. It's hard for me to predict when I'll be able to get excited about a new project again. I try to be happy in my personal life, which in many ways has a positive effect on my performance. The productive component is one of the main factors in a happy personal life. For this reason, I try to do as much as possible of what I love: reading books, dating a girl, playing football or video games, getting drunk, it all depends on my mood. In my opinion, it's hard to stay creative if you're worried, angry, or upset about something.

Dan: We're working in different directions, which is a bit refreshing. One day we can do motion work, and the next day we can do branding or a T-shirt. Training also helps a lot, so every week we work with new ideas or talents. We learn from them just as much as they learn from us.

Graphic studio, Rotterdam

Our studio is a designer and an artist. This combination can be called very dynamic, in the sense that we always look at the problem from several sides. The methods and views we use are often quite contradictory, but this creates a driving force. We consider this way of working to be very productive. Our union turns out to be quite lively and progressive, so we never stand still. In addition, we like to create work for ourselves. This helps maintain clarity and sharpens your craft. Therefore, in order to move forward, you need to keep yourself busy with work all the time.

Christpher David Ryan, design studio, USA

I often experience a kind of creative block. I can’t say that I can’t do anything creative at all, it’s just that from time to time I don’t perceive anything that comes to my mind as particularly special. For as long as I can remember, I would just sit down and let my creative thoughts flow. But this juice was not always sweet.

I noticed that the more I demand results from myself in such situations, the more likely I am to be left with nothing. But in my arsenal I have a stock of weapons against creative block: talking, drawing, walking, vintage shopping, reading, yoga, watching old records, red wine, TV, whiskey and so on. When looking for inspiration, I only avoid the Internet. This option seems too banal and simple to me.

The brightest ideas come to me at the end of the day, when I least expect it: when I'm on the subway, in the shower, in bed, at a meeting. In those moments when you are least inclined to search for ideas. I get the impression that the energy that I spend in the flow creates a cloud around me in order to therefore dissipate and then the ideas reach me.

KevinDart

Freelance Illustrator, Los Angeles

I have a lot of ways to get rid of creative burnout. For example, search the Internet for cool photo references, find and listen to new music, look through old drawings, draw in a cafe, leave the house for a walk. The best way for me remains to talk with friends. They can always demonstrate a new way of looking at a problem that would never even have occurred to me. Or some beautiful illustrations that I have not seen before. Or just encouraging words that make me move on.

Design and illustration studio, USA

Run away. This simple word has so many different interpretations. If we take the simplest one, then we leave. Where? It always turns out differently. It could be a bookstore, an antique shop, a coffee shop, a cinema, a forest, a river bank, a park, sometimes even just a living room. The goal always remains the same - to feel or see something that would inspire us. Moreover, it does not have to be something new or fresh, but it must be something that could return us to the desire to get to work. We very often discuss our projects in a coffee shop, rather than in the office - in such an environment the best ideas are born.

Overall, these refreshing moments of reflection, whether they last a whole day, a few minutes, or half a day, can be very fruitful. We have included them in our work schedule for a long time.

Creative Think Tank, California

Justin Krietemeyer: I often go on long runs, walks with the dog, or on a motorcycle. I do anything but work related to the project. Good ideas are stored in fat and if I burn some of mine, I can release them and use them. I take my phone with me to write down ideas that pop into my head. The worst option is to stress out and do everything at once.

Tess Donohoe: If I'm feeling uninspired, I get up and walk away from the computer. A surefire way for me to get frustrated is to stare at a picture or a blank screen. I like walking and jogging outside. You walk or run, looking around. I find solutions to complex problems at a time when I don’t think about them at all. I get interesting patterns and images in my head when I just look around: at the asphalt, at the ice cream truck, at the trees. More often than not, when I stop thinking about a project, new ideas come to me.

Imagination and creativity can dry up at times, leaving the artist with a blank canvas. Here are some tips to help you regain the motivation and energy to get back to business.

Steps

Part 1

Change your routine

Shake up your daily routine. Stop. Feelings of rush and pressure do not help the creative process. Take some time to go somewhere. Get outside, into nature, and relax. Inspiration will come to you when you are ready to receive it.

Create multiple projects at the same time. If you get stuck or bored while working on one project, you can take on another. Add challenges to your work to avoid getting bored. Juggle multiple projects at once to stay busy.

Change materials. If you paint, start working with clay. If you're creating a collage, try using pen and ink. Explore new materials and use new tools. Pay attention to shapes, rhythms and colors in your life and outside of your studio. Take your camera and start shooting whatever you like.

Part 2

Find inspiration in places, people and events

1. Visit a garden, your favorite spot in town, or have a picnic. Go to a concert. Take a few days off if necessary. Sometimes a simple shower or a good book is all it takes to bring back your inspiration. The main thing is to switch your attention to something that is not related to your work.

   Thoroughly research all aspects of what you want to create. Visit a library or bookstore.

   • Visit a large bookstore and head to the art or photography section. Sit upright on the floor or in a secluded corner and enjoy reading.

2. Find other fine art exhibitions that interest you.

   Sign up for an art workshop. Draw and create surrounded by other people. Ask other artists what they think of your current work, but don't be intrusive. An outside perspective may be just what you need. If you feel the problem is in the design, find another way.

   Find something in your daily life that you would like to draw or sculpt. Take pictures of everyday things that surround you. Then look through the photos and redraw the ones you like.

   Find a muse. It could be a person or an animal - whatever inspires you.

Part 3

Cope with Emotional Stupidity

Recognize that you may be intimidated by the complexity of your project. In this case, you should take a step back, carefully examine all aspects of the project and its design, and then slowly begin to move forward.

Take care of your health. Ignoring your physical, emotional and spiritual needs will only harm your creative process. Give yourself a little more time.

1. Fight the fear that your project must be perfect or not exist at all. He doesn’t have to be ideal – what is “ideal” anyway? Give yourself permission to create “bad art,” as it is still better than no art at all. Many creations come from persistence and study rather than from thought. Start playing with this canvas.

   • The fear of creating "bad" art stems from comparing one's creations to the works of other artists. Instead, try comparing your pieces to your earlier projects to see how much your craft has improved. Little by little, you will improve your style and make changes to it that are right for you and do not depend on how you think others want your art to be.

Part 4

Just do it
• Most artists and creative people go through writer's block from time to time. This is a normal occurrence, but can still be quite scary! Don't compare yourself to others. Most artists consider writer's block to be a very important part of the creative process. Some artists benefit from hard work and careful research into a project's theme, but not all - it works differently for everyone.
• If all else fails, try writing a list of habits that are getting in the way of your creative process. Maybe you procrastinate until the last minute? Or are you suffering from depression? Get rid of it with therapy or medication.
• Don't think too much about the project. This can cause unnecessary stress. If you feel tension in your neck or shoulders, get a massage.
• Listen to new music. Try something you've never listened to before.
• Be more social. Involving people in your life can bring back your inspiration.
• Watch a few films, but only in the cinema. Visual images can bring back your inspiration. You need to stimulate your brain to start creating again.

Warnings

• Don't tell anyone about your difficulties initially. Just let them go. If you talk about them, they can become "real." You may also be given a lot of unnecessary advice, which will only frustrate you even more, instead of motivating you. Welcome your creative block with open arms!
• Don't start thinking about whether you can sell this work or not. Just do it for yourself.
• Don't start taking drugs/drinking alcohol to get your inspiration back. These substances will only increase your depression and limit your creativity.

“As expected, I was presented with a ton of strategies, ranging from listening to Boards of Canada all alone in the woods, to cooking up a storm (recipe included) and waiting for the mind to lighten.

Below are 25 strategies for sparking inspiration from creatives; I hope you find something useful here. I encourage you to share your favorite methods as well. It will never be redundant."

Nicholas Felton

Graphic designer, New York

To keep my creativity flowing, I follow a few tactics.

I try to alternate the flow of my life, like crop rotation in agriculture. In odd years (eg 2009) I travel more and focus on personal projects and personal initiatives, while in even years (eg 2008) I try to work and earn more. In odd-numbered years, I try to go on long trips. So in 2005 I spent 5 weeks traveling around the world. In 2007 I traveled to China, Tibet and Nepal for 3 weeks. After both trips, I returned to my desk with my head full of thoughts and ideas.

My other strategy is that I constantly try to “keep my plate as full as possible.” I take on far more work than I can realistically handle, and the fear of not being able to cope keeps my brain busy.

If I really find myself in a difficult situation and feel like all my plans are going around in circles in my head, I will leave the office. There is no point in banging your head blindly in search of a solution. I'll read a book or go draw in the park. I am against using brute force to get out of such states. It's like trying to get rid of hiccups.

Tom Muller

Graphic designer, Belgium

I hate to use cliched phrases like “I get inspiration from everywhere,” but I do take ideas from the most banal things around me. To be honest, I rarely fall into a creative stupor, a sufficient number of ideas are bubbling in my head, the only question is time and priorities. For almost a whole year I start, give up and start working on the headset again. And although this gives me great pleasure and provides an invaluable educational experience, it prevents me from working on anything else. Thus, I rather fall into an intellectual stupor: I want to develop and move on, but not before I finish with the headset. I am very meticulous and slow because I want everything to be perfect. And so I continue to run in circles.

The idea for the typeface came to me while looking at an old font I had designed (yes, sometimes your own work can spark new ideas - that's what sketches and notes are for), a vintage book cover and a Wim Crouwel "Hiroshima" poster. So in the end, the subject factor always works.

I remember watching a documentary on TV a few years ago about a Belgian comic book artist who turned Joe Haldeman's Infinity War into a graphic novel. The journalist asked him how he came up with so many models of spaceships, and the artist took out a piece of plastic protection for electrical wiring and told how one day, noticing this thing in his studio, he thought that it was the ideal material for designing a spaceship.

So that. Ideas are everywhere, especially when you're not looking for them.

Audrey Kawasaki

Artist, erotic painting, Los Angeles

Whenever I feel like I'm in a so-called stupor, it's usually because I'm just distracted, thinking about something unrelated to my work. Or I simply cannot sit quietly, concentrating on work for a long time. For years I just played music on my headphones, but lately I've become addicted to news programs. Listening to such programs while working forces my brain to work in two directions, freeing its creative component from unnecessary thoughts and allowing it to work calmly. Protecting yourself from daily distractions and sort of dividing yourself into two halves is for me the best way to practically enter into meditation while painting.

Khoi Vinh

Head of Design Team NYTimes.com

Read a lot and draw a lot. Reading is a long-term strategy: a constant supply of ideas, details, points of view, metaphors, symbols, and so on. You store them somewhere in the back of your head so that later - sometimes much later - you have a rich catalog of "starting points" at your disposal.

Drawing is an opportunity to activate all the information stored in the head to solve a given problem: the process of drawing, the process of immediately visualizing various ideas, allows you to classify numerous disparate elements and establish unexpected connections between them. The main thing is to draw quickly, without being distracted by the technique. This will help you stay within the content and not get bogged down by the form.

Kalle Gustafsson

Photographer, Sweden

If I feel uninspired, I need to take a time out. For me, this is the best option, to go on vacation for a week or two and just watch and listen. I listen to music and watch people. I would say that I can be inspired by anything, everything that happens around me, regardless of time and place. When looking for inspiration, I just need to step outside of my work and get distracted.

Build

British graphic design studio

Solution :

Finely chop 2 medium-sized onions.

Place a medium-sized frying pan with a few drops of olive oil over low heat.
Place the onion in a frying pan, add salt and pepper.
Thinly slice three varieties of fresh red pepper (Bird's eye, Scotch Bonnet and Bulgarian green or red).
Place the pepper mixture in the pan, stir, and fry for 8 minutes.
Add about 500 grams of minced beef to the pan.
Stir-fry for two minutes until the minced meat turns brown.
Salt and pepper.
Add red beans and canned tomatoes and mix well.
Add a pinch of cinnamon.
Simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes.

Pour one and a half cups of Basmati rice into the pan.
Add two and a quarter cups (the same one you used to measure the rice) of cold water to the pan.
Cook over high heat until the lid stops rattling.
Reduce heat by half and cook for 8 minutes.
After eight minutes, turn off the heat and leave the rice covered for four minutes.

Place rice on a plate and add sauce.

A large glass of red wine (preferably Australian or New Zealand).

Now comes the most important part of solving the problem. :
Take plates and pots to the sink.
Open hot and cold water.
Add a drop of cleanser (preferable for sensitive skin).
Start washing the dishes, banishing all worldly things.
The mind becomes enlightened, new thoughts and ideas arise.

Treat yourself to a second glass of wine to savor the moment.

Mark Weaver

Designer, illustrator, Atlanta

When I need inspiration to get my creative juices flowing, I turn to experimental music, mid-century film and design, wildlife, and so on. To achieve maximum creative potential, I have to simultaneously sit in the woods, watch Mad Men and listen to Boards of Canada.

Chad Hagen

Artist, designer, Minneapolis.

Staying creative is hard work. To be honest, I don't think I was very talented when I went to art school. I fought to stand out. I fought to stay in school. You had to work hard to stay creative. But the only thing that kept me focused was my desire to be a good artist. I wanted to be really good. I wanted to be as good as those people who were actually talented. I kept thinking that if I worked hard, studied fine arts, like math equations, then eventually I could relax and just create cool things and let things happen.

Those times never came. And I understand now that I never wanted them to come, because the most important thing that makes me be creative is my desire to be good.

If I ever get writer's block, the best way to deal with it is to go to a place where I want to become even better. To do this you need to look at other people's work. In my opinion, there is no better way to spark your creativity than by looking at the amazing things others have made. Go to museums, galleries, exhibitions and so on. It always inspires me and makes me want to get back to work and do something worthwhile.

Be good.

Jasper Goodall

Illustrator, freelancer, England

I have a couple of tips:

Take a break from your computer/notebook/sketches; visit a new city and just wander the streets (I was sitting in a cafe in Berlin one day and so many ideas came into my head that I didn't know what to do with them all). I go to the local university library and rummage through old graphic design publications and photography magazines, picking out things that catch my fancy. Then I go home, print them out and paste them into a special scrap book. After that, my head is usually full of ideas.

Kim Holtermand

Photographer, Denmark

Whenever I run out of ideas, I usually use music to get me back into the mood. Music is a huge source of inspiration for me, and my work was created while listening to musicians such as Sigur Rós (always a favorite), Hammock, Max Richter, Air, Dead Can Dance, Helios, Johann Johannsson, Jonsi and Alex, M83, Olafur Arnalds, Trentemøller...I could go on and on.

Usually musical melancholy creates a certain mood in me, from which ideas begin to be produced.

Erik Spiekermann

Legendary typographer from Germany

There are 6 ways:

1. Avoid
Do something different, wash the car, back up your data, run errands...
2. Think
Relax and think about the problem, give free rein to your thinking...
3. Explore
Search for material, look through your old projects, but avoid Google - it takes too long to find anything useful...
4. Collect
We all have a lot of junk, among which there should be something that can become useful...
5. Sketch
Drawing is a cool thing, even if you have no talent. Simple visualization of elementary things helps bring them to life...
6. Deconstruct

Break the problem down into pieces, look at each piece, and then put all the pieces back together...

Si Scott

Graphic designer, illustrator, UK

Actually, I experience writer's block quite often (like most creative people, I suppose?). I found the only way to deal with it was to continue working and generating ideas, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Banging your head against the wall in search of a solution is probably the most difficult and hopeless thing in the world!

I get inspiration from poetry/books. Reading and music have a very productive effect on me - words ignite something in me, and I want to create further, they make me think and start researching and analyzing.

Chuck Anderson

Designer, artist, Michigan

The very first and best option for me would be to stop trying to force myself and distract myself for a while. Taking a break can be very important. After that, I usually go to a bookstore to look for inspiration. This is my favorite way to spend time, it really helps me relax. A stack of books and magazines and coffee. Sometimes I bring my computer, but mostly I use the opportunity to look away from the screen and flip through the pages, read, watch, and take in a lot of things. Publications about art, music, culture, design, sports, tattoos - that's what I love most. I get overloaded with this information, which almost always helps me overcome writer's block.

Deth P. Sun

Artist, illustrator, California

I don't get into creative block very often. When this happens, I just take a break, stop drawing and do whatever I want until I feel like starting to work again. I try to prevent creative crises; for this I try to intensify my mental activity by reading, watching DVDs, listening to podcasts. It is also very nice to meet friends who have other interests.

There are very few sources of inspiration directly in my field, so most of the work I draw is what my friends talk about and what interests them. For example, I'm not a big fan of horror movies, back from the dead, or the healing power of magic crystals, but I draw all this because my friends talk about it so much. In general, this probably happens to everyone in their own way. I have so.

Ji Lee

Creative Director, Google Creative Labs

When I'm feeling writer's block, here's what I do:
- I take a long shower. For some reason, under the shower I think differently. It washes away all my old thoughts and I feel renewed.
- Do the cleaning. I can't think clearly when everything around me is cluttered.
- If it hasn’t worked yet, I go for a ride on a motorcycle and try not to think about the project at all.

Somehow, something works in the end.

Designunit

Design studio, Denmark

Our studio is two designers who work closely with each other. We often hire a lot of freelancers, but they are not part of our creative process. We try to constantly be inspired by something, so we put everything that inspires us in an archive so that sources of inspiration are always at our fingertips. It could be something we see on the street (then we photograph it, of course), books, magazines, fashion shows, movies, blogs and so on. When we start work on a new project, we first talk a lot about how we see it, then look through our "archive of inspiration", and then make sketches. Once the visual component is composed, we begin the creation process itself.

Mike Perry

Artist, designer, illustrator, Brooklyn.

The best way to get out of your stupor is to take an Amtrak train somewhere. Unfortunately, I can't do this as often as I want, but I like this forced sitting in one place, much more comfortable than on airplanes. My grandfather used to go to Alaska every year, and during the trip he wrote novels (dangerously, I know), but it seems to me that railway travel is somewhat similar. As you move around the world, you begin to feel alive.

But this is not always easy to do. So most of the time I rush through my work. If I feel a lack of inspiration, then I just accept that I may make some mistakes and continue to work.

MINE

Graphic design studio MINE (Christopher Simmons), San Francisco

There are three factors that contribute to the onset of a creative crisis: the first is to understand that you are in a dead end. The second is to understand that you are in a dead end and don’t know how to get out of it. Third, understand that you are in a dead end, know how to get out of it, but doubt whether you will be able to do it.

Accordingly, I have three ways to solve the problem:

1. I ask myself, am I really at a dead end? Sometimes we think we're stuck, or we just want to think we're stuck, but in reality we're following a trail and don't even know it. Many paths are inevitable. A crisis may simply be a pitfall along the way.

2. I don't do anything. Being stumped very often means not having a clear understanding of the problem. The best medicine in this case is perspective. I look at the perspective from a temporal and territorial perspective. Taking a break from the problem, it’s easier for me to look at it from a different perspective. Instead of struggling to find a solution, I would rather do something irrelevant: for example, go to a museum or watch a movie. Eventually, something from this other world will turn out to be the solution to the problem I'm trying to ignore.

3. I'm becoming cool. Sometimes a problem arises for which I know the solution, but it seems too complicated to me. One trick that helps me overcome this uncertainty is to start working on other, unrelated, easier tasks: finishing a blog post, tidying up the garage, finally painting the office switches. By successfully completing many small tasks, I gain confidence that I can do anything. And when I return to that insoluble problem again, it already seems to me like just another item on my list. And no worries.

Airside

Creative agency, UK

1. Set an alarm for 5 am. When it rings, you have two options: get up and enjoy the unique feeling of this time of day, or go back to sleep and have the wildest dreams (REM sleep is easier to see and remember). One of these two will definitely inspire you.

2. Don't sit in meetings waiting for something to click in your creative mind. Don't read about design, don't look at Google and YouTube images. Don't force yourself - leave the studio. Go to the theater, museum, concert, take a break from work, take a walk, stop staring at the monitor, turn off your mobile phone and TV, chat with friends about some nonsense.

3. Diversify your interests. The broader your interests and the higher your cultural awareness, the more significant your projects will be for clients. Put yourself in the client's shoes and try to imagine how they would perceive your line of thinking. Come up with a bunch of ideas, exchange opinions with colleagues, test your way of thinking on them, think about the subject, look at it from different points of view, and then be strict and adamant in creating your project. Or not. Follow your animal instincts, because you are so tired of forced and far-fetched answers that take away all the joy of life that you can’t even remember why you went into the creative industry if committees and compromises decide everything here. Draw a lot, just for the sake of drawing. Ignore the style. Be bold in your judgment, provided you are extremely talented, otherwise, listen. Listen anyway.

dress code

Andre Andreev and Dan Covert, Design Studio, NYC

Dan: If I get into a creative block during my daily microwork, I surf the net, go for a walk, take a movie, buy books, go to a museum, or do other things from the standard set of clichés for finding sources of inspiration. Although sometimes I get tired of looking for these same sources and I try to just clear my head after leaving the office. Ideas usually come when I least expect them.

Andre: When it comes to everyday creativity, I try to stick to a strict schedule. I work on one project no more than 2-3 hours. I don't spend the whole day on one project, unless of course there is an urgent need for it. I turn off email and IM, or check them once an hour. Having a strict time management helps me because when I have 2 hours to finish my work, I fully concentrate on elements and details that I might otherwise overlook. I think it helps me be more creative because I look forward to each time I can take on a project again and force myself to take my mind off it and think about what else I can do for it next time. The schedule also allows me to switch from one activity to another. Multitasking is not for me, I cannot simultaneously talk on IM, sign a contract, talk with an intern, wait for an e-mail and try to design something. I need to get rid of all distractions and focus on one single project.

Dan: Our studio is set up in such a way that there is often overlap and overlap in what each of us does. We don't put any pressure on people as to who should bear all the creative responsibility. This is somewhat discouraging, but it allows us to be more free in some things. As for creative crisis in the broad sense of the word, we always strive to develop our business in different directions.

Andre: In the broad sense of the word, my inspiration comes and goes. I can't predict when I'll get excited about another project again. I just try to be happy in my personal life, which in turn contributes to my performance. And productive work is one of the components of a happy personal life. So I try to do as many things as possible that I enjoy: playing football, reading books, playing video games, dating a girl, getting drunk, depending on my mood. I think it's hard to stay creative if you're worried about something, or angry, or upset.

Dan: We work in different directions, it's very refreshing. One day we can do a motion picture, the next day a T-shirt or branding. Training also helps a lot because we are exposed to new talents and ideas every week. We learn from them, just as they learn from us.

almost Modern

Graphic studio, Rotterdam

We are a graphic designer and artist. It's a very dynamic combination in the sense that we're always looking at a problem from different angles. Our views and methods are often contradictory, this creates a driving force. We think this is a very productive way of working. It turns out to be a very lively and progressive union. We never stand still.

In addition, we also love to create work for ourselves. To maintain clarity and hone your craft. Therefore, in order to move forward, we keep ourselves busy with work all the time.

Atmotheory

Christopher David Ryan, design studio, USA

I often feel a kind of creative block. It's not that I can't do anything creative at all. It's just that sometimes nothing that comes into my head seems like anything special to me. For as long as I can remember, I have always sat down and just let my creative juices flow. But this does not mean that the juice is always sweet.

I've noticed that the more I push myself to achieve results in these moments, the more likely I am to end up with nothing. However, I have some weapons in my arsenal against creative block: walking, talking, drawing, reading, vintage shopping, digging through old records, yoga, TV, red wine, whiskey and so on. When looking for inspiration, I definitely avoid the Internet. I think it's too simple and too banal.

My brightest ideas usually come to me at the end of the day, when I least expect it: when I'm in bed, in the shower, on the subway, in a meeting. When I am absolutely not in the mood to search for an idea. It feels as if the energy I spend throughout the day searching for these very ideas creates a cloud around me. And it must certainly dissipate for the ideas to reach me.

Kevin Dart

Freelance illustrator, Los Angeles

I have a lot of ways to get rid of creative dullness. For example, surf the web looking for cool photo references, look through old drawings, find and listen to new music, leave the house, sit down to draw in a cafe. But for me the best thing is to talk to my friends. They always have a new way of looking at a problem that I didn't even think of. Or some cool illustrations I haven't seen yet. Or just some encouraging words to get me moving again!

Invisible Creature

Design and illustration studio, USA

Run away. Such a simple word with a myriad of interpretations. In short, we're just leaving. Where? Always in different ways: a bookstore, a coffee shop, an antique shop, a cinema, a park, a forest, a river bank, sometimes just our living room. The goal is always the same - to see or feel what inspires us. It doesn’t have to be something new or fresh, but it does have to be something that will return us to the desire to return with new clear perspectives to our pencils, pens, mice, tablets. We often discuss projects at a local coffee shop rather than in the workplace - this is how the best ideas are born.

Overall, these refreshing (out-of-office) moments of reflection, whether they last all day, half a day, or a few minutes, can be very fruitful. We've even started incorporating them into our monthly work schedule, which is long overdue.

National Forest

Creative Think Tank, California

Justin Krietemeyer: I go for a long run, a bike ride or a walk with the dog. Anything except working on a project. Good ideas are stored in fat, so if I burn some of my fat, I can release them and use them. I will take my phone with me and write down the ideas that pop into my head. The worst thing is to stress out and try to do everything at once.

Tess Donohoe: When I lack inspiration, I get up and walk away from the computer. I believe that staring at a picture, or worse, a blank screen, is a sure way to get frustrated. I like to walk or jog down the street and look around. I usually find solutions to difficult problems when I'm not thinking about them. Interesting images and models appear in my head when I simply look around: at a passing ice cream truck, or at the asphalt on which I am running. And usually, when I don't think about a project for a while, a new idea always comes to mind.

Website: adme.ru

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