Create your Workspace
Create a space that works for you. For some that might be a silent spot in the library where they can focus and for others that means at home in their room with a cup of coffee and their favorite song on repeat. This space will look different for everyone, but it really does impact the way you work. I have created my desk in my room to be an inspiring space tailored to me. I have the wall before the desk covered in inspiration including album covers, doodles, fabric swatches, patterns and photos that influence my creativity. My desk is filled with plants and candles to set my mood as well.
Brainstorm
Brainstorming is so fun and productive during a creative process. You literally cannot fail. For example, when I go to design a logo, I sit down with a blank sheet of paper and make hundreds of tiny ideation sketches. They aren’t always well drawn out or thought through, but just getting your ideas onto paper is so important to landing on one that might actually stick. Refining your ideation can come later, but while brainstorming test out every idea that comes to your mind, even the stupid ones. Some of the best ideas start out as a vague often silly thoughts, but you’ll never find its potential if you don’t give it a chance.
Trust your Talent
It is really easy to doubt yourself when feeling low on inspiration during the creative process. There have been so many times I have gotten down on myself when comparing my work to other designers. It often feels like you’ll never be able to design something you can truly be proud of. When these moments of weakness creep into your mind, trust yourself and the talents you have been given. You are in your creative field for a reason, and your talents probably had a hand in getting you there. Positive self talk goes a long way, if you put in the work and tell yourself you’re going to produce something amazing, what follows has a lot more potential than had you gone in with the opinion that you are the worst designer in the world.
Focus on your Strengths
That being said, you aren’t always going to be good at everything. If you love writing, that doesn’t mean you are going to be good at all forms. Maybe poetry is your strength, put your focus there and you can produce some really moving pieces. If you get down on yourself because your are not the perfect creator in all areas, all your work will suffer. Trust your talent, and know your strengths.
Get to know people
People are truly amazing and when they come together the possibilities are endless. Reach out to people. Whether that be people going through the same inspiration struggle as you or people who seem to have it all together, everyone has some sort of advice that can assist you in your own journey. Going through the creative process alone is a lonely journey with a bleak outcome. Collaborate, seek advice, and learn to take the feedback and criticism people might have for you.
Collect
Whether it be on Pinterest boards or in piles of books, collect things you can return to for inspiration. As a designer, I am constantly scrolling through Pinterest for other designers doing amazing things. In addition, I like to keep a collection of books with inspiring work. I don’t use my collection to pull from and copy, but I use it to see what has worked in the past and why to see what I can learn from it in order to design the next amazing thing someone might pin to their own inspiration board.
