Kick Starting the Creative Process

For me personally, inspiration comes very easily on days like today. It is a sunny winter morning and I have just walked my children to school, looking out onto the most beautiful view as the sun breaks through the mist which had settled just below the Clent Hills. I found myself looking at shapes cast by shadows created as the sun shines through the branches of naked trees, and hey presto I’m off with my creative juices well and truly flowing! I will go back out with my trusty digital camera and capture some of these images to work from at a later date and in doing so, record that emotion that has struck a chord with me this morning. Put simply, reaction and emotion are what motivates you to create something based on what you have experienced. That can be said of any creative medium be it writing, painting, performing arts or the decorative arts; the catalyst is the same regardless. If you are creative, this process tends to happen subconsciously most of the time, and that makes us the people we are which can be difficult for others to understand at times. The problem comes when this natural process stops for some reason, or when you are required to continually come with new ideas under pressure and that can be challenging. Call it writer’s block or simply the fear and frustration which can be caused by staring at a blank piece of white paper (which I hate); it amounts to the same thing and must be over come if you are to continue the creative process. So how do you get past this? I have worked both full time as a commercial designer as well as creating and producing my own ranges at home, so have experienced opposed ends of the pressure spectrum whilst working, but always stick by a few golden rules when stuck for ideas: Evaluate your working area: if you have been staring at the same pile of books or cluttered work surface for longer than you care to remember, then it’s time to clear down and start afresh. A tidy work space really does equal a tidy mind, and it will help to clear your thoughts making you more receptive to creative thinking. Change your perspective: think about moving things around, so perhaps your desk faces a different direction or your chair is closer to a window. If you are not near any natural light try to rearrange things so that you are, or if this is impossible invest in some daylight bulbs. Light is important for us to function well. Physical activity: give your mind a rest by engaging in some sort of physical activity – be it walking, swimming or in fact anything that will tire you out physically. Giving your brain a rest will ultimately re-charge it, making you more productive. Surround yourself with things you love: now this can be in the form of a mood board of inspirational images, it could be a collection of gathered objects, or it could be a brochure from an exhibition you enjoyed. It is personal to you and you alone. It could even be as simple as redecorating your working area in your favourite colour paint, so you are not sat there every day thinking “I hate that wallpaper”! Steer clear of screens: now I know this is a big ask for most people as modern life is completely dominated by screens of one form or another, but generally speaking it is not conducive for creativity. Whilst working, mute any email or text alerts on your phone, or better still put it away where it won’t distract you. If you are working on a computer, tablet or laptop do the same and try to limit the time you spend answering emails to 10 minutes, twice a day if possible. Removing these types of distractions will help you stay focussed. Fresh air: fresh air can work wonders, particularly if you are confined to an office or workshop for most of the day. If you can try to get at least 10 minutes (more if possible) of fresh air during the day, even if it is just popping out to get a sandwich at lunchtime. Take a break: if all else fails and ideas just aren’t coming, take a break if possible. It could be 10 minutes, half an hour, a day or a week, but if you are trying and failing to come up with new ideas, take a break to rest, replenish and recharge. Being creative isn’t a conscious decision, it’s a way of life, so ultimately ideas will come – it’s just sometimes they take a little more time to nurture and develop. As designers we need to be aware of this, and ensure steps are taken regularly to allow this creative process to continue. Don’t forget, you will also find plenty of creative inspiration over on Cooksongold’s Pinterest page if you are ever stuck for design ideas.

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