Creative Drain

What do you do when you find yourself creatively drained? Well, I don't know the permanent cure but I can surely give you some of my personal remedies that will do the trick temporarily.

#1. Figure out where the problem is. Are you hungry? Thirsty? In need of some mobilization to get the blood flowing back to your tired brain? 

#2. Satisfy those needs, you're not going to be able to fully devote yourself to design when your body is telling you otherwise. Sitting at your desk is not going to evoke positive energy nor is it going to help you be creative. The best thing to do is take a break to replenish that artistic void.

#3. Do something you've never done before, be spontaneous. Drive with your TomTom off, get lost! I like to find new coffee shops, places with live music, flee markets, ANYthing that will stimulate my  mind. Not only does that give you a break, but you get to see how the people around you interact which in the end is who you are designing for. 

#4. When you return to your working space, get yourself comfortable. Adjust your seat, keyboard and mouse accordingly like you would getting into your vehicle.

#5. You take that project and own it. Do not let it consume you, or intimidate you. Remember why you became a designer in the first place and enjoy it by trying new things. Have fun and don't ever take yourself too seriously, life is too short to stress about kerning to perfection.

Designing a Love affair

Ahhhh.... It all started in my first year of college. There he was in the classroom sitting quietly in the corner by the window. The sun was glaring off him, I was intimidated and intrigued by his abundance of knowledge. He could do everything; write, draw, play music...and I wanted to learn more. His name is Mac, him & I have been together on and off now for about four years now. We've been working out our differences and really getting to know each other on a deeper level. I know how to turn him on, but sometimes when I aggravate him he just shuts off completely without any warning! I have to admit, I push his buttons a little too far sometimes. He says I always tell him what to do,  but he only listens half the time and it's extremely frustrating!  Don't get me wrong, he's really great! We have our own "code" words for things that just him and I know about, it's really helped us understand each other. Our relationship has really grown over the years and I think with a little work we will live happily ever after.
  

I have to let you in on a little secret... Mac isn't my boyfriend, in fact he isn't even a human being. I have to let you in on another secret... My lame computer humour only works on my fellow nerdy friends who live and breathe design like I do. Being an artist is one thing, but learning to adjust your art form to the computer is one of the biggest challenges of all. Through trial and plenty of error I have become more comfortable with this glorious machine and I learn something new every day. Everyone learns at a different pace, and sometimes you want to pull your hair out when you can't achieve the effect you have in your mind, but if you fully dedicate enough of your time you will succeed. There is no better feeling than when you finish a project and it is exactly the way you wanted it to be. 

If you have the passion, charisma and drive there is no stopping you... It's just a matter of time!