So you are feeling a bit creative and are ready to sit down and punch out some designs, eh? What works for me might not work for you, however, this article can hopefully offer you a friendly kick start should you get stuck.
1. Getting started. |
2. Do you have something to
say?
One area that I have tried to improve upon is the creation of meaningless
graphics. When sitting down to develop a personal image, I first establish
a theme or message for that image. Rather than sit in front of your computer
screen being stared down by a blank canvas in Photoshop, it is better
to enter the battle armed. Arm yourself with a theme, perhaps something
from one of your notes. When I start off without an idea, searching through
stock photos or previous creations, I rarely come up with anything worthwhile.
Building on one of your ideas is the better path to take.
3. Power in the music.
I have found music as a great source of inspiration. Not necessarily the
lyrics to a song, but more importantly, the mood that the music places
me in. Music draws certain embedded emotions out from their comfort zone
and places themin the forefront. Use this to your creative advantage.
Try listening to new music, there are more play-lists on the internet
than free AOL CD's in the mail right now so finding new music should not
be difficult. I have been pleasantly surprised at some of the new music
I have listened to that normally I would pass over.
4. Exploration.
Explore what else is "out there" in the design world. By exploring,
you will find new sources of creative inspiration. For example, there
are numerous bulletin boards available where users post their creations.
Find a couple of people that you admire and keep an eye on them. I have
discovered that by examining someone else's work new ideas of my own have
come to the surface and I am able to start working. It is important for
me to look at all types of art and not to focus on viewing one style.
Keep your eyes and your mind open.
5. Environment.
Get a change of pace. Take a walk. Visit a pet store. Change a daily habit.
"Look" around you. In my opinion, artists see the world differently
than others. So it is vital that artists see as much as they can, taking
in as much as possible. Many times new ideas come to mind just by talking
an hour walk later in the evening.
6. Pleasing everyone.
This is impossible. You will never be able to please everyone so do not
even attempt it. Who do you design for? That should be your primary goal.
If the work is something personal, then what matters most is if you are
happy with it. If the work is for a client, then you must put their wants
and needs before your own. Should you worry about what every single person
says about your work, it will drive you out of your mind. For example,
say you post your work on a bulletin board and someone absolutely rips
it apart. Realize that some people are outright negative and childish
in all that they do, so focusing on those morons is not recommended. Pay
attention to any and all constructive critique offered and take it into
consideration. Art is subjective so many might not "get" what
your goal was. However, consider their suggestion and ask yourself if
it really would help your goal.
7. Take a break.
You cannot design 25 hours a day, 8 days a week. Take it from me, you
will get burned out faster than you might think. Enjoy your life and do
not plan your life around your Photoshop schedule. Granted, Photoshop
is more of a hobby for me, so if your hobby is design, then I expect you
to spend more time with it. However, some designers do it for a living
and it is important for them, and everyone else, to take their eyes off
the screen, at least for a second or two.
Hopefully the above tips can help you along in your creative process. As I said before, what works for me might not work for you, however, you never know what you might be missing by not trying something new.
