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Thread: Designer Block

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Virginia Beach , Virginia
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    2

    * Designer Block

    What do you guys do when you get designer block?

    I sit and stare at the screen for days.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    876
    Come back to it when I'm in a different mood.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Northern VA
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    1,582
    I'm a crummy designer anyway so there's nothing to block.
    Rich
    Husband, Father, Retired Marine, Geek

  4. #4
    or i come to webhostingtalk.com and read around a bit. i haven't had a design block for at least 5 months, instead i have "how to" blocks.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Norway, Europe
    Posts
    108
    I sit and stare at the screen for days.
    That's my approach to the issue too. For some reason I don't think it works too well.
    Lars-Christian.com - My somewhat inactive and fairly uninteresting blog.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    1,215
    I would get as far away from the computer as possible

    Music helps to get the creative juices flowing!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    10
    It's my belief that designer's/writer's block tends to come around when you've worked so hard that you don't have any more ideas...

    I usually rest and do other less demanding things, like watch TV, listen to the music or read. I've heard people say that they've gotten through "block" by continuing to write - I tend to disagree with this.

    Slow down, take a break, relax. For we are only human.
    Stephen James - sjames2@blueyonder.co.uk
    http://www.solidus-services.com
    - Quality, Reliable and Affordable Hosting.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Pflugerville, TX
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    11,231
    I'm a fan of picking up inspiration in odd places. I one dabbled with a design based loosely on bathroom wallpaper. Try looking through magazines, interesting sites (CSS Zengarden comes to mind), billboards, etc. This isn't an exercise in ripping, mind you. It's an exercise in opening up your own design perspectives by learning from what others are doing and then creating new, unique things.

    If nothing else, it'll help pass the time until your block goes away
    Studio1337___̴ı̴̴̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡ ̡̡͡|̲̲̲͡͡͡ ̲▫̲͡ ̲̲̲͡͡π̲̲͡͡ ̲̲͡▫̲̲͡͡ ̲|̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡̡.__Web Design

  9. #9
    I surf the net, and just start jumping from site to site, to get the ideas flowing again.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    454
    wow, the last 3 recomendations are right on! Thats what I tend to do based on how soon I need something done. If I am in a crunch, I will pick up objects, magazines, surf the web, etc. Otherwise, I will go outside and do something, get away from the computer, when I do this, I tend to look at designs on billboards, signs, cars, everything. But it helps to get away from the computer.
    [color=#666666]Ackoo Solutions, LLC

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    new delhi (india)
    Posts
    44
    i love to watch TV, there are lots of inspiring ads and music videos

  12. #12

    Design Block

    Great recommendations... I always surf around for a while. I usually find something interesting, a bit here a navigation scheme there, some interesting graphics etc. And yeah, go for a walk for awhile and come back. Or go watch TV... I find I get alot of ideas from watching TV, just for the fact that usually it's crap on TV and I find my mind wandering. Then I get an idea, get excited and can't wait to run back to my computer to try it.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    37
    I dig out my old web design books and page through them for inspiration. Even if I've looked through a particular book many times, I always manage to spot something new which usually helps get that "spark." I also get a lot of ideas from design and fashion magazines.

  14. #14
    I've gor a five months old son and after spending several hours listening to his screaming, whining and all that without any imaginable way to stop this I get SO many bright ideas I urgently need to work on in my tightly closed study.

    I love my son - he's my muse.

  15. #15
    great! i think i've been jinxed!!!

    i'm having a designer's block right now and have been since about a day after i posted.

    boy this is not good. oh well...like they say...what do they say?

    spiderfine

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    NJ USA
    Posts
    332
    I go outside if I need to start designing relativly soon. Trees, air, people, and music all clear my mind and I forget about the assgnment. When i come back to the drawing board I can start doodling and the ideas start to flow.

    If I have more time on my hands there are some cool tricks I've learned such as changing your sleeping arangements. Sleep on the couch, or flip upside down, leave the lights on for a nap, turn on some music really softly. Stay up all night doing other stuff and come back to it when youi are just about to pass out and draw/write whatever comes to mind. When I wake up I'll read it over and sometimes it clicks.

    Or I go for a run. Excersise is a great way to clear your mind.

    I believe designers block is from concentrating too hard on the subject and limiting yourself. Expand and relax your mind and emotions. But most importanly remember, it's just design; no one lives or dies.

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