Creating Creativity

I used to find myself in a momentary panic when first sitting down to "design." I would wonder if I had anything creative to add. But experience has taught me that the first thing I needed to do when sitting down to create - was not to sit down at all.

I'll give you an example. I was asked to design a poster for a client. We talked about the different directions we could take; "warm and fuzzy" or somber and serious. I needed to come up with a message and related visual for the poster and my deadline was fast approaching.

So I slept in, sort of. I lounged in bed, listening to my kids playing in the next room. One or the other would come in for periodic updates about their progress or lack thereof. I'd make an appropriate response, and roll over and let my mind wander. I'd mull over the project, chuckle at the kids talking to each other ever so seriously, think "maybe I should get up," look at the clock and decide 8:30 is still too early (I HAD been up until 3:00 after all) and mull over the project some more.

As I allowed myself to relax and just chew on the very edges of the project I was able to see it more completely. It enabled me to look at it from different angles. If I had just plunked myself down in my chair and got to work I would still have come up with something. But it wouldn't have the been as good.

Whether it's sleeping in, relaxing with a cup of coffee or taking a walk allowing yourself some time to "noodle" on a project and let the creativity percolate is sometimes the most productive thing you can do.