What is It?

If you’re lucky enough to not know what designer’s block is, or just want a quick refresher course, let me give you the run-down. Designer’s block is a creativity drought. You feel completely out of ideas and you just don’t know how to begin. For me, I often feel like I’ve already used every original idea I could possibly think of (which obviously is never true). It has brought many of my projects to a complete stop and I’ve even abandoned some of them. Designer’s block is definitely something that needs to die. Fast.

How to Crush It

First of all, the absolute worst thing you can do is stare at the blank canvas. All this does is subtract even more of your inspiration away. I mean really, how many different ideas do you get from a white box? Instead, do something that sparks creativity. Listen to some music that you like, or look at some art. Of course, the most popular thing to do is to go check out a web design gallery such as CSS Drive, Vandelay Design, or Design Meltdown, but don’t limit yourself to specifically web-design inspiration.

Sometimes the best thing to do is to leave the computer altogether. I’ve heard something that staring at a computer monitor for too long can have some certain negative effects on the brain, but I don’t know about that. Leave the computer and go for a walk, hang out with friends, whatever floats your boat. Hopefully, when you return to the computer, all kinds of new and original ideas will be flowing into your head.

Now What?

Once you have an idea, or even a little spark of an idea, go back to your canvas and do it. Don’t think about it. Try not to limit yourself to what you think can be done, because the fact is, almost anything can be done if you’re willing to put in the effort. Don’t limit to yourself to standards, either. Don’t follow what others are doing, and don’t limit yourself to what you usually do. If you normally use red, use blue, etc. Once you have an idea, stick to it so as not to fall prey to designer’s block again.

Share!

How do you get rid of designer’s block? Did these tips work for you? Share your ideas and experiences in the comment section below! Now, go forth and crush designer’s block!

source: designdeluge

The search giant’s London headquarters covers three floors but last week some of its 350 staff began using a revamped engineering floor that has to be one of the trendiest in the design world.

Meeting rooms feature strange angular sofas, the corridors look like the inside of the starship Enterprise and the workers can play pool and video games during their breaks.

Google’s vice-president of engineering, Nelson Mattos, said: “We hire the brightest and best engineers in the UK and put them together in a highly creative, relaxed and exciting environment.”

When GoogIe set about creating it, they started with a blank canvas. All the walls were
knocked through and the furniture taken away.

A unique look was developed to keep the employees at the top of their game.

There’s never a shortage of space to write ideas down – some walls in the corridors are
made up of huge white boards.

Plenty of food and liquid refreshments are on offer. A”coffee lab” serves 19 different blends and there’s four free restaurants, including a tapas and sushi bar.

Paying is never a distraction either, because it’s all free. There’s also a gym, soundproofed music room with drums and guitars and a games room with a pool table, video consoles and giant 1V.

The office even features its own version of the Big Brother garden with deck chairs, carpet that resembles grass and a rowing boat.

“Contrary to accepted wisdom, fun offices don’t hurt. Our experience is that a comfortable, open and fun environment encourages creativity and openness,” Matto said.

“Open spaces make chance interactions more likely, arid chance interactions often lead to the greatest ideas.

“Many of our products came from unrelated teams finding out about each other’s work and physically meeting to discuss fresh approaches.” – source MX News -