Survival Tips for Graphic Designers Archives - Art and Design Inspiration

Overcome the Creative Block – Advice from an Artist

ArtandDesignInspiration — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 12:18:04 +0000

Frustrating and time consuming, creative blocks are part of the creative process.

Here are a few tips to help:/em>
1. Take Time Out. If you have kids, had kids or are still a kid at heart yourself you know the concept of time-outs. One of my kids was and still is ADD. No matter how many times I’d say ‘quit, stop, settle down…it didn’t work. I had to remove him entirely from the situation in order for him to chill out and refocus.

As adults and especially when stuck in a creative block instead of hanging your head low and falling into a depression trying to think through a creative solution, it’s better to take a time out. Walk away, stop thinking about it. Turn off the mental visuals and refocus on something entirely different. Walking away in and of itself is almost as much as a challenge as breaking through the creative block. However it’s a great way to get out of the visual rut that has you stuck.

2. Check your vitals. Sleep deprived, hungry, no exercise? Taking care of your physical needs can be a fix to get you back on track for productivity. When working through large and tedious projects I’ll skip meals and stay firmly planted in my chair forgetting to take the stretch breaks. This only works for so long. Before long my marathon work sessions turn into creative blocks. Check your vitals, listen to your body and take a break before you crash.

3. Get off your island.  If you’re like most artists or designers, you thrive on alone time and working independently. It’s actually very difficult to create and work on projects with interruptions and chaos. You need your own quite space. However this quite space can get lonely and you can feel isolated especially when your stuck and need some help. One of the good things of working for someone else are the team collaborations and convenience of brainstorming with a coworker in the next cubicle.

As a solo worker you need to make more of an effort to connect for collaborations. Luckily there are countless ways to make connections to others in the creative field. Online forums, social media groups, Meet-ups and more.  A great way to get past the creative block is to build bridges from your island to others.

4. Fill up on inspiration. Just like an athlete needs to be hydrated before a race an artists or designer needs a good source of ‘inspirational nourishment’ before and during projects. Find, gather and hoard the things that inspire you. Bookmark your favorite inspiration websites, have good sources for visuals.

Above all, don’t force it. Creative blocks are an ebb and flow. Lean into it, trust your process, step away when you need to. Don’t fear that you’ll never get your vibe back. You will.

Frustrating and time consuming creative blocks are part of the creative process.
How do you overcome creative blocks? 

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When Is It OK To Take Credit for Another Designer’s Work?

Christina Rosepapa — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 22:34:05 +0000

Seems like an obvious answer. Never. Right?

However, sometimes the lines can be blurred when you are a website design agency working with a client who then goes on to work with other agencies. Once the work is completed and paid for your client owns the work done and can do whatever they please. And it should be this way.

But what if…
In the case of website maintenance if the client is using another company, can that company then put their name “Designed by…” and remove yours?

This line is so blurred and has been brought up multiple times in forums.

Bottom line is that another agency can do this. And it is flat out ok with me since I work as a white label partner. This means that I have agreed that the design work I’m doing for another agency is done under their brand and name. It’s a beneficial working relationship.

It also goes both ways. My subcontractors’ know (since I have it in writing) that all work they do for my company is under my brand. Though on some of the projects they do have permission to put the project in their portfolio. However I always want to be asked first. It’s courtesy.

Just slap your name on it?

Occasionally something really gets under my skin and that is when I have worked on a project for months on end (that is not white labeled), done all the branding and design work from scratch and then find out later that another agency has slapped their name on my work.

I did not sign an agreement for this. They did not ask my permission, they just did it.

The right thing to do
Web design is a very competitive market. It’s hard for the little guys (or gals) at times. The right thing to do if you’re in doubt about taking the credit for another designer’s work is first to ask them. Ha!

“Hey, by the way, you know that awesome design you did for Client A, can we market it as our work”?

Like I said it’s a blurred line. If you’re the company doing the maintenance let the designer have the credit. If your professional and experienced you know how much work is involved. There are not easy ways to get ahead. Your integrity is on the line.

For Artists: When is it ok to copy another artists work: Find out here

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Creating Artistic Value In A Throw Away Society

ArtandDesignInspiration — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 22:47:58 +0000

Creating art and design has always been a process, and great art is a long process. Few are lucky enough to just get out the tools and produce something valuable and unique without working through the process and sometimes struggling through it. When I think of the word ‘process’ I think of time. It takes time.

As a designer, I know how difficult the process of getting to that place of completion can be. Sometimes I have the idea, see where it’s going and can make it all work with a great design and other times I struggle through designs with endless revisions and frustration. I’ve heard some designers say if they don’t have the idea and visual in mind and mapped out in 15 minutes they move on. Not sure I agree. It takes time to create true value.

How do you create value in visual art in what I call the ‘throw away’ society?

Especially as more and more design work is based on pre-built templates, and fine art is done digitally with clone and copy tools? And detailed workmanship is lost and shoddy replications are mass produced…

Well, first you need to make up your mind which type of artist or designer you want to be. Turn ’em and Burn ’em? Or excellence, quality and pride in workmanship?

Excellence and workmanship take time. There’s no way around it. The more dedication you spend on perfecting your skills the more of a personal payoff you’ll have. Even though some of the standards of excellence have been lost in today’s society you can create value in your art and design work in a number of ways.

Here’s a few:

Teach your techniques. More and more artists are taking their skills online and teaching via videos.

Mentor others.

Get involved in art docent programs in public school (I did this for a number of years and enjoyed it).

Encourage and support the arts in public schools (they are constantly cutting these programs and need help).

Don’t settle for mediocrity.

Stay true to your convictions on the quality of work you want to produce. Establish your track record as the artist or designer that represents quality. If you are an artist that sells your work continue to demonstrate excellence and professionalism which will attract the quality of clients and buyers that you seek and that are seeking you.

How do you create value in your work?

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