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How we overcome creative blocks
How
we
overcome
creative
blocks
Senior Client Manager
Wonderlanders, like everyone else, face
creative blocks from time to time.
Here's how we overcome them.
Wonderlanders, like everyone else, face creative blocks from time to time.
It’s not because of a lack of interest or passion or anything as mundane as
that. It’s simply that the creative tank needs to be refreshed and
revitalised on occasion. We’ve gotten pretty good - especially through the
pandemic - at topping it up, and to that end we thought it would be a good
idea to share some of these techniques and methods with our readers,
and hopefully help them to overcome their own creative blocks, if and
when they arise.
Unsurprisingly, one of the most popular solutions our creatives turn to is a
walk outside. For all of our designers, getting out into the fresh air helps
them to clear their heads and reset before getting back to work. In doing
this, and giving themselves a change of scenery, they can often stumble
across unexpected solutions and ideas that can bring unlooked-for
stimulation and inspiration. Forcing creativity - especially with a looming
deadline - does nothing but stifle creative outputs. As Megs said, “it’s the
worst thing you can do.” But taking the time go get outside and take a
breath, to step away from the screen and get some fresh air, it’s the
simplest way to recharge the creative batteries and find an exciting
solution.
Another favourite of ours is to find inspiration through exploration. When
we can’t land on a solution that we’re happy with, or if we’ve spent too
long trying to make something work and we just can’t find the right idea,
we’ll take to the internet. Online platforms and magazines that share and
hero designs from other creatives can often unlock inspiring thought
processes, or spark new ideas. Typically designers like Michelle and Daniela
will look at these works through the lens of their own challenges, trying to
find new ways to collect and shape their designs based on the excitement
and inspiration they can draw from the work of others. This is especially
effective when aligned against the initial mission and/or reason for the
designs in the first place, and making sure that the new inspiration takes
them in the right direction, relative to the brief.
Alongside looking at work from other designers is speaking with them
directly. For Megs and My Kim, and Ted, this is a tried-and-true method of
breaking through creative blocks. Ping-ponging ideas back and forth and
exploring different solutions and alternatives as a team often deliver a
more exciting final product than one that would be found alone. It’s also a
solution that benefits heavily from the Wonderland ethos of hiring people
from diverse and varied backgrounds, as the solutions we end up with are
inspired by multiple inputs and schools of thought.
Ideas can often come to us when we least expect it, even in our sleep. As
we all know, a great dream, horrifying nightmare, or incredible idea can
leak from our heads moments after we wake up, and once they’re gone,
they rarely return. To avoid this, Daniela keeps a pen and paper by her
bed, and uses them to capture idea as soon as they arrive to ensure
nothing is lost just because she’s tired. These subconscious thoughts can
often act as the ‘jumping-off’ point that help her find the solution to a
design challenge she’s been struggling with.
Ultimately, there are endless ways to boost inspiration, from a walk
outside to jumping on another project, to literally jumping on a trampoline.
Within Wonderland, our team have come up with a few tried and tested
methods that work for us and help us to keep the creative juices flowing.
We’d love to know if any of the designers out there have other solutions,
or techniques they try when they face a creative block.
INC 16-22 BRAND EXPERIENCE DESIGN 
