Have you ever been at the beginning of a new creative project and didn't know what to do? That blank file or blank piece of paper… it's open to so much possibility… perhaps too much possibility. It might be something you've never done or haven't done it years. Where to start? Like most other skills, creativity is a skill that takes practice.
Here are a few tips to get those creative gears cranking and your project moving forward.
Here are a few tips to get those creative gears cranking and your project moving forward.
- Research - If you have specific time at work or school dedicated to this project, use it for research. I've found that it's better to fill your brain with too much knowledge rather than too little. In the end I use just a small percentage of everything that I learned. Like in a theatrical performance, there is a lot of work that goes on in the wings and behind the scenes.
- Find and organize inspiration -
- Find what inspires you. Visit museums and parks. Join a class. Search on websites like Dribbble, Flickr, or Instagram. Listen to podcasts. Follow blogs. I regularly follow the art blog Colossal. It's not related to interpretation but it gets me thinking about the endless possibilities of our imagination.
- Organize the pieces that inspire you into different categories. Printed files, electronic files, or websites can work. Pinterest, for example, is great for finding and organizing.
- If you do find inspirational interpretive media projects, share what you find on our NAI Interpretive Media Facebook group!
- Set small deadlines - Let's say the project is due April 1st. You have a few months but it's an overwhelming project. Break it down into smaller deadlines, even if they are just with yourself.
- Draw it out on paper - Whether it's a sign, video, pamphlet… even if you are doing the whole layout on the computer, using pen and paper can be a great transition between loose ideas floating in your head to the next, more concrete step in your project.
- Don't work on your project - Creative ideas often arrive when you aren't concentrating on the project during normal business hours. Maybe it happens when you are drinking your morning coffee, going for a hike, or having a great conversation during dinner.
- Have a group brainstorming session - Working together with your colleagues can help you make giant leaps in a project. Have an organized agenda and stick within a timeline. Have a whiteboard or a chalkboard and don't let the meeting drag on.
Elise (Kahl) Wahl is Deputy Director for NAI’s Interpretive Media Section and the owner/designer of Timberdoodle Studio. You can contact her at [email protected].