BREAKING BLOCKS TO

CREATIVE THINKING
// Interactive Digital Media - IDM
// The Geelong College, Department of Creative Art and Design

// UNIT OF COMPETENCY
- BSBCRT301A_Develop_and_Extend_Critical_and_Creative_Thinking_Skills

As part of the Extend Critical and Creative Thinking Skills unit, you need to provide examples of
each of the following; (this will occur across the Term in your visual diaries).
01. Tap into your unconscious
Strange things happen in a semi-sleep state, when your unconscious takes over, says Shotopops
Casper Franken. Wake up and write down whatever was happening before you forget it.
02. Get it down on paper
Write your main ideas down in columns, and list absolutely everything that comes to mind. You can
mix and match the lists for unusual and original combinations.
03. Always carry a sketchbook
Dont go looking for inspiration: A visually loaded word or phrase can jump out from a passage of
text, or a song, proposes London based designer and illustrator Craig Ward. Be sure to sketch
those ideas down when they come.
04. Dont be afraid to step away
Completely open briefs can be the worst for causing creative block. Try to distance yourself from
the project; take a break and come back to it with a clear head.
05. Finish what youve started
Theres no such thing as a bad idea: the creative part is in seeing it though to completion, and turning dreams into reality, argues Mr Mills, creative director at ustwo.
06. Put some fun in your studio
Sterility leads to an empty void of nothingness, adds Mills. Always try to inject some colour and life
into your studio, and dont run it like a clinic or a prison.
07. Dont retread your steps
Inspiration is intangible: you cant do it on purpose, believes illustrator Alex Trochut. If you just try
to reproduce how a good project happened in the past, youll never get the same result.
08. Look in unlikely places
Go and do something else entirely. Youd be amazed at where new ideas are hiding out. Theyre often where you would least expect them to be.
09. Expect the unexpected
The best ideas dont need to be sought out at all; you just have to train yourself not to swerve out of
the way when they jump out in front of you, remarks Jon Forss, co-founder of Non-Format.
10. Explore other creative disciplines
Inspiration can come from anywhere. Look beyond other illustrators and designers: photography,
typography, fashion, film, packaging and signage, for instance.

11. Expand your mind

Its like mushroom picking: you wander through the magical woods of inspiration and see a big,
beautiful mushroom, are the surreal musings of Slovenian duo Kitsch-Nitsch. Pick it, make a delicious meal, and if your friends like it, go into the woods for more.
12. Go against the flow
Try to approach every brief with the opposite of what everyone else would do. It might not be the
direction you choose in the end, but it can help to avoid clichd scenarios.
13. Take notes on life
The best ideas often come when doing completely random, uncreative tasks, confesses ink evangelist Johanna Basford. Jot them down as they come to you, or snap a photo of things that catch
your eye.
14. Grab some you time
Working on too many projects at once can stifle your creativity. If youre feeling burned out, take
some time to yourself and turn everything off for a couple of days.
15. Dont be bound by the brief
On smaller jobs, less information can sometimes be better to avoid forced influences. Your solution
might open the clients eyes to new things, points out Jeff Knowles, founder of Planning Unit.
16. Broaden your horizons
Immersing yourself in particular arts or cultures that you wouldnt normally be interested in could lead
to interesting mixed-context inspirations, so get involved.
17. Push the boundaries
Experiment in your personal projects or, if you havent got the time or energy after a hard days work,
go off on a tangent for an hour while working on an actual project.
18. Get a fresh perspective
View things from different angles. Some upside-down lettering in a stack of papers or a scrunchedup sketch can create unusual shapes and spark off new ideas.
19. Sleep on it when you can
Try not to think and do on the same day, suggests Jessica Hische. You tend to sort the good from
the bad naturally, and occasionally come up with some really off-the-wall things overnight.
20. Shake up your surroundings
Try different working environments to keep things fresh. Sketch at home or on the train, refine final
work in your studio, and brainstorm in coffee shops, for instance.
Web Reference:
http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design-tips/20-expert-tips-to-beat-creative-block-123523