How to Be Creative in Graphic Design

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Creativity is a huge part of being a great graphic designer. Unfortunately, you can’t just turn your creativity on when you want to do some design work. This makes being an artist or designer a little tricky. If you’re feeling stuck, don’t worry! Every great artist experiences this at some point. Luckily, there are plenty of simple little tricks to get the creativity flowing again and tackle any project in front of you.

1

Work at your most productive time of day.

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    There might be times of the day that you’re more creative than others. If you can, work during those times so your creativity is at its highest. [1]
    • Some people work better in the morning, and some might like working at night. Take advantage of the time that you’re at your best.
    • This is most helpful if you’re a freelancer or work from home. It might be tougher to plan if you have a day job at an office, but you could still try other tricks to boost your creativity.
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2

Sketch your ideas out first.

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    Ideas flow differently when you’re working with a pen and paper versus sitting at a computer. Get into the habit of sketching your ideas before trying to do them on your computer. You might just come up with a brand new idea that you wouldn’t have thought of at the computer! [2]
    • If you use a drawing pad or tablet for your computer, still try sketching on paper. Changing the medium you work with could help stimulate some creativity.
    • It’s a good idea to keep your sketch pad with you at all times so you can start working whenever inspiration hits. This is another reason that a sketch pad works better than a computer drawing pad.
    • Don’t worry if you’re not very good at sketching. This is just for your own personal ideas, and you’ll definitely get better if you stick with it.
3

Work on your own personal design projects.

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    Doing your own little design projects each day is a great way to get into a creative mood, so don’t hold back. Some of these projects might even end up in your portfolio, which will help support your design career. [3] Some good activities to get the creative juices flowing include:
    • Redecorating your work space or another part of your home.
    • Drawing or painting in your free time.
    • Redesigning the graphics in your favorite magazine, website, or movie poster.
    • Volunteering to do the graphics for a community organization.
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4

Branch out by using different mediums and programs.

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    Break the routine by branching out and working with a different medium or program. This might spark some creativity and give you new ideas. [4]
    • For example, if you’re always sketching your ideas, maybe painting would be a nice change of pace.
    • You could also change the program you work with. If you’re normally working with Photoshop, then switching to Illustrator might give you some new ideas.
5

Take on more challenging jobs to improve your skills.

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    If you always take jobs that you find easy, your skills won’t improve. Furthermore, working on some more difficult projects could inspire you to come up with new, creative ideas. Make a commitment to expand your portfolio and seek out some challenging jobs. [5]
    • If you normally design product logos, for example, branching out and doing some web design might be a welcome change.
    • It might be frustrating to try something that you’re not very skilled in, but stick with it! This is how you’ll learn and get better as a designer.
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6

Save content that you find creative or inspirational.

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    Whether you see a nice logo on a website, a good font on a magazine cover, or a nice movie poster, save that image. Create a file or portfolio of inspiring work and look at it whenever you feel like you need a boost. [6]
    • Scrapbooking with the designs you like is also a great way to stimulate creativity. You’ll keep all the designs in one place while doing a fun craft activity.
    • If you use Pinterest, it's very easy to pin creative ideas or designs that inspire you and look at them later.
    • It’s fine to take influence from other designers and projects, but don’t directly copy them. This will hurt your reputation as a designer.
7

Look for inspirational designs on social media sites.

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    Try checking out Tumblr, Designspiration, Niice, Baubauhaus, or Dribbble, sites where artists can upload their work and ideas. You might see some great work that gives you new ideas. [7]
    • Remember to save any designs you like on these sites! Having a look at them when you need some inspiration can give you a nice boost.
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8

Learn the history of art and design.

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    If you feel like you’re in a creative slump, try looking back into history. Study how artists have expressed themselves throughout the years. This might give you some great new ideas that you didn’t think of before. [8]
    • There are tons of great art books, so your local library would be a great place to start.
    • You could also look on websites for museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see thousands of pieces for inspiration.
    • If you see any pieces of art you particularly like, add them to your scrapbook for inspiration.
9

Continue your education to get new ideas.

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    Consider yourself a perpetual student and make a commitment to learn new things all the time. With more skills in your back pocket, you can find more creative solutions to your design problems. [9]
    • If you don’t have a degree in graphic design, then going to school could teach you some extremely valuable skills and tricks to boost your creativity.
    • You could also complete a certificate in design or using a particular medium. Many of these are available online for a reasonable price.
    • There are also plenty of YouTube channels and websites that produce completely free content.
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10

Clear your head to get rid of distractions.

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    Stress can especially hurt your creativity. Try doing some daily exercises to clear your head and let the creative thoughts flow in. [10] Some good choices include:
    • Meditation.
    • Yoga.
    • Taking a walk.
    • Doing deep-breathing exercises.
11

Spend more time outside.

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    No need to end that now! It can be tough to think creatively if you’re in your office or home all the time. Try spending some time outside by taking a walk, sitting in a park, or heading out for a hike. This change of scenery could really get your creative juices flowing. [11]
    • Even if you don’t live near a rural area, any small park or quiet area will work perfectly.
    • Urban landscapes can be inspiring too. Go and check out the trains, bridges, architecture, cars, and people interacting to see if that gives you a creative spark.
    • Remember to bring your sketch pad when you go out! You never know when inspiration will strike.
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12

Put music on while you work.

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    A lot of artists and creative professionals leave music on while they’re working and agree that it helps them feel inspired. If you normally work in silence, give this a try and see if it helps. [12]
    • One study found that “happy” music helped boost creativity, regardless of whether or not the person liked it. [13]
    • Note that this might not work for everyone. Some people find music very distracting when they’re trying to work, so don’t worry if you need silence to be creative. [14]

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What's the difference between Photoshop and Illustrator?
    Shari Fairclough
    Social Media & Graphic Design Expert
    Shari Fairclough is a Social Media & Graphic Design Expert based in Atlanta, Georgia. Shari is a versatile designer with extensive experience in social media marketing, UX/UI design, and graphic print production. She has over 4 years of both freelance and in-house experience working as a UX and Graphic Designer. She currently works as the Social Media & Marketing Coordinator at Guidepost Montessori. In this role, Shari curates engaging content and enhances the school's online presence. In 2022, Shari founded Sunni Aesthetics, a design platform that blends culture, design, and art. Shari holds a Google UX Design certification. Additionally, she studied graphic design at The Creative Circus, has four years of experience working as an assistant teacher, and is certified as a TEFL instructor. Shari has contributed to various publications, including Canvas Rebel, VoyageATL, and 11 Alive, and has film credits on IMDb for her work in "Black Lightning," "The Color Purple," and "The Staircase." She received a BA in Film & Media from Georgia State University.
    Shari Fairclough
    Social Media & Graphic Design Expert
    Expert Answer
    Photoshop and Illustrator are like cousins, they share similarities but excel in different areas. Photoshop is ideal for tasks such as photo retouching, digital painting, and creating graphics with intricate details. On the other hand, Illustrator excels in creating logos, icons, and other designs that require clean, precise lines. In my opinion, Illustrator is easier to use than Photoshop.
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      Tips

      • If you're feeling stuck and uncreative, don't be hard on yourself. Every artist feels like this occasionally! It doesn't mean you're a bad artist, it just means you're human.
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      • Sometimes taking a break is a good way to boost your creativity too. Spending hours on your computer might not be helpful, but a break could clear your mind and get the creativity flowing.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-human-beast/201906/the-most-creative-time-day
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/YHNYaQzsRf8?t=58
      3. ↑ https://careercenter.cofc.edu/documents/portfolio.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.sessions.edu/notes-on-design/how-to-become-a-graphic-designer//
      5. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/challenge-your-mind-and-body-to-sharpen-your-thinking-skills-201510298507
      6. ↑ https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/101-ways-for-teachers-to-be-more-creative/
      7. ↑ https://faculty.washington.edu/farkas/dfpubs/Farkas-Farkas-Graphic%20Design-Ch11Principles%20of%20Web%20Design.pdf
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/YHNYaQzsRf8?t=22
      9. ↑ https://www.sessions.edu/notes-on-design/how-to-become-a-graphic-designer/
      1. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/mindfulness-exercises-techniques-activities/
      2. ↑ https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1482445/FULLTEXT01.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Music-while-You-Work%3A-The-Differential-Distraction-Furnham-Bradley/600db02254b1fd129ae05eb07eb63449a10f30a4
      4. ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_music_helps_us_be_more_creative
      5. ↑ https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/23018/1/Anna%20Bramwell-Dicks%20-%20Music%20While%20You%20Work.pdf

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