Designer Block

[blake]

Does anyone have any tips to get around "designer block"? Or am I the only one who gets it?

[dbldutch]

I've got "posters block". I've seen this post everyday with no real answer for you.

One thing that I've done is step away from it for a day or two and go out and look for inspiration whether that's in the real world or at other websites. Then come back and try again.

[blake]

I suppose that's the best thing to do... step away and come back.

[tominated]

what is 'designers block' exactly?

[blake]

what is 'designers block' exactly?

When I started the thread, I was having trouble picturing what I wanted a particular site to look like.

[tominated]

oh. I somethimes get that. I jst think of all the thinks it is going to have and then think of the postition in the layou and then ad some colour, etc.

[chrishirst]

I don't get "designers block" (as I rarely "design" anything) but do get the "coders block" occasionally.
Same kind of thing though, you just hit a blank when trying to make a pretty PSD/JPEG/AI into a workable style sheet and mastered HTML page.

Just walking away and doing something else works for me. Or turning Planet Rock (http://www.planetrock.co.uk) up even louder :D

[geeekness]

In the design world designer block is one of the most talked about issues. You are not unique, I get it too often myself. The best thing to do is just step away from your computer and go do something active.

Also, you may think you are in a designers block, but really you just don't know where to begin with a clients design. I use to get into this before I designed interfaces to be "goal oriented", so what I do now is follow a process that forces me to yank out goals that the interface needs to accomplish and soon enough you know what needs to be on the screen and what doesn't.

Example: Is the navigation the most important element, or is a huge banner selling a particular product more important?

[Game Makker]

I continual fall into this problem. I think the best inspiration for design is found outside of the web. Go out and have a laugh, it will probably take at least a couple of days so go out have a laugh and maybe by the end of the week your block will have been moved.

[netfuel]

I went to Mississippi State.

check out newstoday.com
webcreme.com
cssreix.com

Get inspired.

[xhan]

All the CSS gallery sites are a good source of inspiration.

When I'm browsing the net and I come across a site I like I tag it as 'inspiration' for one of my frequent bouts of layout block!
http://del.icio.us/xhan104/inspiration

[simonpeterong]

you sit all day and design will really knock good thoughts out of your head.

take a rest, so something else outside the world of designing, then come back and design again. pretty sure that everything will come back and you'll start designing again.

[Jen]

I agree with Simon. If anyone can't think of what to design, go outside, exercise or do something then come back - bingo. Some people can do it with listening musics (I can't do it lol). Just keep designing as process (re-create each mockups), the more you get creative coming in your head, the more you working hard, the more you enjoying. It really works for me, I've been designing for 4 years now.

[Game Makker]

I think the best inspiration is un web related, such as logos or illustrations.
Bounce ideas off friends or just scibble on paper. Do something you don't usualy do or even read a book. Anything that stimulates your brain in a way that it isn't used too is allways a good way of kicking it back into life.

[al-do]

I tend to take a drive around town, and sometimes showers work for me.

[Jen]

haah shower works for you? I heard some designers take a shower while think of ideas - it's gonna be waste water bill!

[mergatroidal]

Someone in a previous forum posted this link. Perhaps it was not visited ..., and so I suppose today is as good a day as any to surf, stroll on over to a CSS museum (http://www.csszengarden.com/) and look at the art?

Or simply stare at these screensaver (http://electricsheep.org/) designs flipping around your screen for awhile. After downloading the screensaver.app, I recommend manual download any of the service packs found here (http://electricsheep.org/) and install them inside the ~/Library/Application Support/ElectricSheep folder.

[mergatroidal]

:( Correction: ... service packs found, here (http://sheepserver.dreamhosters.com/packs/) ;)

[blake]

Well, it's been a while since I've been on WLC but it looks like you've been working to come up with ideas for me. Thanks to everyone.

I actually bought the book associated with CSS Zen Garden (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0321303474/mezzoblue-20) and have picked up some great tips after reading only one chapter.

[davviau]

Just surf! I find a lot CSS gallery websites help me. Also if you use FireFox download the StumbleUpon toolbar. Millions of webpages just ready to be stumbled upon. You're bound to find something you like amongst them.

[Vector]

When I'm browsing the net and I come across a site I like I tag it as 'inspiration' for one of my frequent bouts of layout block!

Lmmfao, i have a folder in firefox for just that, and with the same name. It doesn't help me think of new ideas though, rather, it seems to be showing me how much creativity i am lacking... Eh, screw it.

[Vector]

Also, you may think you are in a designers block, but really you just don't know where to begin with a clients design. I use to get into this before I designed interfaces to be "goal oriented", so what I do now is follow a process that forces me to yank out goals that the interface needs to accomplish and soon enough you know what needs to be on the screen and what doesn't.

This practice is actually what got me up and running better than i was doing at first. I noticed that once i eliminated some of the 'guesswork' by creating standard elements and styles for the content, there wasn't as much of a gap to fill in the 'creativity department' because most of the structure is already there. I still suck for the most part, just not as bad now ;) ...