Media Outreach

Inspiration is a funny thing. Being a “creative”, I get a lot of requests to help with this or that project, come up with a logo, flyer, t-shirt for friends, family, and I’m happy to do it. Most of the time… Trying to create something when you’re uninspired is the worst feeling in the world.

You can’t force inspiration. Inspiration just happens sometimes. I would venture to say the most compelling ad campaign you’ve seen, best billboard, funniest commercial, most impressive marketing materials, they were all a result of someone who found true inspiration, then refined their design to craft something truly amazing.

So that designer you know that puts out the most amazing graphics again and again, do they have some magic creative leprechaun tucked away in their desk that grants them inspiration? Doubtful. If they do, I want in. You can’t control inspiration. You can, however, stack the deck in your favor. Here’s some ideas to help get the creative juices flowing:

• Know your limits- One of the biggest inspiration killers is fatigue. Know when to take a break, take a nap, walk away for a while. If you’re not fresh, your inspiration will suffer.
• Cultivate an environment you can thrive in- My office is likely the most random collection of knick-knacks and things that keep me inspired, from football helmets to garden gnomes to a Chewbacca costume. I know when I am in this environment, I can let the creativity fly.
• Strike while the iron is hot- When creativity hits, move. Keep a notepad handy. Some of my best ideas come when I am about to drift off to sleep, so I keep one next to my bed. When inspiration comes, make sure you’re prepared!

Inspiration is a tricky thing to nail down, but when true inspiration hits, it’s exciting! Hopefully, this will give you some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. What things do you do to get inspired?

Photo By: cheesespas