As Paul Bennett stated perfectly in his TEDTalk in 2007, “small is the new big.” Bennet’s team was tasked with helping a hospital in Minnesota change their patient experience, and the smallest five minute video sent to the team was the revelation that the hospital had been searching for. 

Bennett and his team sent a five minute video of someone simply staring up at the ceiling, because as a patient, that is where you are going to look most of the time during your stay at the hospital. It changed the entire project and made sense why no other consulting agencies ever worked before. What does this have to do with a creative block? 

A creative block happens at any moment. There is no way to control it -  maybe you did not get enough sleep or this project is just so lame. However, for creatives who work with clients on a daily basis, sometimes you just do not have time for a creative block. 

Denver Media Group, a  Denver graphic design firms, understands that deadlines are deadlines and there is not always room to push it off for a couple of days! So, what should you do? Start small. 

1. Mess it up! 

As TikTok states, “I said what I said.” Oftentimes when a graphic designer is struggling to think of a design or what the final touches are, and a creative block happens, it is because all of the “good” ideas have been thought of already. In all reality, there are probably still 100 more ways to design that website homepage, social media image, brochure, flyer or even billboard. 

A suggestion is to add a different color in that area. A color that does not match at all, but make it a bit messy. A new color, element or a simple switch of the design could immediately flood your brain with new ideas! 

2. Step away 

If a creative block is hindering your ability to execute the project to the best of your ability, it might be best to take a break from the project itself. It is important to not continue to stare at the project until your eyes go cross eyed. 

This is the perfect moment to talk a walk around the block, take a snack or lunch break and even scroll through your social media! We also suggest moving onto another project that you have in the works or something that has been put on the back burner. Oftentimes, as graphic designers, we are so invested in a project that we forget a quick change of scenery could be the remedy that we needed all along! 

3. Embrace those deadlines 

Deadlines are deadlines, and most of the time, they cannot be moved without a client’s sign off. In moments of creative blocks and looming deadlines, it is important to embrace those deadlines. What else in the project needs to be done before the deadline? While you might have been working on this one element- all the others have been neglected. This is the perfect moment to switch gears and start working or finish the other elements of the said project! 

A creative block is not fun and can be difficult to get through as designers. As a leading Denver graphic design firms our designers understand that creative blocks are frustrating, but often are stemming from something else in life. 

Take a break, switch gears and finish it before the deadline!