Purging

It's cool and kind of fun! Not in the eating disorder kind of way, but in the event of when you are moving and deciding what stays and what goes. I always feel really good after I let something go that has been burdening me for a long time. When the stuff begins to relieve the clutter in my home there is more space and room to breathe. Purging is great with junk food and carb filled cabinets, overfilled "storage" spaces, "friends" lists, hard drives, and you guess it design!

Sometimes due to our clients' demands or our own faults, design and layouts become cluttered and overworked. Once you start removing the extraneous "fluff", designers have more space to stand out and become more modern and sophisticated. Helping clients and ourselves see that will a little room that their/our message can really stand apart (loud and clear!)

Periodic Table of Visual Methods

http://www.visual-literacy.org/periodic_table/periodic_table.html

The visuals are clunky, but the idea behind this is pretty sweet. If you go to the website each "element" is a rollover to help illustrate the element. Just like the scientific periodic table the elements are parted into categories.

Do you use any of these elements to help in your creative process?

Goals: A Formal Announcement

Not too long ago I answered a question posed by GeneralOverachiever about managing creativity. I talked some big talk, but very little commitment. Lists and sketchbooks help me define my goals, but I have discovered that they to not inspire me to complete the work I have set out to do.  I am more prone to do something if I inform others of my goals. The thought that others could hold me accountable, makes it easier to force myself do it. I believe all of these goals will help me to be a better designer, employee, blogger, and person. 

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 LIST OF GOALS

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YEARLY:  Go or do one thing out of the norm or at least out of WICHITA.

BI-ANNUALLY: Update my website (at a minimum)

MONTHLY:  Have a food adventure in the kitchen.

WEEKLY:  Create an illustration every week. Whether simple or small I need to create something for myself every week.

EVERY TWO DAYS: Continue to post every other day, or sometimes more often!

DAILY:  Do something active and engaging every day.

CONSTANT VIGILANCE: I want to constantly observe and engage in typography around me, and particularly the typography I use and create.

Let's check back in one year and see if I have accomplished my goals! Do you have any goals you are hoping to attain in the near future?

A Brand Tribute

A very interesting devotion to brands. Then the fun part of organizing and decorating with different branding attributes. The signs are my favorite. Hey it's what we designers love best! I wish I could do something like this to my office...


W&Cie - Lion d'argent from W & CIE on Vimeo.

Response for Creative Management

General Overachiever had a wonderful post today, about creativity management. I was going to respond, but my answer was just too long, so I made it into my own post.

To answer your last questions first I definitely struggle with ruts and distractions of daily life. It becomes a vicious cycle of distraction, lack of motivation, or creative block. Making lists is the only way I survive these dry spells. By also being a observant you can a develop a project from a need tat you find. 

I am a dabbler. I paint, design, draw, carve, decorate, bake, photography, and I go through different moods of creative outlet. Often times I start a new project when the mood strikes, but I have gone through creative dry spells so I always keep a “to design wish list” either on my computer or on a white board. It also depends on which creative activity I want to do.

PAINTING: I never sketch first. I just paint what I feel, which is why my paintings are not cohesive.

BAKING: Another one where I just wait for the mood to strike and I will look up a food that seems tasty at the time. Also sometimes I will find a recipe while browsing the Internet and will have to try it out for myself.

DESIGN: I start by sketching. I have so many half started sketchbooks, but I always have a sketchbook on me. I have two sizes of sketchbooks one is small (3x4 ish) and one larger (9x11). I keep small in my purse and one at my desk at work and one at home. You never know when an idea will strike I can either write it down or sketch it out. When I do have a creative block I find it very amusing and inspirational to look through old books and find unfinished ideas.

CURRENTLY: I have to start working on some linoleum blocks prints. For this one I developed a plan.

1. Find someone to cut the large block into smaller blocks (accomplished) 
2. What do I want this print to appear on: card, wall art, part of a system, or some other purpose. 
3. Make Sketches.
4. Decide which sketch to utilize.
5. Prepare the sketch for the print (prints you always have to carve backwards) 
6. Carve the image. 
7. Mix Ink 
8. Make a print!

I do have an app on my phone from Behance that helps me organize projects with due dates and priority. The app is a pain sometimes, so I wish they would make some updates, but it can be helpful for long term projects. Deadlines can be a helpful way to make sure you do a project in a timely manner and not let it drag out for months/years.

Staying organized is crucial for a dabbler. I am list maker. Lists help me keep on track and I have lists within lists to organize projects that are more in depth. I also like to keep my desk clear to help show some outward organization, but it rarely happens. When I am deep in a project the messier I get and it can spread throughout the apartment. 

Proof of my sporadic paintings.

It’s always a challenge to work through periods of creative block, and sometimes you just have to push through it. I recommend lists, sketching, and observation. It can take time, but through the act of list you create goals to work towards. Sketching enables you to at least use mark making as a way to be creative. Use something you have never thought to use for art before. Did you know prints can be made from potatoes? Just by keeping your eyes open and thoughtful you can be creative in your observations day to day. Creative blocks eventually pass, and they will visit again so keep working at it! I hope these were some helpful suggests for you at General Overachiever.