Creative block..
But since you dont, play some video games with some kick ass graphics... or surf around on some design forums.
Joined: Jan 2003
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Go somewhere you've never been and get lost for a week. I suggest here...key west fantasyfest
world class party on a tropical island and a whole new perspective when you go home....
fltsfshr
world class party on a tropical island and a whole new perspective when you go home....
fltsfshr
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: LA
I'm a designer (art director) as well. Best advice is just to get out of your usual spaces. Museums are great. Even just a coffee shop or somewhere that you can people watch for an afternoon is a good getaway. Vacations are great, but might be overkill or over-expensive.
Other things that I like to do are search for inspiration. Again, museums. Funky stores. Go to your local music store and look at all the album covers. Don't shop, but really look at the design aspects of the covers (there's some fantastic art work hidden away in there). Go pick up a copy of a few design magazines for inspiration. CMYK is always refreshing; all student work that tends to be no-holds-barred, knock down awesome.
Pick up your camera and shoot nothing with it. Go buy a Holga if you don't have one (I'm still saving this purchase for a "blocked" day) and shoot with that for an afternoon. Go to the art store and find something that you've never used before to try out. Go take an art class (universities usually have continuing ed. classes for cheap).
Read a book that's different from what you usually read (I read my first Kurt Vonnegut recently). But DON'T read at home or at the office. Get out, go to a cafe or something. Go sit in a park and read.
Drop me an email if you want to chat design. My work is mostly graphic, but I'm really interested in furniture design, architecture, etc. as well.
Other things that I like to do are search for inspiration. Again, museums. Funky stores. Go to your local music store and look at all the album covers. Don't shop, but really look at the design aspects of the covers (there's some fantastic art work hidden away in there). Go pick up a copy of a few design magazines for inspiration. CMYK is always refreshing; all student work that tends to be no-holds-barred, knock down awesome.
Pick up your camera and shoot nothing with it. Go buy a Holga if you don't have one (I'm still saving this purchase for a "blocked" day) and shoot with that for an afternoon. Go to the art store and find something that you've never used before to try out. Go take an art class (universities usually have continuing ed. classes for cheap).
Read a book that's different from what you usually read (I read my first Kurt Vonnegut recently). But DON'T read at home or at the office. Get out, go to a cafe or something. Go sit in a park and read.
Drop me an email if you want to chat design. My work is mostly graphic, but I'm really interested in furniture design, architecture, etc. as well.
Thread Starter
Former Moderator
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 37,188
Likes: 4
From: TN
Originally Posted by munckee,Oct 12 2005, 06:41 PM
I'm a designer (art director) as well. Best advice is just to get out of your usual spaces. Museums are great. Even just a coffee shop or somewhere that you can people watch for an afternoon is a good getaway. Vacations are great, but might be overkill or over-expensive.
Other things that I like to do are search for inspiration. Again, museums. Funky stores. Go to your local music store and look at all the album covers. Don't shop, but really look at the design aspects of the covers (there's some fantastic art work hidden away in there). Go pick up a copy of a few design magazines for inspiration. CMYK is always refreshing; all student work that tends to be no-holds-barred, knock down awesome.
Pick up your camera and shoot nothing with it. Go buy a Holga if you don't have one (I'm still saving this purchase for a "blocked" day) and shoot with that for an afternoon. Go to the art store and find something that you've never used before to try out. Go take an art class (universities usually have continuing ed. classes for cheap).
Read a book that's different from what you usually read (I read my first Kurt Vonnegut recently). But DON'T read at home or at the office. Get out, go to a cafe or something. Go sit in a park and read.
Drop me an email if you want to chat design. My work is mostly graphic, but I'm really interested in furniture design, architecture, etc. as well.
Other things that I like to do are search for inspiration. Again, museums. Funky stores. Go to your local music store and look at all the album covers. Don't shop, but really look at the design aspects of the covers (there's some fantastic art work hidden away in there). Go pick up a copy of a few design magazines for inspiration. CMYK is always refreshing; all student work that tends to be no-holds-barred, knock down awesome.
Pick up your camera and shoot nothing with it. Go buy a Holga if you don't have one (I'm still saving this purchase for a "blocked" day) and shoot with that for an afternoon. Go to the art store and find something that you've never used before to try out. Go take an art class (universities usually have continuing ed. classes for cheap).
Read a book that's different from what you usually read (I read my first Kurt Vonnegut recently). But DON'T read at home or at the office. Get out, go to a cafe or something. Go sit in a park and read.
Drop me an email if you want to chat design. My work is mostly graphic, but I'm really interested in furniture design, architecture, etc. as well.
Album covers
I work for a record label 
Thats part of my insanity I think 
It's nice to hear someone else mention a Holga, I actually had a lot of photography in college when I got my BFA and still have all my photo equipment including my Holga, well all except the digital camera that got stolen. I'll have to go grab some more 120mm film though.
If anybody has book suggestions I'm open to that too. Thanks!
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From: LA
Good deal. I think the biggest issue is just breaking out of whatever pattern you're in. At least that's what I find for myself. Check out wallpaper, metropolitan, etc. Dwell is good as well for a different spin on design.
Hatch Show Print is an interesting book.
Hatch Show Print is an interesting book.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 8
From: Queens, NY
Originally Posted by Saki GT,Oct 12 2005, 03:26 PM
... go on a drive to odd parts of town, peruse odd mags in genres you might not normally pick up...
Warren
Former Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: never never land
im really creative...
usually i go for a nice joy drive at night, with the windows down and the radio/cd player off...
sometimes ill go for a walk, or go to a park, or lake, or beach...all depends...sometimes just sitting outside at night helps to clear the mind...
usually i go for a nice joy drive at night, with the windows down and the radio/cd player off...
sometimes ill go for a walk, or go to a park, or lake, or beach...all depends...sometimes just sitting outside at night helps to clear the mind...
Thread Starter
Former Moderator
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 37,188
Likes: 4
From: TN
Originally Posted by munckee,Oct 12 2005, 07:41 PM
Good deal. I think the biggest issue is just breaking out of whatever pattern you're in. At least that's what I find for myself. Check out wallpaper, metropolitan, etc. Dwell is good as well for a different spin on design.
Hatch Show Print is an interesting book.
Hatch Show Print is an interesting book.
