Malaysia-based graphic designer, Tang Yau Hoong utilize the idea of creating posters out of our favorite quotes. His project called “The Quote Illustration Project” showcases a series of posters featuring some popular quotes interpreted through simple but meaningful illustrations accompanied by good choice of typography.

We got the chance to talk to Tang and ask him few questions about this particular project and his creative process. Check out the short interview below:

YTD: Hi Tang! How are you and how’s Malaysia?

TANG: Hi! I’m fine. Thank you. It is hot here.

YTD: Give us a little background about your work in graphic design.

TANG: I am a 28 years old visual artist/ illustrator/ graphic designer from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I hope to make graphics that spark the viewer. As a graphic designer I try to convey messages visually. I like simplistic works and will always try to make my illustrations as simple as possible. Having said that, I do not limit myself to certain style or medium and I always try to create something fresh and express my idea in a creative way.

YTD: One of the many interesting projects you’ve done that amazes us is “The Quote Illustration Project”. How did you come up with the idea of combining famous quotes with your illustrations?

TANG: Most of them are old illustrations that I redrew to match the style I was looking for and the meaning of the corresponding quote. One day, I was browsing these old designs again and thought of giving them new lifes so here is the result. The only unpublished illustration is Steve Jobs which triggered the project.

YTD: Can you share us your creative process? From where did you start?

TANG: There is nothing secret. Basically I do a lot of thinking, sketching and brainstorming to get new ideas. To me, a good idea is the result of evolution.

YTD: What are the tools you used?

TANG: I use graphic tablet for final artwork. Before that I do a lot of sketching and doodling in my sketchbook for brainstorming.

YTD: Which of them is your most favorite?

TANG: At the moment my personal favorite is “Light painter”.

YTD: Is there any other famous quote in your mind you hope to illustrate in the future?

TANG: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”
But I’m not sure if I am going to illustrate this one.

YTD: Are there prints, merchandise and other products from those illustrations? Where can we get some?

TANG: Some of my work including the quote project are available as art prints on my shop.

YTD: Any future plans for the project?

TANG: I might continue to make more quote illustrations and see how it goes. There is no planning at the moment yet.

Check out Tang’s website for more information or his Behance portfolio to see more of his cool projects.

Share us your thoughts and suggestions by leaving a message below. Find You The Designer on Facebook, Twitter,Pinterest and Google Plus for more updates. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our free print templates page for your print design needs. Stay awesome everyone!

Read more posts by Kerby Rosanes

Meet Simi Zeko, a graphic design student from Falmouth University in United Kingdom. His work get noticed just recently after publishing his project online called “The World Between” Animated Posters. This university project involved the creation of a series of animated posters as an introduction shown between events at The World Between (Museum of Circles). The smart choice of combining poster design with animation made this project a “breathe of fresh air” when it comes to designing typography posters.

You The Designer got the chance to talk to Simi Zeko about his work, background notes and the creative process behind this project. Check out the short interview below:

YTD: Hi Simi! How are you and how’s  UK?

SIMI: I’m great thanks. I’m just about to finish my second year of studying Graphic Design at Falmouth University. It’s been an amazing experience so far and I’m looking forward to my final year.

YTD: Give us a little background as your work as a Graphic Design student.

SIMI: As a designer I love solving problems and telling stories. I try not to put a limit on what an outcome can be. So far my time as a Graphic Design student as been focused on trying something new with every project. Whether it’s learning how to use new tools or exploring the disciplines of graphic design.

YTD: How did you come up with the idea of combining type with animation?

SIMI: The brief offered the choice of either branding a museum of the circus, or to create a piece of moving image to be shown to audiences between events at the same museum. The outcome I chose had to be typographically focused either way.

I had never done anything related to motion graphics before, so I jumped at the opportunity.

YTD: Can you share with us your creative process? From where did you start?

SIMI: After deciding to pursue a moving image outcome, it became clear that I still needed to do a little branding. The circus museum needed a name and logo. I also needed to identify my audience and how best to communicate to them. After researching the circus’s glory days and the popular circuses of today, I decided that the museum’s audience would be families with young children. I needed to create something that would remind the adults about their childhood circus experiences and paint a picture of wonder for the young generation.

The function of the video developed into something designed to enhance the excitement in the atmosphere, by giving the museum a boastful and inviting typographic introduction. The name ‘The World Between’ came from the concept of a world outside the ordinary where anything could happen, you could always be surprised and amazed. The poster’s copy is also rooted in this world between worlds, inspired by ringmaster dialogue and the words on old circus posters.

With the museum named and an objective in sight, I was ready to start designing my outcome. I wanted something with that classic circus feel, but with a slightly more contemporary visual style. After coming up with a range of ideas for the video I decided to go in the direction of using moving circus posters to tell the museum’s story. As I wrote the copy and the idea developed, the visual elements of the posters became based on showmanship. The circus stage, the makeup and costumes that create the show. The type would be dressed up as if it was about to perform and be animated as if presenting itself with a lively flair. I began sketching lots of different layouts for each poster until I was satisfied with them. I also created a reference sheet to tell me which words should be decorated and how different parts of each poster should be animated.

YTD: How did you select the right typography to use in this particular project?

SIMI: I started by looking at letterforms on old circus posters. Looking for repeated features and opportunities for appropriation. I ended up looking for a typeface that had a strong sense of showmanship. Laudanum offered a great balance of tall condensed letters as well as exciting shapes and serifs. Corki and Nevis were chosen as opposites to give the posters some visual variety.

 
YTD: What are the tools you used?

SIMI: After roughly designing each poster on paper I took them into Adobe Illustrator for further development. When I was pleased with them I imported the posters into After Effects to animate them. It was fun learning how to use the software.

YTD: Which of them is your most favorite?

SIMI: That’s a tough question. I think I’m going to go with the poster with the list of circus acts, because I spent the most time designing and animating it. As the poster with the most type, it was quite a challenge working on how the list would be set, but it was the most satisfying one to finish.

YTD: Any future plans for the project?

SIMI: No future plans for this project right now. But I’d love to do something similar with moving type again. Maybe ultra colourful animated type for an 80’s sci-fi film, who knows?

Check out more information about Simi Zeko and his awesome projects by visiting his Behance portfolio.

Share us your thoughts and suggestions by leaving a message below. Find You The Designer on Facebook, Twitter,Pinterest and Google Plus for more updates. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our free print templates page for your print design needs. Stay awesome everyone!

Read more posts by Kerby Rosanes

Meet Johanna Basford, an illustrator and ink evangelist from United Kingdom whose works are created solely using ink pens on paper characterized by floral elements, swirls, natural themes and delightful characters all in black and white with attention to awesome intricate details!

As YTD’s featured artist of the month, we got the chance to talk to Johanna about her illustration career, her major influences and creative process. Check out the interview below.

YTD: Hi Johanna, how are you and how’s UK?

JOHANNA: Lovely thank you! Scotland is still a bit chilly, we’re hoping for some sunshine soon though!

YTD: Tell us a little background about you and your creative work.

JOHANNA: I’m an illustrator and ink evangelist who prefers pens and pencils to pixels.

I create intricate, hand drawn illustrations predominately, although not exclusively, in black and white. My creativity is cultivated by a curious imagination and a delight in the fantastic. Much of my work has roots in the flora and fauna that surrounded me growing up on my parent’s fish farm in rural Scotland. I graduated in 2005 from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee with my degree in Printed Textiles and a portfolio stuffed with monochrome silk screen prints and drawings. Following that, I set-up my little studio and began on my mission to vanquish the vector and champion the (wobbly) hand drawn line.

YTD: How do you usually start your day?

JOHANNA: With lots of cups of tea and a bit of list writing.

YTD: When did you start drawing?

JOHANNA: I’ve always loved drawing. When I was little I would draw on books, walls, myself, my sister, my clothes… luckily my parents nurtured this passion instead of telling me off!

YTD: Any major influences?

JOHANNA: LOTS. At school I loved the intricate ink work of Escher. These days I find I’m drawn to a wide ranging pool of creative work, from florists, to fashion, Street Art to packaging, Tattooists to Stationery design. I think we take little snippets of the dozens of things that catch our eye each day and store them away for future use.

YTD: Describe to us your workplace.

JOHANNA: Light and airy. I don’t like clutter so I try to keep my desk clean – when you’re working with pens and pencils and large sheets of paper you need room to move elbows etc.

We live in a converted farm in the country and the studio has large windows that overlook the surrounding fields. I’ve got a big desk, lots of pens and pencils and of course my scanner and laptop for doing the final digital tweaks to the drawings (usually erasing tea splashes and smudgy fingerprints).

I don’t like to throw away drawings, so I’ve got a two plan-chests stuffed to breaking point with every drawing I’ve made in the last five years. My extensive pen collection takes up several plastic storage boxes stacked up in one corner. I’ve got hundreds, but you can never have too many.

YTD: Almost all of your works are in black and white. Any specific reason why?

JOHANNA: I’ve been told, “You’d get more jobs if you worked in colour” more often than you’d imagine, but I just don’t believe it. I’m ‘that girl that does the black and white’. Add CMYK and I’m… well, just another illustrator, surely?

Personally, I believe a signature style is something I have deliberately carved out. I believe it is at the very core of my practice. I set out to try and become the very best at my chosen niche – I wanted people to see a black and white drawing and wonder if it was mine.

YTD: Can you share us your creative process? From where do you start?

JOHANNA: Every piece I create starts life as a simple pencil sketch, evolving into a rambling pen and ink drawing usually spanning several sheets of paper.

I love the tactile nature of the materials I use and the joy of smudgy fingerprints. My delicate hand inked designs intend to charm and delight, inviting you to peer closer and discover the hidden intricacies.

For me, computer generated graphics can feel cold and soulless whereas hand drawing captures a sense of energy and character which no pixel can ever replicate.

You can read more about my process here.

YTD: What is your most memorable project so far?

JOHANNA: The cover for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme.

YTD: What are your tools of the trade?

JOHANNA: Mechanical pencils, Steadtler pigment liners, layout paper, an A3 scanner, my Mac and Photoshop.

YTD: Have you ever thought of creating your drawings in fully digital?

JOHANNA: No.

YTD: Any major brand/designer/artist in mind you wish to collaborate/work with in the future?

JOHANNA: Lots! I’d love to create a window display for Selfridges, album artwork for an amazing artist list Emile Sande, a cover illustration for Vogue, an inky airplane, an Hermes scarf and a piece for  Maggie Centres.

YTD: How do you deal with creative block?

JOHANNA: Power through!

YTD: Tell us something about Wonderbeasts.

JOHANNA: My first Kickstater project saw me team up with a merry band of co-creators – together we made Wonderbeasts! My inky comrades provided the artistic direction by suggesting creatures for the canvas and I dually obliged.

The finished piece spans just over 2 meters – my biggest ever drawing!

Had it not been for the good folks at Cult Pens supplying me with a stack of Stedatler pigment liners, I’d have run dry within 2 days.

Wonderbeasts will form part of my solo show at the DCA, (opening on the 4th of May)  This will be the only place you can see the final piece in all it’s full scale inky glory!

We’re busy preparing the web version, which will have each co-creator tagged to their suggestion – this will go live in early May when the exhibition opens.

YTD: If you are not an illustrator today, what would have been your work and why?

JOHANNA: A florist, because I adore blossoms!

YTD: Where can we find more of your works?

JOHANNA: More works Here. My client list here.

YTD: A piece of advice to aspiring illustrators out there.

JOHANNA: Work hard, be nice.

YTD: Thank you Johanna for spending some time with us. Anyone you would like to be thankful for?

JOHANNA: Dundee Contemporary Arts – for inviting me to show my first ever solo exhibition! 

Read more posts by Kerby Rosanes

Venturing into a freelance business requires a lot of dedication and time management. Yes it is an extra work if you do it part-time but earning more experience and good income by doing the things you are most passionate about is one good reason to stay motivated.

I made a little survey with my designer friends who also do some freelance work and ask them why they enjoy freelancing. Here is a quick summary of their thoughts:

1. Setting your own working hours.

Time management is important. When you are in freelance you have the full power to set your working hours. Some artists have this “creative hour” at any point of the day, the time they feel most creative. I usually sketch away some awesome concepts for my next illustration project mostly at night after dinner.

2. Be your own boss.

All decision making are done by you. You basically own a business that is existing based upon your choices. This goes, with choosing your clients and earning a more fulfilling success.

3. Own office space.

Having your own office space is another good reason to love your freelance work. You don’t have to rent an office space since a small corner at your home will do unless your freelance business is really getting bigger which requires a shop or a building. You can make your own office space as creative and inspiring as possible.

4. Choose your clients.

As mentioned above, being the boss of your freelance business gives you the full power of saying yes or no to a specific project or client work.

5. Set/Control your own pricing.

You name your price depending on the project scope, how much time you have to work on it or required creative force you will exert.

6. Work anywhere.

Do your client conversation in a restaurant. Work on a logo design while relaxing at the park. Write an article while having a vacation in a resort. You pick your own working haven where you feel more inspired and creative.

7. Creative freedom.

To top it all, freelancing gives you more creative freedom. Freedom to work on the projects you like, produce great results, experience various client work and creative collaborations, earn and learn.

Freelancing is a matter of taking risks. Projects come and go. But whether you are doing it as part-time or full-time work, the best reason why most enjoy freelancing is the fact that you are doing what you love. Freelance work is not just about earning money but  also achieving self fulfillment by doing the thing you are most passionate about.

SEE ALSO: 5 Legal Mistakes to Avoid When Freelancing (In Order of Fatality)

Now it’s your turn! Are you into some freelance work? What’s the most enjoyable part of it?

Share us your thoughts and comments by leaving a message below. Find You The Designer on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus for more updates. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our free print templates page for your print design needs. Stay creative everyone!

Read more posts by Kerby Rosanes

YTD’s featured project for this week is another showcase of how art in the form of paper crafts reflect the state of a society and switch moods, turning fear and greed into inspiration and hopelessness into a beacon leading the way out. This particular project is called “Freedom on Paper“, initiated by a talented illustrator from Belarus, Vola Kuzmich. The project was born last 2011 as a reaction to the moods that dominated the most socially active part of Belarus at that time. Political repressions struck the country after the presidential elections last December 2010. Ban on public protests or any kind of gathering left the streets of Minsk empty and grey. Vola’s weak smiley paper characters with symbolic flags gathered in the streets of Minsk when the public was incapable of doing it.

The project was a success having more people taking their own photos of the printed paper characters in different cities of Europe as well as in the US. Since then, “Freedom on Paper” received various local and international recognition, nominations and awards. You The Designer is lucky enough to talk to Vola and ask her some questions to give us a closer look about her inspiring project. Check out our short interview below.

YTD: Hi Vola, welcome to You The Designer! Share us a little background about you and your design work.

VOLA: I’ve been working as an Illustrator and Animator in Minsk, Belarus for over 8 years. I make editorial illustrations on socially relevant topics, drawings for advertisements and games, animated interactive projects and mobile apps. My works have received more than 10 awards in various festivals of advertisement and communication. 

My deliberate move toward political expression through art and design coincided with the beginnings of my involvement in the student movement approximately 10 years ago. Drawing and designing are the primary ways that I like to convey my ideas: I prefer to emphasize a subject by artistic methods rather than any other means. But it is pleasant and fascinating, to be sure :) I really love what I do and it inspires me to draw in two daily shifts, not infrequently, and involve holidays as well. My inspiration for working on social topics originates often from publications on the site: Generation.by, of which I am co-founder and creative community coordinator.

Character creation, emotions and motions, and perception of the irony in life are my favorite things to portray through my drawing. Usually my characters are kind and expressive, as even villains or just bad guys have some humane characteristics. I like to accent on difficult questions by simple artistic images. My project “Freedom on Paper” stems precisely from this idea. Organizing the first episode took a day in all, but it was very important to make it in that same day and by those simple romantic images.

YTD: You have an interesting project called “Freedom on Paper”. What is the nature of this project and what does it aim for?

VOLA: This art project was born in 2011 as a reaction to the political atmosphere among the most socially active part of society at that time. Belarus, often referred to as “the last dictatorship in Europe”, saw another wave of political repressions after the last presidential elections in December 2010. The spring of 2011 was depressing: not only to the oppositional politicians, but also to the average citizen. Newspapers were revealing new arrests every day. The complete ban on public protests and any kind of assemblies left the streets of Minsk empty and grey. The first episode of this project appeared as a reflection on a historical date for Belarus: an unofficial national day of independence called Freedom Day, which was impossible to celebrate cheerfully that year. It seemed to be impossible that the national white-red-white colors will be seen in the city on March 25th. Weak smiley paper characters with white-red-white symbols did the impossible: they gathered in the streets of Minsk when real people could not.

 
The project reflects on the state of the society and has the aim to switch the moods: turn fear and greed into inspiration and hopelessness into a beacon leading the way out.

Drawings on paper and streets have become a form of art reflection, but characters are quite different. In this way the other episode was about musicians who found themselves in the middle of an absurd situation: being unable to perform on stage or TV/radio in their own country.

Using some ideological reasoning, the anonymous “list of banned artists” included more than 50 musicians, playwrights, novelists from Belarus as well as from Europe and the USA (including Kevin Spacey, Jude Law, Bonobo, Tom Stoppard etc. who were saying about supporting of democratic changes in Belarus). In a couple of days the concerts of famous Belarusian alternative bands were cancelled one by one. As opposed to the sad news about the cancelled concerts, the Internet spread the news that “Banned Musicians Performed at the Biggest Stages of the City”. This time the clearly recognizable paper characters (8 popular musicians) were placed next to the biggest concert halls of Minsk.

YTD: The little paper characters are the stars of this project. Can you share us the creative process in creating them? From where did you start?

VOLA: I was just looking for a fitting art form to realize my idea. Usually I make digital illustrations, but in this case I took out brushes and paper. The artistic method was not a random choice. The watercolors on paper emphasize the sublimity and fragility of the tiny characters. The series is vividly simple and low budget. A girl with an umbrella, cheerful youngsters at the central square, an old lady with a bag of treats, white-red-white hot-air balloon and other celebratory images describe a national holiday in a typical European city. They are friendly and optimistic characters despite the sad and depressing atmosphere on the streets. A half a day of drawings, sleepless nights carrying into the mornings and… we were outdoors with paper team.

The project was done during the day when many were afraid to go out. In execution of the project, we took the paper figures and went to the most recognizable places of Minsk. Minding the policemen, we were placing the paper characters at the squares where big actions of protest and public celebrations had taken place. After that we quickly uploaded the photos to Generation.by youth media under a positive and provocative title “White, red, and white in the streets of Minsk”. As a result it appeared among the top stories at the biggest information hubs. The project expressed the emotional state of Belarusian society in terms that were clear: even to the foreign public who are not especially familiar with the situation in Belarus. The visual tools that were used became a means of communication across the borders.

It felt like the mood was indeed changed. «Freedom on Paper» has received thousands of positive reviews, as well as formal awards and inspired followers both in Belarus and abroad.

An unexpected, but very pleasant, outcome of the project was the appearance of the followers in Belarus and abroad. They print the images and take their own photos of the tiny paper characters in the streets of different European cities. As a result of the strong demand, the photos from both episodes were uploaded online in a format suitable for print for free use by the followers.

YTD: Photography also played an important role in this project. How did you choose the locations of each scene?

VOLA: The realization of this project has helped me develop with my unfailing workmate, a photographer: Jura Sidun. We purposely chose the most recognizable places in the city to show context as well to direct the general atmosphere in the city and highlight contrast between bright romantic wishful images and the gray walls of a lonely city.

YTD: Which of the paper characters is your most favorite so far?

VOLA: Usually my favorite character or illustration is the last one that I drew. But I treat all of my characters kindly: every one has its own peculiarities. I like the finesse of the old lady with her treats: how she holds a little flag near her heart while the grey Republic palace that associates with government and other colors of the flag are behind her.

I like a girl with the red and white striped ribbon in her hair: dreaminess and courage, to stay in the center of the city so confidently and quietly, though it might be dangerous.  

YTD: Any other future plans for this project?

VOLA: There are many cases when freedom in only on paper, be that as it may, I don’t schedule art action precisely. This project is a reflection on the events that surround me, and this is an open project. For today the paper characters have visited different countries around the world, and photos of them have taken part in numerous expositions. It’s nice that this project inspired other people, and this inspired me in turn as well. 

SEE ALSO: Sculpting Paper

What do you think about this inspiring project? Share us your thoughts and comments by leaving a message below. Find You The Designer on Facebook, Twitter,Pinterest and Google Plus for more updates. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our free print templates page for your print design needs. Stay awesome everyone!

Read more posts by Kerby Rosanes

If you are feeling stuck and doesn’t know where to start and what ideas to pitch in, then you are experiencing a creative block. Well, don’t panic. Relax. If there are various causes of creative block, there are also numerous ways of breaking through it.

Here are ten of the most common and effective ways of beating creative block (based from my personal experiences) to help you guys bring back that little spark of creativity you need!

1. ASSESS YOURSELF.

Before going to any other actions, try to assess yourself. Ask yourself questions like,

-  Why am I not motivated?

- What is blocking my way to pitch in the idea I need?

- I am missing something, what is it?

It is important to answer questions like this first before jumping into conclusions that you are facing a creative block. Identifying them might just be the simplest way to get you going with your design work.

Other (unecessary) questions that might arise:

- How can I possibly pay the rent this month?
- Who the hell destroyed my roses in the garden!?

Nay! Thinking this sort of things  while working on your design will definitely NOT help!

2. READ A BOOK/MAGAZINE.

Print is always one of the most effective sources of inspiration. Books and magazines are on top of my list. Read a fiction, an illustrated children’s book, a photography catalogue or a fashion magazine. Fictional books will tickle your imagination work while magazines enhance your judgement in design.

3.  SEARCH FOR INSPIRATIONS ONLINE/OFFLINE.

There is always something more over the Internet than porn and Justin Beiber. There are numerous blogs and online portfolios out there that showcase the best of the design world. Try browsing them for the creative sauce you need. Or better yet, go to the nearest art gallery and be inspired. What I like most about art galleries and museums is that seeing actual artworks personally gives me that rare creative feeling. It’s like you have that instant connection with the artist by just looking at their works first hand.

4. DOODLE ON PAPER.

Grab a pencil and a sheet of paper then start doodling. Sketch anything you have in mind. Through this, you can sharpen your drawing skills and your random scribbles might just be an effective ingredient in formulating that kick ass design concept. This is why sketching is always an important factor in every design process.

5. UNPLUG. TAKE A BREAK, A WALK OR A VACATION.

Shut down your PC for a while. Take a walk and try to see the awesome things outside your workstation that you are missing every single day. Unwind. Get away for a day or two. Having a break or a short vacation can recharge your creative self and get back to work the next day overflowing with creative awesomeness!

6. LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC.

Another effective way to fight creative block is by listening to some music. I usually turn on the speakers in high volume whenever I work on a design. The beat of the songs gets me going, as if it supplies creativity into my brain. Sometimes, some of my artworks and designs are actually inspired by the songs I play while working on them. It worked for me so why not give it  a try!

7. BE SOCIABLE. TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE OUTSIDE YOUR INDUSTRY.

Having a conversation to other people outside your work or industry can help you solicit ideas that might help you overcome creative block. What’s good about talking with OTHER people is that you can have an idea of their own take on random things. A casual conversation with other passengers you met on a train might just give you that creative spark you need based from their shared thoughts.

8. ASK QUESTIONS. DO SOME RESEARCH.

You are experiencing a creative block probably because you are not asking enough questions about your project. Who is your target audience? What do they need? Do some more research about your project. How do other designers do it? A creative spark starts from a well-planned concept and idea before laying it out on pixel or paper.

9. GET SOME SLEEP.

Get some sleep. Then sleep more. According to a study cited in an article in The New York Times, those who slept more showed improved mental agility including the ability to make novel connections between disparate ideas. In other words, people are more creative after sleep. Sleeping will not only recharge your body but your brain capability for those aha! moments as well.

10. PLAY.

Work hard. Play harder. Playing is not just for kids but for adults as well, especially those who need to be creative. In a TED talk of Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO, he mentioned that “creating an office in which people have the security and comfort to play and not be judged allows them to take more creative risks”. I have this set of Anime action figures on my working station. Whenever I feel less creative, I play target shooting with them and get back to the design I’m working on feeling more creative. Play is a doorway to curiosity, discovery and creativity.

There you have it guys! Many of the above mentioned tips worked for me in beating creative blocks. While some have common ways of breaking through it, some may have tried crazy ways such as doing the household chores, repainting an entire room, or pulling out all the weeds on the neighbor’s backyard. But whatever ways you take as long as it brings back your creative self, then it’s worth trying!

Now it’s your turn! How do you deal with creative block?

Share us your thoughts and comments by leaving a message below. Find You The Designer on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus for more updates. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our free print templates page for your print design needs. Stay creative everyone!

Read more posts by Kerby Rosanes