This post is for all you designers out there! Day in and day out, project after project, we strive to come up with new and creative concepts for our clients. To stay on top of the ever changing realm of design is no easy task. From rules and regulations, browser compatibility, screen resolutions, pre-existing style guides, and mis-direction, there are many obstacles and theoretical templates to keep in mind while designing.

You can look at this in different perspectives, but the positive one is the perspective I prefer! Even though these walls we may run into feel like a hindrance to our organic creative thoughts, there is a brighter side!

Even this daily exploitation of our thought process can be tamed and managed to eventually provide endless amounts of creative inspirations. Before we can begin to draw from this well we must first expand our understanding.

Boundaries:

The Matrix:

For some clients projects there are boundaries that limit the inventive concepts you may come up with in the process of melding function, content, and style. Some examples would be government or corporation projects. Those types of projects usually have to adhere to strict standards and usually lack greatly in creative and stylistic attributes depending on how cutting edge their marketing outlook is. This is a place where you must be very tasteful and purposeful with your application of layout and accents while bending the rules of the pre-existing platforms.

The Machine:

Another boundary is the fact that calling on these thoughts and creative visions day in and day out in itself is exhausting. Especially if you are trying to do something different and unique for each client. Everyone faces this differently, some with ease, some with great question. If you don't produce products for a specific niche field where similar reoccurring tasks and templates can be maintained and implemented with ease you face design distinction and diversity. The unceasing climb can leave you as a strengthened machine if you focus on growth. If you don't explore new influence you may fall by the wayside. Evolution is key to fighting the process.

The Mystery:

  Matching client’s expectations and the target users appeal can sometimes be on completely different ends of the spectrum. In some cases the information that you may receive just is not enough to know where to begin. In which case you have to throw out samples just to gauge reactions so that you know where you stand. What are they expecting? What do they like? What do they love? What is appropriate? What is too far? These questions can stunt each step along the way to fashioning your concept.

The Brighter Side:

  The brighter side for me is the influence of the world around me. There are vast growing communities of artists, designers, developers, engineers, and animators that constantly push the boundaries and limitations while working within the framework of their perspective fields. Through the use of forums, blogs, galleries, social networks, websites, etc. we can find endless ways in which to reach out and share inspirations and solutions or simply to put a smile back on our faces.

  For quick results, if any instance should arise when I need creative inspiration, there is but one thing to do.... Google! That's right I Ga Googley Google it! Sure I could list hundreds of blog and website addresses that have lifted my spirits or broadened my horizons, but at the root of every discovery was a giant scary search engine that will someday soon rule the world. If you have A.D.D. you might relate better to Bing or something similar that will change the subject on you. Keep in mind this is just a small part of tapping the spring. This scenario suites an immediate need better than long term growth.

  For more long term growth I seek stimulus from everywhere possible. From great films, to foolish comedians, and cutting edge animation techniques, to beautifully written words, gifted musicians, inventive engineers, and well developed characters in engaging video games, the list goes on and on. The more exposure to function, philosophy, application and experience the better. Looking inward is always important for implementation and confirmation, but more importantly we should look outward for establishing an equilibrium with the project environment.

  Some of us are blessed with the opportunity to work with a brilliant team of exceptional people and some of us must rely on ourselves. There are benefits and weaknesses to both, but so long as you learn to research and create solutions as though you must depend on yourself, you can maintain strength in resolution and locating resources. Depending on the team, a group of the right people in the right circumstance can deliver the world! The most important thing to remember is that in striving to deliver quality products or concepts, the challenges you face provide a chance for positive growth that is better pursued than left aside.