Creative Blocks: How to Work Through and Find Your Inspiration

It got me thinking that I could blend the two ideas and I finally was able to execute the look and feel of the brochure that I wanted. Aside from some very small changes, Kelly embraced the idea and was very complimentary and excited about the design (because I used this tip,and she didn't realize how challenging the project was had been to start).

2.  Create your sanctuary

Do you like to work with music or in silence? Are you able to focus more when your desk is organized? Do you need to be alone or surrounded by others? Know what suits you and control the environment to open the door to creativity.

For me, I usually begin my day in the office by cleaning my desk. Also having background sounds while working helps me to be focused even thought others might consider it noise. But I do prefer to work alone rather than to be in the midst of the conversation and buzz of others.

3.  Find the right frame of mind

Build your profile of inspiration to determine what both triggers and hinders your creativity. Do ideas start to flow when you look at books of paintings, take walks, play games, exercise or something else? Focus on what invigorates and gets you into the right mood, so you can re-approach a project with fresh eyes.

What works for me is looking at images of great artwork and beautiful houses for their architecture, concept, elements and interior design—it helps me remind of my goal to work hard and succeed so I can have my own attractive home in the future.

4.  Cultivate experiences

Steve Jobs once said: "Creativity is just connecting things. The broader one's understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have." When creative people try to solve a design problem, they tend to look for answers everywhere except within themselves. It is important to set aside a time to reflect because creative people do better work when they have thought more about their experiences.