ShoneyDee Designs

Friday, July 1, 2011

Got Creative Block???

Ok, so I have the motivation and inspiration to get a project done, but where am I going with this project? This subject may be very similar to the last blog title, but there are still some things that I had not touched on. No matter how much motivation or inspiration an artist/ designer could have, we could still have some creative block (something like writers block). Most times artists/designers are blessed with those clients who know exactly what they want. However, there are those clients who may want you to complete their project based on your own creative ideas. For instance, a client wants a logo for a blog site including some small images.

Yeah, let’s talk about those kinds of projects. I’ve had a project like this one and boy was I confused. See, the client did not know what colors to use, nor did they know what types of images they wanted. This particular project seemed very easy at first, but having an indecisive client can make any project that seems ‘easy’ turn out difficult and frustrating. So here’s the solution: Learn more about the client and their business, audience (age group), demographics, etc. This will help you to gain insight on the direction that the client wants you to go in. The blogs are based on the subject of fashion, with a focus on shoes. The audience was women 18 years old and older, with the demographics of the inner city. After I began to understand who and what the blog was about, I got a better idea of what the colors should be. I gave the client a variety of color schemes to choose from, to make things a little easier.  Also, allowing my client to choose from the several schemes gives her the chance to have more ‘say-so’ in what her logo design would be. After all, I wanted her feel the design was more of her ideas, than mine.  I did research on blog sites and the subject matter of my client’s blog ideas and began the drafts. A confused client can create a confused artist/designer. SN: I don’t recommend that you fully ‘take over’ any project. Client’s, no matter how confused or indecisive they are, still wants to feel as if their ideas count toward their projects.

Maybe that was easy for some of you. Well, I got another one: Let’s say your client wants you to paint an abstract of their face, but don’t know what colors to use. Yep, I had one of these too. This particular client wanted me to work from some pictures that they had taken using a laptop camera. The pictures sent to me were in poor quality and had terrible lighting. Now, how can I paint the perfect picture? This isn’t the same as a graphic design project. I didn’t need all of the same steps that I would take toward creating a graphic. So, here’s the solution: Ask about the sort of paintings that the client had in mind when they envisioned an abstract of their face. Compare their ideas with the pictures that are sent to you and visualize how ‘realistic’ the client’s ideas really are. This may seem difficult at first, because the way a client and artist predict a project are completely different. After the client gave me some samples of paintings that they’d seen, I had a better idea of where to begin with the painting. I began to create drafts of what this particular painting would look like, using the painting features in Adobe Photoshop. I didn’t want to complete a full painting that the client would end up turning away, thus, resulting in a trial and error situation. I’m not sure about you, but I do not have time or paint to waste, lol. I sent the drafts via email to the client, so that he could have a decision in what his painting would look like. This process was pretty quick and helped the client to get a better vision of what they wanted in their painting.


Not every client will know how to write an effective creative brief. In most cases, artists and designers feel as if they must become psychic in order to please their clients. However there is no way that we can read our client’s minds. Using good judgment based on a clear understanding of the purpose and functionality of your projects will help to guide your creative thoughts. I advise artists/designers to research at all time. This does not mean that you should copy anyone else’s style, but do this in order to learn about subject matters and the mind set of that particular audience, demographic, business, etc. I’m not saying that this is the only way to work, but it will help you, I promise!!!

Comment: Let me know your thoughts!  ;-)

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