get uncomfortable: breaking out of a creative rut (heather o'neill)

GET UNCOMFORTABLE:BREAKING OUT OFA CREATIVE RUT

Heather O’Neill@hlrjo

RUT HAPPENS

Image © heartbreakhypnotist.com

What’s on tap for today:

• Welcome to my rut – a guide to knowing when you have a problem.

• How did we get here? – a brief history of what’s wrong with you.

• Get me out! – techniques for getting uncomfortable enough to save yourself.

GET UNCOMFORTABLE

Life is too short to keep cranking out

mediocre crap.

—Curt Cloninger

GET UNCOMFORTABLE

WELCOME TO MY RUT

The enemy:

WELCOME TO MY RUT

WELCOME TO MY RUT

Or maybe:

WELCOME TO MY RUT

WELCOME TO MY RUT

How can you tell when you’re in a design rut?

WELCOME TO MY RUT

WELCOME TO MY RUT

There is nothing new under the sun.

WELCOME TO MY RUT

WELCOME TO MY RUT

You tell your junior designers, “I know it sucks, but we’re just going to do it the way the client wants this time.”

Every time.

WELCOME TO MY RUT

WELCOME TO MY RUT

You are apathetic.

WELCOME TO MY RUT

Congratulations!

You’re in a rut.

WELCOME TO MY RUT

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

TIME

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

There are probably other, more specific things going on:

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

You’re running low on outside stimuli.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

You don’t have a boss or mentor to challenge you.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

You don’t have students or interns to challenge you.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

You tend to work with clients/stakeholders who have low

expectations.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

GET ME OUT!

What to do “in the moment”

GET ME OUT!

1. Impose Extra Constraints

GET ME OUT!

GET ME OUT!

2. Change One Key Constraint,then Design Your Solution

GET ME OUT!

How would we design a retirement application for an 8 year old?

GET ME OUT!

I just want to play with sharks when

I get old.

3. Do the Unexpected to Break through a Wall

GET ME OUT!

The Anti-Problem Game

Problem: Design a landing page to get sign-ups for a free trial.

To Play: Describe the solutions that would solve the anti-problem (the current problem’s opposite).

GET ME OUT!

4. Get Critique on Your Work

GET ME OUT!

GET ME OUT!

5. Get Inspired by Others

GET ME OUT!

GET ME OUT!

What to do as a general approach

GET ME OUT!

1. Add Some Structure

GET ME OUT!

GET ME OUT!

2. Practice & Play

GET ME OUT!

GET ME OUT!

3. Periodically Change Your Routine

GET ME OUT!

GET ME OUT!

4. Recharge with Side Projects

GET ME OUT!

GET ME OUT!

WRAPPING THINGS UP

WRAP UP

WRAP UP

WRAP UP

In the moment:1. Impose extra constraints2. Change a key constraint3. Do something unexpected4. Get outside critique5. Use others for inspiration

WRAP UP

In general:1. Add some structure2. Practice & Play3. Periodically change your routine4. Take on side projects

Questions?

Thanks for attending!

Have more questions? Reach out:heather@pixelsforhumans.com

@hlrjo