(Page 1 of 2 pages for this article  1 2 >)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

What Inspires You?

Mark Spencer | 06/18- 12:55 PM

Motion Graphics and Creative Inspiration

You are deep in the middle of a complex project, racing to beat a tight deadline, and you’re stuck. Where do you find that creative spark? For me, the last place in the world is in front of a computer. I find that when I’m sitting at the computer, it’s time for perspiration, not inspiration. In other words, if my idea is already at least partially formed, I can get busy executing and problem solving. But coming up with a new approach? Never happens in front of a screen for me. 

When I feel my inspiration running dry, here are a few things I try:

1) Get up from the computer and go outside. Even walking out onto the deck for a few minutes and stretching my legs can be enough for an “aha” moment. If the weather is miserable or I’m are stuck in a windowless room, just standing up and bending over to get some blood to my head is helpful.

2) Take hike and focus on being really present. Nothing better for clearing out the mental cobwebs than hanging out with Mother N. Becoming reconnected and grounded in nature revitalizes my senses and makes me open to seeing things in a fresh way.

3) Work out. For me, that means a yoga class. Clears my head, gets my blood flowing, makes me feel 10 feet tall.

4) Take a nap. The benefits of a short 20 minute doze are well documented. It doesn’t go over so well when working at a client site, but if I’m working in my edit suite, a short doze does wonders for my alertness and creative energy.

5) Talk to someone. I can get lost in my own little creative world - getting a little feedback from a colleague over the web can be invaluable, especially when I’m stuck. 

(Page 1 of 2 pages for this article  1 2 >)

The creative process can usually be called upon in 4 parts.
1. Research
2. Incubation
3. Creative Insight
4. Manifestation

I think the research is looking for new techniques like I am doing tonight, the incubation is letting it sit in us awhile, the creative insight often happens when we are out of the way… in the forest or something, and of course, manifestation happens at our workstation.

Posted by ri  on  06/28  at  08:29 PM

---

Nice, I haven’t seen that. Makes a lot of sense. Of course, research can be anything you come across even if you are specifically and actively researching a particular topic...but I like the outline of the stages. Thanks for posting.

Posted by Mark Spencer  on  06/28  at  08:58 PM

---

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Smileys

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Submit the word you see below: