Walking is an antidote to creative blocks

We all hit creative blocks. You know the brick wall you can’t seem to get past, usually as a deadline looms.

When I hit that wall its a signal that my well of inspiration is drying up and I need a big refill. Unfortunately, I may need rest or a trip somewhere to replenish my well, but I don’t have time for it. If I’m on the hamster wheel of production I need a quick fix.

That’s when I get up and talk a walk without headphones.

Something about being outside quickly stops my rumination. I become present and the repetitive thoughts start to fade. Maybe it’s the fresh air or all the details of the world around me. Maybe its the randomness and lack of control I have over what I encounter. It could even be that physical movement shifts my energy and focus outside of my head.

After 20 minutes or so, new thoughts come in. I feel clearer and often sparks of new ideas may pop up. If nothing else, I’m less anxious and frustrated.

I used to dread creative blocks. Now I just get up and get moving.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen was the first stop on a Scandinavian trip I took last year. As a design mecca, I expected it to be a visual feast. But it was so much more.

I filled my museum well with visits to the 3 Days of Design conference exhibits, Designmuseum Denmark and The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. I got drunk on classic modern furniture juxtaposed against classic architecture, a visual history of Danish design and an afternoon in a glorious sculpture park. Of course the food was great and the historical sections were charming. Don’t get me started on the amazing public transportation.

But the thing I loved most about Copenhagen was wandering. Wandering is my favorite way to discover the things that give a location its unique sense of place. I happily filled hours documenting the design details around me: typography on signs, architectural carvings, building numbers, pavement textures, even manhole covers filled up my photo feed. On this trip I captured unique color stories for future pattern design palettes. These images become my favorite souvenirs.

It was my first trip to Copenhagen, but definitely not my last.

Antidotes Manifesto

an·​ti·​dote ˈant-i-ˌdōt : a remedy to counteract the effects of poison

A blog focused on design’s power to solve modern problems

This blog is a place for me to explore and share design-related ideas that float around my head. It’s a place to test my theory that writing just may be an antidote to rumination, and that embracing imperfection is an antidote to the paralysis of perfectionism. It’s a way for me to share more than work samples with potential clients and colleagues. My intention here is to a share of how I work, think and see the world.

It’s started out as a personal challenge to write a daily blog entry for 30 days. I’m a designer who is learning to write. In all honesty, writing in a public forum intimidates me. I get tangled up in balancing the rules with being authentic and relevant. I agonize over phrasing and choosing the right words. But when I’m intimidated by something I really want to accomplish, my nagging curiosity eventually drowns out any mental resistance. That’s when I turn it into a personal challenge. In this case, I’m choosing to invest time and energy into building confidence in my authentic voice. Wobbles and mistakes are ahead, but I know how to roll with it.

Let’s see where this goes!