The Offhours #37: Squeezing Ideas
Thoughts on design, art and living life while being a creative human.
All Process
One exercise I often use when brainstorming and developing creative concepts is to break the process into structured time segments. The goal is to create a sense of urgency and keep the momentum flowing without overthinking.
First, I give myself 5 minutes to review any relevant notes, inspiration, or references I’ve gathered. This quick review helps me get in the right mindset, making sure I’m aligned with the project’s goals while also allowing myself to draw from any existing ideas or visual references that might spark something new.
Next, I dive into the Sketching Phase, where I give myself 10 minutes to sketch as many ideas as possible. I aim to fill an entire page with loose, unrefined concepts. This is a no-pressure zone—I’m not concerned with perfection. The objective is to brain dump as much as I can, whether the idea is practical or not.
Finally, I allocate 15 minutes to refine the sketches or ideas that have potential. This is where I start to focus on the concepts that resonate the most, picking them apart to see how I can enhance or adjust them. During this phase, I consider things like composition, balance, color schemes, and how well the idea aligns with the overall project. It’s a chance to take those raw ideas and give them structure, ensuring they’re worth pursuing further.
I’m a big process person when it comes creating. I get the most joy from act of creating and being all in it. There’s that phrase about no such thing as creative block, artist just do, and to some extent I agree with that. But the core this idea is the muscle memory that comes from having a routine established.
⏰ Linky Links - A mixture of articles, news, videos and stuff you may enjoy.
→ Listening: Radio Juxtapoz featuring Jon Key. Absolutely love his paintings.
→ Reading: Collossal Art Mag redesign by Fire Belly Studio. Design nerd tings.
→ Watching: Aga Kubish working on a large lino cut print. Love printmaking.
→ Liking: “Technology is Not the Problem” for my library. Seen over at counterpoint.
👋🏾 Hi, thanks for reading The Offhours, a newsletter on the creative experience outside of full time gigs, deadlines and self imposed schedules. You’re amazing, tell a friend. Stay Wonderful.
