Creativity On Demand: How to Stay Inspired and Withstand the Pressures of the Creative Field
Working in the creative field can produce a special kind of stress. One of my friends who is an amazing designer (shout-out Joey Nees) once described the creative process as “self-loathing”, and I believe his point is particularly relevant, considering the fragility of mental health in today’s culture. Being creative on demand with constant deadlines and critical feedback can illicit deep self-doubts, but there is something so incredibly satisfying and rewarding about conquering creative challenges and using your talents to make a difference in the world.
I am here to encourage you. You will solve that problem. You will finish that project. You will break through that creative block. Just don’t give up, and more importantly, be kind to yourself in the process. Some days you may find the flow, and other days, you may make zero progress. It is okay. You are not alone. Behind those beautiful glossy photographs, beloved stories and viral campaigns, there is almost certainly someone who struggled in the creative process of getting from good to great.
Over the past decade, I have honed a handful of intentional habits that keep me grounded and inspired in the midst of intense deadlines and demanding projects. I hope these tips will help fuel your creative process and journey, keeping you inspired at every stage.
Tip #1: Create a Catalogue of Things that Inspire You
When you spot something inspiring, capture it. Snap a picture or grab a screenshot, then file it in a specially labeled and categorized folder. I keep inspiration folders for everything, from color palettes and typography to taglines and headlines. When I hit a creative block, I reference my various inspiration folders for ideas. This system helps jumpstart progress when I am feeling stuck or stumped on a project. I highly recommend taking the time to organize any inspiration you save, so it is easy to find and reference later on.
Tip #2: Build Your Own Collection of Bookmarks
It is impossible to keep track of every interesting thing you see. That is why I highly recommend saving bookmarks on your web browser. Whenever I discover a compelling article, book, website or online resource, I bookmark it for future reference. Here are some things that I have bookmarked that you may find helpful or useful in your creative process:
Branding & Advertising Resources
The Brand Identity (https://the-brandidentity.com/)
BP&O (https://bpando.org/)
Brand New (https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/)
Communication Arts (https://www.commarts.com/)
Branding Style Guides (https://brandingstyleguides.com/)
It’s Nice That (https://www.itsnicethat.com/)
Thing Testing (https://thingtesting.com)
Dieline (https://thedieline.com/)
Ad Age (https://adage.com/)
Design Week (https://www.designweek.co.uk/)
Typewolf (https://www.typewolf.com/)
The Noun Project (https://thenounproject.com/)
Dribble (https://dribbble.com/)
Branding & Advertising Agencies
Jones Knowles Ritchie (https://jkrglobal.com/)
Pentagram (https://www.pentagram.com/)
Turner Duckworth (https://turnerduckworth.com/)
Wieden + Kennedy (https://www.wk.com)
Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv (https://www.cghnyc.com/)
Order Design (https://order.design/)
Gretel (https://gretelny.com/)
King & Partners (https://www.kingandpartners.com/)
Franklyn (https://franklyn.co/)
BBDO (https://bbdo.com/)
Mythology (https://www.mythology.com/)
Landor (https://landor.com/en/)
Pereira O’Dell (https://pereiraodell.com/)
Outline (https://www.weareoutline.com/)
SDCO Partners (https://sdcopartners.com/)
Red Antler (https://www.redantler.com/)
Ro&Co (https://www.roandcostudio.com)
Hatch (https://hatchsf.com)
Wolff Olins (https://www.wolffolins.com/)
Collins (https://www.wearecollins.com/)
Break Maiden (https://www.breakmaiden.co)
High Tide (https://hightidenyc.com/)
Decade (https://decadenewyork.com/)
Wedge (https://www.wedge.work/)
T Brand Studio (https://advertising.nytimes.com/custom-content/)
Siegel + Gale (https://www.siegelgale.com/)
Animation
Brands in Motion (https://www.instagram.com/brands.in.motion?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Books & Magazines
Kinfolk (https://www.kinfolk.com/)
Garden & Gun (https://gardenandgun.com/)
Monocle (https://monocle.com/)
New York Magazine (https://nymag.com/)
The New Yorker (https://www.newyorker.com/)
Design Milk (https://design-milk.com)
Domino (https://www.domino.com/)
Cereal (archive: https://www.readcereal.com/)
Gestalten (https://us.gestalten.com/)
Wildsam (https://www.wildsam.com)
Assouline Travel Books (https://www.assouline.com/collections/travel)
Rizzoli (https://www.rizzoliusa.com/)
Writing
Idioms Search (https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/)
Power Thesaurus (https://www.powerthesaurus.org/)
Grammarly (https://www.grammarly.com/ai-writing-tools)
Copy.ai (https://www.copy.ai/tools)
Chat GPT (https://chat.openai.com/)
Gemini (https://gemini.google.com/app)
Hemingway (https://hemingwayapp.com)
Become a Better Writer in 60 Minutes Masterclass (https://www.mfmpod.com/become-a-better-writer-in-60-minutes-masterclass/)
Business & Research
How I Built This Podcast (https://www.npr.org/series/490248027/how-i-built-this)
Inc. (https://www.inc.com/)
Fast Company (https://www.fastcompany.com/)
Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/)
McKinsey & Company (https://www.mckinsey.com/)
Future Brand (https://www.futurebrand.com/)
To recap: start bookmarking things that interest and inspire you, building your own easily accessible digital database for creative inspiration.
Tip #3: Explore New Interests & Hobbies
I believe that expanding your mind is one of the best ways to unlock fresh ideas and inspiration. If something piques your interest, explore it. I waited ten years to take an aerial yoga class, and when I finally did, I fell in love and wished I had tried it much sooner. New experiences can enrich your life, boost your creativity and make you better at what you do. So be fearless, be curious and be open. Speaking from experience, a new hobby or interest could help give you the energy and inspiration you need to tackle whatever challenge you are facing.
Tip #4: Walk It Out & Talk It Out
When you are feeling stuck, get some steps in. A change of scenery can help clear your head and give you fresh perspective. Another great way to get out of a rut is to talk with someone about the problem you are working through. Sometimes just putting things into words can help reframe the problem and provide an unexpected solution.
I hope these tips will help you thrive while working in the creative field. If you have any suggestions about other great resources or ways to stay inspired, email me at catfarlow@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!