Nothing is so uncreative as sitting there doing nothing, or just worrying about doing the right thing. To get out of spells like that I'd usually start by a visit to the library or a museum just to clear the head and reaffirm the idea that good things are out there. By this I don't mean looking for stuff online! The Internet is great, it's got loads of great info but in some weird way it's all the same, not a good place to start.
Here is something I like to do: get on a train and just go somewhere; travel is great for clearing your head.
Also try making yourself brainstorm on a certain theme. Don't take ages thinking about what it is; just do it or get someone else to choose a theme.
So once you get the theme, treat it seriously, it doesn't mean you're going to be doing this project forever. Projects in college or industry rarely last forever.
Here is something else to try: design something for someone else. Users, even if they are just your friends, can really inspire. You don't have to make something really worthy for them, it could just be something inspired by them or something to make them laugh.
If you have a tutorial, say...once a week, and you've done nothing your tutor will not be happy. A similar thing will happen in the workplace. Always have something to show otherwise you're wasting everyone's time, it's dull and schoolteachery to say it but you'll be wasting your time too.
So to get out of that rut: travel, go to library/museums, Do a small random project, work with someone else, do something for someone else, do my project, and of course, just do something.
Rory Hamilton 2005
Here is a project to do free and gratis: 'Old New Technology' Rory Hamilton, 2005 This project should be done in between 2 days and a week What could a fireman use a scanner for? What would a mother and baby do with a printer? What would a chef/cook use a GPS for? How can a priest use a fax in his work? What can a taxi driver do with a graphics tablet? What job can a tree use a mobile phone for? Choose one topic from above, some random method will make it more fun, don't just choose the easiest one. With these topics the aim is to look into the user's life and the objects, technology and services they use. How could the device fit into their lives? Would it have to take a new form? Would it become part of something they use already? Would it be hidden? The ideas you generate can be practical, poetic, or just fun. They could do a very private task for the users or something very public. For example, a screen might act as a secret diary or a public display board. Task 1: Use paper and pen to sketch ideas and scenarios, don't be concerned by the look of the proposals right now just get the concept down on paper. Possibly create three proposals, two of which are can be quite realistic and one which is quite crazy. Task 2: Look at the proposals (with a friend if possible) and decide which ones are best. Task 3: Find your user (priest, taxi, tree etc.) Really find them, get out there, speak to people (n.b. be careful, take a friend). Ask if you can video/photograph them and ask questions about their job. Tell them about your ideas. Be polite, listen, learn. Also see my section on 'Never fall in love'. Task 4: Revise your design proposals, take into account what they said, but remember now it's more like a collaboration between the users and you. Work out a storyboard or other way of visualising the idea. Make a model, animation, video, act out a scenario. Task 5: Presentations and critique, show your work to someone, a tutor, colleague, your user. Get feedback. Send me some pics if you like, I love to see stuff, but I might be busy. Task 6: Reflect: did it work out well? Is the idea worth taking on? Could you use this process with another combination? Would another iteration improve the design? Could the design be useful for other users, not just the target group? |
