Garbage to Gold – Reduce Design Anxiety and Unlock Creativity
Studies have shown that if you are anxious your creativity diminishes.
This can be a problem as you attempt to create great looking work. Especially when it comes to using applications you do not feel comfortable with.
Many applications like Google Slides or Canva come with some very powerful features. Almost endless options to create any layout or idea you have.
These possibilities, coupled with unfamiliarity with the interfaces, can cause anxiety. Anxiety, that we know, reduces our ability to be creative.
But fear not! One simple trick can help build confidence, reduce anxiety, and embolden your creativity.
Create some garbage!
The path to greater creativity and greater designs lies within some terrible output. What this exercise entails is playing with the software you want to make good design with. Ensuring that you are not trying to make anything look good, just free range exploration.
Add some text, a gradient, and 15 different images. Create new slides, stretch elements, and play with all the options that come up.
In doing this you'll be accomplishing many things:
- learning settings
- practicing techniques
- becoming familiar with the "feel" of the software
All these build your confidence and will help erode away any anxiety you may feel when using the program. Not to mention the creative ideas you may stumble upon when you're not worried about making it "pretty".
A simple trick to unlock your creativity and reduce anxiety. First make some Garbage, then make your Beautiful Work.
Cheers to your next great design.
Check out my book "An Ugly Design Career" all about how to create an unbreakable design career.
