#ccdn331.pro4

 The main theme I chose revolving my manifesto was the idea of a creative artist/designer block as the difficulties that come with overcoming it. I chose this idea as I found how much it has strongly related to me over the last few years as an designer and artist (most notably while I was just about to start university) and  my own personal journey to overcoming it.

Draft:

Start from scratch is not that bad. By starting from the beginning again, you get another chance to do things right. 

Return to your roots. Find the match the started the fire in the first place. Look back to where you came from and how did it all begin. When you feel like quitting, think about why you started. It may be difficult, but it's easier than starting from scratch again. 

Take a break, leave your desk. Sometimes taking a break is what you need to clear your mind from the chaos, relax and breath. Taking a break doesn’t mean you are weak or useless. Things will fall in place can be the result of doing nothing.

Try other tools and mediums. It may be daunting to stray away from your familiar home base, however, new weapons and areas will allow you to tackle new untouched areas. 

Don’t be afraid to fail or make mistakes. Mistakes are proof that you are trying. Failure is success in progress.Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. The only real failure in life is the failure to try. A  task only seems impossible until it’s done.

Don’t wait for inspiration to find you, go out and make the inspiration happen. Hunt for that inspiration even if you have to take a path you’ve never taken before. Jump into the deep end and drown into unfamiliarity.

Refresh yourself and learn more. There is no limit for those willing to accept more skill and knowledge in exchange for time. Whether you sign up for classes, search for online tutorials or self study through books, by following the given, you might find an answer.  

Take care of your personal health. The answer won’t come by wearing yourself out. Don’t lose sleep. In fact sleep on it. Dream it. 

Just do it! Do it now. Sometimes ‘later’ becomes ‘never’. Don’t let yourself say “if only I had one more day”.  If you start today, you’ll start seeing results tomorrow. 

Challenge yourself - pick up small challenges, draw every day etc. Set tight parameters to play in, push your boundaries. You’ll never know your limits unless you push them yourself. Push yourself to grow past the level you have already mastered. 

Change your routine and try something different. Take a detour from your normal set mindset. The path isn’t set in stone and neither is the outcome. Add steps, remove steps, adjust steps, replace steps.

Dive into material both old, new and with variety. Watch movies, play games, read a library of books - Inspiration is waiting to be found.

Take a break from the internet and all technology. You don’t always need to restrict yourself fancy or expensive applications to find the inspiration. Take a walk, a breather. 

Bring a sketchbook with you everywhere, keep track of every idea you’ve come up with. Expect the unexpected. Inspiration can hit you and be found when you least expect it. Write each idea down no matter how big, small, or unimportant you believe them to be. Sometimes the even the forgotten ideas count when you need them to.

Never underestimate the power of willpower, don’t give in. Believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself any goal is reachable. Don’t let doubt stand in your way of achieving and crossing the finishing line.

Work on other projects. Who says you need to stick to one project and get it done before moving on to the next. Don’t be a waterfall, be agile. If you get stuck on one project, work on another to clear your mind. Sometimes the answer will come when you least expect it instead of hitting it head on. 

Clean your workspace. A messy area leads to to a messy mind unable to think of the answers needed to pursue the given questions or ideas. Through cleaning your workspace, your mind and body becomes clean.

Daydream. No matter where you are, never stop daydreaming. Daydream with the purpose to create and imagine unique, new and innovative ideas. No matter how crazy those ideas are, they are just one daydream away.  

 References:

Company.Jankowicz, A. D. (1987). Construing Artistic Imagery: An Alternative Approach to Creative Block, Leonardo, 20(1), 39-45. DOI: 10.2307/1578210 Flaherty, A. W. (2004). The Midnight Disease: The Drive to Write, Writer's Block, and the Creative Brain. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Prince, S. D. (1985). How to overcome "creative block" at your workstation. Computer Pictures, 3. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.helicon.vuw.ac.nz/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA3757789&v=2.1&u=vuw&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w&asid=84c49b628712c49a231027efd2a0dd65

Current Plans for other parts of Manifesto: