We’ve all been there.
You’re trying to come up with a cool new T-shirt design, but the creative juices just won’t flow. Everything you come up with either feels boring or forced. As you continue trying to come up with something, you become increasingly frustrated.
Breathe. Take a step back. We’re here to help – because we’ve been where you are more times than we can count.
Let’s talk about how you can pull yourself out of your creative rut, and get back to brainstorming shirts that’ll make your audience’s collective jaws drop.
First, Take Care Of Yourself
Think of your body like a car. Eventually, if you don’t take a vehicle to get its oil changed, regularly rotate the tires, and make sure the gas tank is full, you’re left with nothing more than a very expensive conversation piece.
Your body is much the same. If you aren’t exercising regularly, eating healthy, nourishing food, and getting a full eight hours of sleep a night, you’re not operating at full capacity. And that means that where brainstorming is concerned, you’re running on fumes.
Set The Stage For Some Creativity
Everyone has a particular atmosphere that gets them in the mood to make some stuff. Maybe scented candles get you relaxed enough to draw up a storm. Maybe a nice glass of scotch is just what you need to get the juices flowing. Maybe smooth jazz is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Figure out what you need to feel inspired – background noise, surroundings, scents, and other things. Immerse yourself in that environment. And if all else fails, you might consider trying meditation.
Check Your News And Social Feeds
What’s trending on Twitter? Are there any stories in the media that’d make for a good T-shirt design? What’s your target audience up to online? When all else fails, the best place to find inspiration is, believe it or not, the Internet.
Spend a bit of time focusing on what topics your market seems to be most interested in, and go from there.
Take A Look At What Works
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – but what they don’t tell you is that even the greats resort to copying an idea or two from time to time. As such, when all else fails, take a peek at what your competition is doing. We wouldn’t advise trying to actually steal their ideas, but if you can draw inspiration from a few of their designs and use what you’ve found to create your own stuff, that’s great.
Closing Thoughts
Everyone finds themselves in a creative rut from time to time. The most important thing is that you don’t let that discourage you. Keep plugging away, and eventually, you’ll be back where you need to be – back to designing awesome, creative, and witty T-shirts.