Conquering self-doubt
We’ve all been there — slumped in front of a computer pushing the same six elements around for three hours and still nothing is working, it’s a pile of… blah. It’s minutes ’til deadline, your heart is pounding, you’re hunched over the keyboard like a panicked ghoul, ‘Am I broken?’ you ask yourself. ‘Why can’t I make this work?’
Self-doubt is one of the worst feelings a designer can experience. Fear creeps in at the corners and a tiny little voice suggests ‘maybe you weren’t cut out for this anyway — maybe you’re just not good enough’.
This self-analysis can be quite productive if harnessed in the right fashion and can help us in our striving to grow and improve and push our work to achieve a better result. It becomes harmful when we get caught up in the quagmire and start to believe the nagging self-doubt rather than working our way out of it. It can easily turn into an excuse for doing nothing for fear of failure.
Keep a journal/scrapbook: A good collection of sketches, ideas, references, executions, photos, etc., can be a godsend when you need a catalyst to move you along.
Look at books, look at everything: You are a visual person. LOOK at things. Look at textures, type, colour, shape, whether it’s organic or inorganic, the world is a huge, overflowing ocean of inspiration.
Refresh your knowledge of design principles and elements: Might sound like schoolwork but they’re a sound starting point in helping to determine what’s working and what isn’t.
Do something else: Listen to music, go for a walk, eat lunch (for a change), sleep on it if you can.
Remember it’s not the end of the world: Good work goes in the portfolio, bad work goes into the ‘experience’ bin. It’s unrealistic to believe that every piece will be an award winner. Stop worrying what others will think and focus on your own growth.
Believe in yourself: You can have bad days and still be a good designer. If you have passion you’ll find a way to succeed. Persevere.
Coffee: Need I say more?
Develop a few personal techniques that set your brain back on track and shift your design mojo into full swing. Whatever helps pull you out of the dark cave and into the sparking lens flare world of productivity. Utilise the frustration and let it drag you up to a better place, better work, better results. Your portfolio will thank you.
Leave a Reply
Sep 29th
2010
April 1st, 2010 at 8:52 am
I love your post Tamara… I’ve always taken heart in knowing that we are all unique and though we get blown away by other peoples work, and often look disparangly on our own – it’s good to remember that no-one can do exactly what you do – ie. we all have a unique contribution to make to the world.
Also practically – (I picked this up from another designer once) I have folder on my computer just called “ideas/cool stuff” – whenever I see something I like on the internet I just grab a copy and chuck it in there – it provides lots of inspiration whenever I start new projects. I suppose its a digital scrapbook really.
April 22nd, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I also have a folder on my computer called “inspiration”. That’s my happy place.
When I get stuck, I find talking or showing my troubled work to other creative folk is really helpful. Working freelance and not having an educated outside opinion can be really dampening on your spirit, especially if you are too tuned into that little voice.
I also agree with Tamara on the coffee point. Long black please …
May 18th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Great post Tamara – very reassuring and uplifting! I also collect ’stuff’, cool shaped bottles, fabric, postcards, bottle caps – like a 3D object scrapbook I guess. Needless to say, I have a lot of junk…
July 8th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Faith works too.