From Blank Page to Breakthrough: Overcoming Creative Block

Date

25th April 2025

Author

Jordan Kirby

My experience overcoming Creative Block

by James Griffin

When I was starting out as a young designer, one of the most daunting moments was staring at a blank screen at the beginning of a new project. That feeling of paralysis of not knowing where to begin – is what many people refer to as blank page syndrome. It’s real, and it can feel overwhelming.

But over time, as I developed my skills as a visual communicator, I realised that I needed to build a toolkit – something to help me work quicker, more effectively, and with less panic. Sure, experience plays a big part. The more projects you work on, the more you start to recognise patterns, trust your instincts, and sometimes even reuse old ideas that didn’t quite land the first time. That killer concept a client passed on last year? With a little reworking, it might just be perfect for your next brief.

What really changed things for me, though, was understanding the importance of research. Good ideas don’t usually just fall into your lap, you’ve got to dig for them. Research and inspiration became my best allies whenever creative block crept in.

Here are a few tactics that helped me overcome creative block:

1. Do Some Competitor Research

Start by looking at what’s already out there. What are others in the space doing? What’s working? What’s tired? You don’t have to copy, but seeing the landscape can give you a fresh angle or spark a new direction.

2. Stay on the Pulse

Keep your eyes on trends—especially on social media. Have a handful of go-to websites or platforms you scroll through when you’re stuck. I also recommend keeping a journal or even a spreadsheet of artists, designers, musicians, or creators who inspire you. When you’re feeling flat and trying to overcome creative block, it becomes a well of ideas to draw from.

3. Look Around You

Creativity doesn’t just live in the studio. It’s in the billboard you walked past on the way home, the exhibition you saw last weekend, or even that photo buried in your camera roll from a month ago. Get out, visit a gallery, take in some architecture, or flick through that old magazine you forgot you had. Inspiration can come from anywhere.

4. Try a Prompt

A friend once gave me a pack of Brian Eno’s ‘Oblique Strategies’, a deck of cards with creative prompts like “Reverse it” or “Use an old idea.” They’ve rescued me more times than I can count. And with the tools we’ve got today, you can go even further – try asking ChatGPT for creative prompts based on your brief. You might be surprised by what comes back.

5. Step Away

Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop working. Close the laptop. Go for a walk. Clear your head. Let the ideas come to you rather than forcing them out. It sounds simple, but it works.

6. Talk It Out

Chat to people about your project. It doesn’t have to be another designer – speak to your partner, your mate, even your nan. People often have a fresh perspective or an unexpected idea that can help you see things differently.

Creative block is frustrating, but it doesn’t have to derail your whole project. Whether it’s building a go-to research habit, trying new tools, or simply stepping outside, there’s always a way through it. Over time, you’ll build your own toolkit – and before you know it, the blank page won’t feel so scary.

Next read – KEEPING TIME – WORK & LIFE BALANCE

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