Do Web Designers get "Design Block"?

[brucec]

I compare this to writer's block. I code very well in PHP, ASP, and Java and I like to think that my design is decent. Often, I get writer's block and I find that walking away from the PC for a day really helps my creativity.

When you code and the program works, that is it. It works. It does not matter what programming language you use. Java, .NET, visual basic, PHP, etc. There are no gray areas and no opinions to get. You know it works. But designing? Well, that can be a gray area and often I get into ruts. Perfectly normal to me.

I get my wife's opinion, because she finds most web sites boring. So, if she likes what I did (which is not too often), then I feel good :)

Does anyone else get writers or "design" block? I want to know if I am not alone out there. LOL

[txbakers]

naturally. That's why I will visit some of the design repositories to get my juices flowing again.

[caine]

not so sure about design block, but site block comes up once in a while, where i feel that i am re-using the same technique's though in different ways to get what i want. Hence why i go to the conferences to get enthusiam, drive, new tools, idea's, concerns and much more - its always very hectic when it comes to site & design after the conferences.

[Rosalind]

Most popular sites look very similar, and it's hard to balance that usability ideal and the formula that people expect with something completely original. Almost every time I create a new design I have this problem, but it helps to look to the real world for inspiration and forget about all the other websites you have seen.

[trillianjedi]

Everyone's creativity gets a little constipated once in a while!

I tend to move to lateral thinking when that happens - take in influence from other media. Cinema and TV adverts are currently very nicely produced (especially for cars). I find a lot of those can spark off interesting layout and content flow ideas. Books also can have the same effect... and architecture.

The trick is to get outside the box. What Rosalind said.

I also like to scan stuff and mess with it in Photoshop. I don't use any form of "pure" digital graphics anymore. I like to style things using a combination of typesetting unusual combinations of typefaces and real images. I did this great "email us" link button the other day by taking a fountain pen and flicking it onto some white paper to get ink splodges, which I then scanned together with the pen and inverted in Photoshop. Looks fabulous, very slick. And very unique.

If you get stuck on graphic ideas - try the obvious and scan real life objects that represent the function you want to indicate. And you don't have to do it by the book - some amazing and interesting effects can be had by doing things you're not meant to do, like leaving the scanner lid up, or moving stuff on the glass platter while it's scanning.

All that kind of stuff gets my creative juices flowing again.

What do other people do during the dry spells?

TJ