posted
I've got a small (or is it large?) problem that I don't recall encountering before and it occurred to me to kind of take a poll here in Letterville to see if anyone else has found a way of coping with it.
I designed a very nice (if I do say so myself) dimensional sign for a housing development and I simply can't get over some sort of creative block as to how I'm actually going to build the thing. The design isn't particularly tricky or clever, and I usually "build" the sign in my mind as I design it, but the process didn't cooperate this time.
So here I am, kind of clunking along with the elements that are more or less straight-forward (e.g., the gilded dimensional letters) and bumping up against the block that keeps me from completing the plan.
So my question to you, my friends, is: what do you do when you find yourself in this situation? Any tricks you play on yourself? Do you bang your head against a nearby wall? Do you add up all the unpaid bills? What? I guess what I want to know is, where do you find inspiration when you're stuck like this? And please, don't tell me that I am alone in this...I already feel like a complete idiot.
Thanks for your help.
-------------------- Brian Oliver Paxton Signs Fort Collins, CO paxton@peakpeak.com www.paxtonsignsofcolorado.com Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
throw something up on the computer screen or legal pad....make it as plain and ugly as you can!!!! now you will see what you need to change...this works for me...start with helevetic all caps....play with placement, what needs to be bigger/smaller, then work the fonts...then color.. just that easy...hehehehehehehe
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
well first, I notice you don't lay out the problem in detail before us here & ask what solutions we may have.
I know some people have recieved negative comments if it seems they look to this site to answer questions without even trying to resolve it themselves first, but since I don't see that being the case I think you might want to give us more info to get some brainstorming going.
As far as a general answer to your question, my first thought that works for me is to ask other people. Anyone, not just sign folks... my wife, the guy or gal at the hardware store, my kid, the next random customer that walks in the door after I realize I am stuck.
My whole perception of the "brainstorming" concept is to get unstuck by haveing lots of different ideas on the table... thinking outside that initial solutions your personal experience brings up for you & adding in all kinds of whacky new twists on how a different mind approachs the problem.
I can't say too many workable solutions have come from kids or random clients... but just hearing their unique approach to problem solving often gives me a new idea before thry even finish telling me theirs.
So whats up with these dimensional gilded letters anyway?
posted
Thanks OP, but the problem is getting the image from 2-D to 3-D. Sorry if I wasn't clear about that.
Doug, thanks for your reply. My post wasn't a plea to have someone solve the problem of how to build this sign. My question is the general one of "what do you do to get unstuck?" Actually, you've already helped with your suggestions; what I need are some ideas about getting a fresh perspective or some other way to get the creative juices aflowin' once more. Man! this is frustrating!
The dimensional guilded letters are the primary copy of the sign. If I ever get past this small crisis and get the darn thing finished , I'll post a picture of it (assuming I can figure out how THAT'S done).
-------------------- Brian Oliver Paxton Signs Fort Collins, CO paxton@peakpeak.com www.paxtonsignsofcolorado.com Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Brian, What I would do if I were you is call my competition across town and offer to buy him lunch - or dinner! Discussing your design situation over a beer may not solve the problem but we'd, er you'd have a good time. Anonymously yours.
-------------------- Dan Seese Dan Seese Studios, inc. 3830 Capitol Drive Ft. Collins, CO 80526 (970) 226-0618 danseesestudios@qwest.net Posts: 18 | From: Fort Collins, Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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Did you have anyone in particular in mind for this little cross town meeting?
-------------------- Brian Oliver Paxton Signs Fort Collins, CO paxton@peakpeak.com www.paxtonsignsofcolorado.com Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Sounds like someone needs a trip to the hardware/home improvement store. Browse all the little do-hickeys and thing-a-ma-bobs. I always come home with creative what ifs and maybe I coulds.
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I'd opt for the barley dinner solution, myself...
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6464 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
Brian O'Prey here, currently resident in Mazeppa. Don't even think about it for about a week. Go drinking, go fishing, go smoking, go do anything not related to the problem......and it will come to you. It works every time!!
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
posted
When I "hit the wall" with my creativity, I have to do something else for a while and come back to the project another day. Usually, something will then click.
A good idea would be to take that competitor to lunch and brainstorm with him. Two heads may well be better than one. If not, at least the two heads will be attached to bodies with full stomachs.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5106 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
This is one of the plusses to having a multi-person shop. I understand the headaches of trying to make an idea take shape. You need to sit down with somebody else and discuss it. It's hard to bounce the ideas off a wall and get the feedback you need.
-------------------- Joe Endicott NEXCOM (Navy Exchange Service Command) Signing Programs Specialist Virginia Beach, VA jeendicott@msn.com
"I want to be Stereotyped....I want to be Classified." Posts: 681 | From: Virginia Beach, VA USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
one of the things i find helps me with designing dementional stuff is to take the 2d idea and create a rough of the 3d version in the puter... this way i can see immediately what i do and don't like sorta like this...
I know it's basic, but i get the feel of the finished thing when i can imagine it like this
cheers gail
-------------------- Gail & Dave Hervey Bay Qld Australia
gail@roadwarriorproducts.com.au
sumtimes ya just gota! Posts: 794 | From: 552 O'Regans Creek Rd Toogoom Qld 4655 Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Hey Gail, That should be a skutch instead of an ice pick
As for the original post I'm with the others, go for a swim or write to a friend or something, anything to get your mind off the job for a few hours. Work on a totally different type of project for a day or two if you can afford the time. Lock yourself in the bedroom with a gender non-specific partner suited to your inclination if you have that luxury! Failing that do any/all of the above just for fun, you can't be blamed for procrastinating because we all said it was ok! Its true though, the best answers come unbidden. David
-------------------- David Fisher D.A. & P.M. Fisher Services Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com Trying out a new tag: "Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth Peter Ustinov Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
creativity exists in your body but gets blocked. you're asking how to unblock.
one thing that i do to break the mental "block" is to move from "mind" to "body". (one of my friends teaches "thinking patterns" which helps you to understand how the consious, sub-conscios and un-conscious parts of your mind work together, or not).
when you're doing something on the computer, its your eyes and rational brain ("left brain") working. when you paint or carve, you're involving the body more -- hands and arms at the least.
so, get up from the computer and try painting, sketching, or moving around. taking a walk might help (but that can distract you from the problem at hand). if you're painting something vertically, try laying out flat on a table and litterally "change your perspective."
for me, i find it pretty tough to tap into my "creative mind" when i'm at the computer.
i'll add that the "thinking patterns" model is different for every person. some people might find they need to breath or vocalize (sing or talk out loud). brain-storming sessions often invoive people talking together -- that changes the energy from "thinking inside your head quietly" to "thinking out loud". the musicians here can all attest to the value of making music and how it can help one tap into a creative part of the mind.
the three "parts" of the mind relate to sound/breath, visuals/motion, and touch/action. so if you're stuck in one state, move to one of the other states and it might get you unstuck.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote: That should be a skutch instead of an ice pick
now how would I know the differance bro hehehe
like I said it is very basic... but the principal is the same just another way of exercising like most everyone has said, doing sumfin to change your focus for a little while usually helps unblock the creative juices
i find tinkering with the puter a great help, others listen to music, phone a friend or find a friend to play with
for a long time i worked with devo every day nutting out different stuff, as a team we did ok cause he filled in the blanks when I was stuck, and I did the same for him but when your on your own you need a different way of changing focus
cheers gail
-------------------- Gail & Dave Hervey Bay Qld Australia
gail@roadwarriorproducts.com.au
sumtimes ya just gota! Posts: 794 | From: 552 O'Regans Creek Rd Toogoom Qld 4655 Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
We all get creative block from time to time...
I find that I just sit down at my desk and get out that intimidating blank sheet of paper and proceed to draw a quick circle in the center. Immediately the challenge becomes managable for I don't have to worry about the whole sheet... just the center of the circle.
I then begin sketching, rough ideas. Often the first attempts will spawn better ideas, with the final idea coming quickly.
The usable scribbles are scanned into the old puter and in Photoshop I rework them into a finished presentation drawing.
It works for me every time, and is always an enjoyable experience!
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8761 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
When I get in one of those mental block situations, I turn up the stereo (usually with some Eric Clapton music going), whip out a panel and play with it for a while pinstriping or sometimes just airbrushing something simple. I don't really think, plan or measure anything, just kinda let my brushes do the painting and see what comes out. I find it's a great way to get back into a creative mood. I sometimes wind up playing air guitar on a 4' ruler or a tape measure by the end of it and the rest of the day is a breeze to get thru.
If that fails, I beat the bejeesus outta my drums. hehehe Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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-------------------- Dan Seese Dan Seese Studios, inc. 3830 Capitol Drive Ft. Collins, CO 80526 (970) 226-0618 danseesestudios@qwest.net Posts: 18 | From: Fort Collins, Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Brian, you and Dan could drive over here for a cup of Joe and lunch and I would bet by the time you got home, you would be unstuck.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Dan, it was my pleasure. You were a big help. Thanks.
Kent, I like that idea. I'll be in touch. And what a great topic for a mini-meet, by the way.
Thanks to you all for your input. All these suggestions are helpful, and it's also interesting to read all the different techniques you employ.
-------------------- Brian Oliver Paxton Signs Fort Collins, CO paxton@peakpeak.com www.paxtonsignsofcolorado.com Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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