Design Exercises for Inspired Designers

Creative exercises will help stimulate and open your mind so that you can access your creative prowess when you need it most. Many of these exercises can be performed on your own, but step outside the box and invite your co-workers or fellow creatives to join in on the fun. Better yet, kick off your next team brainstorm with a creative exercise to get the blood flowing. Check out HOW’s 30 Days to Creative Bliss challenge and sharpen your creativity.

Be Brave: A Quest for Creative Inspiration

Jennifer Sukis lays siege to the continental United States in her quest to understand creative inspiration. Her weapons of choice are a pen and an open mind. Protecting the battlements are creative superpowers who have boldly changed their life using creativity alone. More

Categories: Design Exercises for Inspired Designers, Design Inspiration: Creative Ideas for Designers, Featured, Freelance Design Work & How to Freelance | Tags: , | 3 Comments

Kid-Tested, Designer-Dad Approved

Designer dad Rob Kimmel offers 7 games to kick-start any kid’s imagination and learning process with creative play. More

Categories: Design Exercises for Inspired Designers, Design Inspiration: Creative Ideas for Designers, Featured, HOW July 2011, HOW Magazine, Web & Graphic Design Illustration | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

Creative Jam: 7 Exercises to Enliven Your Office

In this seven part series by Heather West, she tells the story of how one design firm has brought creativity back into the office with simple outings and exercises that stretched conceptual skills and brought a team together. More

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Creative Bliss Day 20: 6 Brainstorming Techniques

Are your brainstorming methods no longer effective? Use these 6 techniques to help revive your next team brainstorm. More

Categories: 30 Days of Creativity Exercises & Design Inspiration, Design Exercises for Inspired Designers, Design Inspiration: Ideas & How-to Advice for Designers, Editor's Picks | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

Creative Bliss Day 6: Creative Stuff Free Download

“Creative Stuff” is an activity workbook for visual thinkers. If you need an extra jolt of inspiration today, download a free activity from this new HOW book. More

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Creative Bliss Day 4: 5 Exercises to Get Your Creativity Unstuck

The book “Unstuck” features 52 exercises, divided by time commitment, to help you beat creative block. Here we sample 5 for a work-week’s worth of inspiration. More

Categories: 30 Days of Creativity Exercises & Design Inspiration, Design Exercises for Inspired Designers, Design Ideas: Inspiration for Designers, Design Inspiration: Creative Ideas for Designers, Featured, HOW May 2012 | Tags: , , | 3 Comments

Creative Bliss Day 2: 11 Ways to Spice Up a Team Brainstorm

Give your design team the brain food they crave to come up with great design ideas. Use these creative exercises to boost your next brainstorm. Your clients will thank you for it. More

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Brainstorming by Yourself

Brainstorming alone can be a lonely and listless experience. But not to worry. Here are nine steps to keep solo brainstorming fresh and productive. More

Categories: Design Exercises for Inspired Designers, Design Ideas: Inspiration for Designers, Design Inspiration: Creative Ideas for Designers, Design Inspiration: Ideas for Designers | Tags: , , | 4 Comments

Do Clients Want Design Work Soft, Gooey, Fast?

If your clients don’t understand the value of good design, and would rather pine for something soft, gooey and fast, you owe it to yourself (and the potential client) to help change their perspective and value of design. Follow these three approaches. More

Categories: Design Business & The Industry of Design, Design Business Clients: Communication & Management, Design Exercises for Inspired Designers, Design Inspiration: Creative Ideas for Designers, Design Inspiration: Ideas & How-to Advice for Designers, Featured | Tags: , , | 4 Comments

Overcome Unhealthy Creative Expectations

We all have them, and if we’re not mindful they can kill our creative process. What are these stealthy assassins? Our very own expectations. More

Categories: Design Exercises for Inspired Designers, Design Ideas: Inspiration for Designers, Design Inspiration: Creative Ideas for Designers, Featured | Tags: , , | Leave a comment