In Print Magazine, designer Craig Welsh told a story about a designer who was struggling with a project and called the studio's boss, who was on his way to an appointment and didn't have time to chat. The boss asked what the project was about. "Music." The boss said, "No, it's about amplification." He told him to stick to that theme, use only two colors, and jam together something musical with something animal." Oh, and do it in the next hour so he boss sould see it in his email after his appointment.
Two hours later, the designs were done (see left).
Sometimes constraints or limits work in our favor. Knowing that we have limited means or time concentrates the mind, whereas too much choice sends it flying in all directions.
If you feel unfocused about something, try setting some arbitrary limits and work within those. The limits depend on the nature of the project, but some examples are:
- time (do it in the next hour; or the action in a play or film has to take place over the period of only one day)
- length (the report has to be no longer than ten pages, or the Powerpoint no more than six slides)
- location (the action in a scene has to all take place in a kitchen)
- number of characters (the play can't have more than 3)
In this sense, thinking inside a box can bring good results.
(For tips on how to be more creative and productive, sign up for my free monthly Brainstorm & Focus e-bulletin using the form to the right if you're reading this on my blog, or by emailing a request to [email protected] if there's no sign-up form visible.)
