Way to Push the Creative Boundaries

Here are some simple ways to push your creative boundaries. These steps can help you figure out what helps the mind tick tock and keep the ideas flowing. Follow the steps and the ideas will follow.

{1} Share Your Work

If you don't know where to start, it's here. Whatever creative projects you want to undertake, start by sharing your work and pointing yourself in the direction of others who share your interests, says Austin Kleon, 2014's SXSW keynote speaker and author of Show Your Work! 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered. It can be small, it can be incremental—just get it out there.

"The technology is really important, and we all have tools that turn us into media producers now," says Kleon. "But what's more important is attitude and spirit, that attitude of jumping into the world you want to join and making your own thing."

{2} Take a Road Trip

Earlier this year, a group of Pinterest employees pitched their bosses the idea of taking Pinterest on the road, largely to promote a new location-based Pinterest feature called Place Pins. Their boss responded with a simple image: a classic Winnebago, only with the Pinterest logo where the iconic "W" would be. They called it the "Pinnebago," a name that stuck. And while the trip was a great marketing move, it also unlocked new ideas within the team.

{3} Create a Surprise Journal

Julia Galef, president of the Center for Applied Rationality, runs courses for individuals and companies like Facebook and the Thiel Foundation about the science of decision-making, so it makes sense that she is keen to understand her own personal thoughts. Her technique? The Surprise Journal. She keeps this journal with her at all times, writing down when something surprises her and why.

For example, she noticed she was surprised that both older and younger people were attending her workshops, because she assumed people would self-segregate by age. She was surprised that her students would mention a concept from one of her colleague’s classes, because she didn’t expect that idea to be very memorable. "I started thinking about surprise as a cue that my expectations were wrong," she says. Once you start to understand your own faulty assumptions, it creates a space to generate new ideas that address things as they actually are.

{4} Get a Weird Side Gig

For the past seven years, editor and designer Brian McMullen had a dream creative job as the senior art director and one of the senior editors at literary and humor publisher McSweeney's. He founded and ran the company's award-winning kids' book department, McSweeney's McMullens, helped to launch food magazine Lucky Peach, and oversaw much of the creative direction of a brand known for its unique and dynamic visuals. And in his spare time, he's a Lyft driver.

"Lyft has offered me a drastic change of pace and scenery," says McMullen. "I think it's probably useful for all creative people to put themselves into new and strange situations from time to time."

{5} Learn How to Brainstorm the Right Way

Stumped for ideas? You might just not know how to brainstorm.

"As sexy as brainstorming is, with people popping like champagne with ideas, what actually happens is when one person is talking you're not thinking of your own ideas," Leigh Thompson, a management professor at the Kellogg School, told Fast Company. "Sub-consciously you're already assimilating to my ideas." To avoid these problems, Thompson suggests another, quieter process: brainwriting, or having everyone write down their ideas beforehand and share them in an orderly way.

{6} Don't Try So Hard

Forcing yourself to be creative backfires every time, says Karin Hibma, one half of the legendary design firm CRONAN, founded in the early '80s and known for naming products like TiVo and Kindle. Learn her unique approach to getting away from the everyday and letting ideas flow.

{7} Get Serious About Your Coffee

It may sound frivolous, but Circa CEO Matt Galligan devotes a good chunk of his mornings to making coffee. It's a routine that's paid off in helping him intensely focus. So whether caffeine is your muse, or something else, take it to the next level.

{8} Hire Other People With Outside Passions

FiftyThree has a one-to-one engineer-to-designer ratio, and an interestingly holistic approach to hiring: Every employee should excel at something outside of their job responsibilities. This model helps light people on fire about their own ideas and collaborate more effectively to make them happen. When creativity is institutional, everyone is better off.

{9} Plan a Field Trip

Three times a year, management at The Via Agency surprises their employees with "go dos," shorthand for "get out, do things," and they're part of a larger effort to promote creativity. The ad agency operates under the theory that creativity comes from having a life outside of the office. "We have found some of our most productive afternoons are after we've done a spontaneous go do," says president Leeann Leahy. "The energy level is raised for the rest of the day."

{10} Don't Get Caught Up in Perfectionism

Legendary animated filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki can't stand to see his own creations, lest he get caught up in his own mistakes. His solution? Move onto the next project. "Making films is all about—as soon as you're finished—continually regretting what you've done. When we look at films we've made, all we can see are the flaws; we can't even watch them in a normal way. I never feel like watching my own films again. So unless I start working on a new one, I'll never be free from the curse of the last one."

{11} When All Else fails, Drink

Back in 2012, when Bespoke Post was just a startup with handful of people, it began as many new businesses do: with conversations around beer. The gang met for a weekly happy hour at Lolita Bar on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, which offered pints of better-than-average brews for $3. Like at a lot of companies founded by young folks—like a lot of companies, period—booze found its way into Bespoke Post’s DNA early.

http://m.fastcompany.com/3040037/most-creative-people/11-simple-ways-to-push-your-creative-boundaries

{ 7 Tools That Make Design More Efficient }

Weld - strips away complexity by giving designers the power to focus on an outside in UX approach. It allows you to design and are responsive interfaces without any coding

Tiff - helped designers visually contrast the difference between tow fonts by placing them side by 

side. Works with all system fonts so you can easily compare an infinite amount of different typefaces and make fast font decisions

Brandfolder - user friendly interface makes it simple to organize logos, colors and fonts all from a single cloud based folder, which can be made public or private. Having all your assets in a single location makes for a quick response for emails.

What the Font - helps you discover the fonts origin. Simply upload a screenshot of the font in action and it will match the typefaces with the name of a matching typeface

Colorkit - this color tool helps designers create, manage and save their color collections. With the ability to integrate colors into existing projects and attach them to shapes and text, organizing colors has never been easier.

Userbrain- this lets designers get new users to test out their website each week. By providing you’re with frequent feedback, it makes it easy for you to identify issues and make changes as soon as possible

Unroll.me- this smart subscription organizer makes it easy to unsubscribe from all those mass emails cluttering your inbox. You can also opt to have your emails organized into a single daily email, ensuring that you receive only the message you want, exactly when you want them

https://creativemarket.com/blog/2015/05/04/7-tools-that-make-designers-more-efficient

{ How to Fix a Bad Design }

When it comes to designing, we all have created things that we may not have been so happy about. So here are some tips to fix a bad design.

{1} Scrap Bad Photography

This single step can have a huge impact on a design. Modern, on-trend photography is the only kind of photography that should be included on a website. If it isn't good, it's better not to use images at all. Cheap and tacky imagery makes the website look cheap and tacky. Unless you can replace your photographs with a professional's work, scrap them all and rely on your font choices.

{2} Make Navigation Simpler

Your users won't stick around unless your website is easy to browse and navigate. Surfing the Internet is all about doing something fast and getting it done without obstacles. Clever, easy-to-use bars, straightforward menus and clearly demonstrated buttons ensure that site navigation isn't a problem.

{3} Choose Better Fonts

Fonts can present all kinds of problems in your site's design. Is the font size consistent with the site as a whole? Does the color of the font clash with the background or other text? It is almost always best to go for a unified appearance. It is a novice's mistake to choose more than is absolutely necessary. Use no more than two font sizes and one, or at most two, font styles.

{4} Declutter

Your site's layout can always get better by getting rid of the clutter: minimalist design wins in most cases. Try to eliminate anything that stands out in a distasteful way. You don't want your users to be overwhelmed. Eliminate badges, links and networks, and if you absolutely must include them, put them on the About page.

{5} Fix Bad Call-to-Action Buttons

Call-to-action buttons are a tricky business. They're needed, but when used badly, they can make the site look more like a cheap advertising setup than a classy service. Be discreet. Make them evident but not overwhelming. Camouflage them subtly. Find appropriate positions for them and make sure they work correctly and don't lead the user anywhere irrelevant.

{6} Use a Grid

You make think alignment issues have gone the way of the dinosaur because of grid systems, but amateur site designs almost always suffer from this problem. Sometimes a seemingly cluttered site design can be drastically improved by imposing a much-needed grid layout. Also, if the client's site isn't responsive or at least optimized for mobile, there's a serious discussion to be had on that front.

{7} Correct Broken Links

If a client hands you an aging site and is looking for a refresh, you can bet good money that you'll find some ancient links floating around that no longer work. Checking all the links on a site can be a dull, tedious task, so be sure to use a tool like the W3C's Link Checker.

{8} Coordinate Colors

Another mistake amateur web designers make is choosing terrible color schemes. If the site your client hands you makes your eyes bleed, your first task should be to update the colors. Like everything else, the rule here is to simplify. Like removing ugly wallpaper from an old house, you might find something decent under that bad color scheme!

{9} Harmonize the Text-Background Relationship

Don't let the background harm the readability of your content. This kind of mistake is considered the ultimate crime by professional website designers. Browse your site and pay close attention to any background choices that don't complement the text entirely. Your best bet when it comes to your website's background is almost always white.

{10} Is It Worth The Effort?

The most important consideration to put forth when attempting to fix a bad design is whether or not it's worth the trouble. Always give your honest opinion to a client and let them know when starting from scratch will be faster, easier, and/or better than putting a band-aid on an ultimately doomed project.

https://creativemarket.com/blog/2015/01/09/how-to-fix-a-bad-

{ Make The Most of 2015 }

Starting a new year can be hard for alot of people here are 13 simple things that every employee should do more of in 2015. These tips can bring the best out of a employee and the best out of you in general.

{1} Share solutions to current issues.
When Victory went from six to 18 employees in one year, we encountered a lot of new problems, many of which I didn’t see until they became an even bigger problem. Being a small agency, I love when employees identify a problem and present solutions. Huge difference from just pointing out a problem. Please stand out and don’t be afraid to speak up; your boss will thank you.--Vinny Antonio, Victory Marketing Agency

{2} Trade relevant reading lists.
I hear so many great ideas sprung from books my team is reading that I’m considering starting an in-house book club or reimbursing my employees for trade-related book purchases.--Sam Saxton, Salter Spiral Stair and Mylen Stairs

{3} Be proactive.
Most small businesses tend to have pretty small management teams. Meaning that often, only a few people are responsible for managing the team, the business itself and growing the company--all at the same time. In such situations it becomes very helpful when employees are proactively pointing out issues and proposing new ideas and developments rather than simply waiting on word from above.--Nicolas Gremion, Free-eBooks.net

{4} Tell the whole truth.
I don’t want employees who are too nervous or reluctant to say how they really feel about the work environment, a specific project, or the other members of the team. Most employers want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly so they can maintain a full understanding of all aspects of their business.--Simon Casuto, eLearning Mind

{5} Contribute to industry discourse.
Employees often tend to get caught up within the internal happenings at their company and neglect to contribute to the industry-wide conversations happening among the greater business ecosystem. When an employee works on their personal brand to discuss their industry by blogging, participating in speaking engagements or being active on social media, they are also helping grow your business.--Brian Honigman, BrianHonigman.com

{6} Forget the rules and find your own solutions.
I wish more employees would understand that they’re not limited by the “rules” of their tasks: that they can find unconventional problem-solving methods that perhaps I could never see, because I’m not there performing the task. Not only would this help me shape their tasks going forward, but this may open the doors for other areas for their title--and more importantly, their careers.--Rob Fulton, Exponential Black

{7} Voice and defend your opinions.
My role requires me to take a firm stance quickly. If I’m wrong, or if there’s a better way to do something, I want my employees to speak up and challenge me. I’ll listen, and I’m willing to be wrong.--Ben Lyon, Kopo Kopo, Inc.

{8} Act like an owner.
I love it when I see employees taking ownership of a project, deal, or client like it’s their own; like their own money is on the line and they are willing to risk being wrong because they wanted to do the right thing.--John Ruhlin, The Ruhlin Group

{9} Take charge.
The employees who make the biggest impact aren’t always the boss or the high-end sales person. They’re the ones who take a stand when something isn’t right, ask questions to figure out what to fix, and offer to help when you’re backed up. We’re always looking for people that can take charge of their work and as such their growth within our company.--Josh Sprague, Orange Mud

{10} Set clear goals.
Whether it’s as big as a promotion or as small as a response from a phone call, know what your goals are. Feeling accomplished is such a basic and common human quality that improves every part of who we are. I encourage my employees daily to set goals regardless of size.--Dawn Strobel, Go By Truck

{11} Treat your job like it’s your business.
As an entrepreneur, we understand that no one is going to bleed for our business the same way that we do, especially someone who is at an entry or mid-level position. Finding an employee who does treat their job like it’s their business is the number one quality I wish all my employees had. Owning their work, the way they treat clients and their responsibility to the team will get them to the top.--Greg Rollett, Celebrity Expert Marketing

{12} Look at the bigger picture.
I find that too many employees simply focus on the immediate task at hand without seeing the larger picture. This might mean doing a little extra research or asking some relevant questions. Most projects have a larger goal, such as developing a good relationship with a client or building our brand name. The more employees are able to tap into these larger goals, the better it is for everyone.--Shawn Porat, Fortune Cookie Advertising

{13} Reinvent the wheel.
Employees know their particular job or duties best. Just because they were taught to do something one way, doesn’t mean they can’t make a change for the better. We have found so many instances where an employee knows a better way to do their job but does not speak up or take the initiative to change. If you are an employee, make your life better by making the change and owning it.--Will Land, Accessory Export, LLC


http://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/13-things-every-employee-should-do-more-of-in-2015.html?cid=sf01001

{ 10 Steps for a More Productive Year }

Here are ten uncommon tips and steps to have a better year ahead that I hope can inspire you to make the most of 2015.

{1} Start Strong, Finish Strong

Start your new year by designing a meaningful event to kick it off both at home and at work. Celebrate the beginning of this exciting new chapter that you can fill with opportunities, new experiences, and people who will add richly to your life. Start the year off with renewed energy, passion, and intentionality.

{2} Build Your Own Advisory Board 

Who do you go to for candid feedback and advice? Who are you accountable to? It’s time to form your own board of advisors and let them hold you accountable. Identify three or four people who you respect in different facets of your life and invite them onto your board. Set expectations and let them know you need them on your journey through the year.

{3} Create a Performance Survey 

You grow through life when you live it consciously and are aware of the impact you have on others around you. A great way to know how to grow is to know where to focus. Create a performance survey and ask two or three people in different aspects of your life to evaluate you, helping you to become consciously aware of your most important relationships.

{4} Make a Stop and Start a List

Seeking simplicity in life is one way to create the margin of time, but daily life seems to get more complex every year, and time can slip through our hands like sand. One simple exercise is to list the things that you need to stop doing in the year ahead. List the distractions, the time-wasters, and the headache-inducers with the reasons why you need to stop them. Then list all of the things you need to do that you’re not that will help you drive towards your goals.

{5} Find the Meaning in Everything 

Designing your actions with purpose and intentionality is an opportunity to inject more satisfaction into your days (and nights). If you can answer the questions “Why am I here?” and “Why am I spending my time doing this?” you’ll waste less of your valuable time in the year ahead. Design your days with intentionality.

{6} Make Small Gestures

It’s the everyday, run-of-the-mill, important but sometimes mundane acts that show you understand other people’s needs and that you care about what they need from you. Make a point of asking and understanding what’s really important to the people you live with and work with.

{7} Shut Up and Listen

As human beings we waste so much time talking about meaningless crap, because we’re not really engaged in a two-way conversation or more, we’re in our own monologue and think that being heard is more important than listening. Try being the quiet one in the room and listening a whole lot more than you talk. Ask more pointed questions and see what reactions you get and the impact that approach has on your own productivity.

{8} Be Bold

Define and cement your purpose and what you want to get done in 2015 by mapping a clear and bold strategy for the most important initiatives you’ll embark upon. Communicate successes, failures, rockstar moments, and misses. Do this often, celebrate the small wins, and share the losses. Remember, actions speak louder than words.

{9}  Adore Your People 

Make sure to put people at the center of everything you do. It’s not about you, it’s not about profits, and it’s not about products. Passionate, engaged people move mountains. Enough said. Understand them. Know them. Thank them. Communicate with them and involve them often.

{10} Pay it Forward

They say it’s easier to smile than to frown and easier to be kind than mean-spirited. My friend Bob Goff wrote a bestselling book entitled Love Does that’s filled with stories of spontaneous love and laughter. Be deliberate about designing acts of kindness for the people you care about. Buy a stranger a cup of coffee in the line at Starbucks. Say thank you more often. Give love a go.

http://www.fastcompany.com/3038926/10-steps-towards-a-better-more-productive-you-in-2015