As you have developed as an artist, you have probably begun to fall into a natural way of working that feels comfortable and instinctive. Now that can definitely be a positive thing – and I’m not here to tell you to stop if it’s working – but what about those moments when you feel stuck, uninspired and frustrated? When you’ve thrown everything you can at a project and it’s still not doing what you want it to? Perhaps it’s time to try something new… When I hit a brick wall, it’s time to let serendipity work its magic.
I work in graphic design for film and TV – creating pitch decks, posters and key art – but I honestly believe that what I have learned can apply to almost any creative role. Now, serendipity is defined as ‘the luck some people have in finding or creating interesting or valuable things by chance’ – a happy accident, so you might ask how exactly you are meant to find it? And whilst there are no guarantees, in this article I’m going to explore the ways to open yourself up to the possibilities around you and increase your chances of that Eureka moment finding you.
Do Something Else
When you ask people where they get their best ideas, they often give the same handful of answers – while walking, washing up and in the shower. In fact, a study by cognitive psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman found that a whopping 72% of people generate new ideas while they’re in the shower. Why? Giving yourself room for solitude, reflection and allowing your mind to drift and daydream can be an important way to incubate creative thoughts.
I’m a big believer in the ‘background work’ that your brain does – even though you have consciously moved on from the creative problem you want to solve, trust that your subconscious mind is still working it out. It’s just less exhausting!
Activate Your Right Brain
Although neuroscience has debunked Left Brain/Right Brain Theory – the idea of that one side of the brain dominates an individual’s thinking – it is still accepted that many brain functions associated with creativity occur on the right side of the brain. With this in mind, it could be worth testing a few activities to stimulate the right brain when you are hitting a brick wall.
This might mean:
- Having a written conversation with yourself by writing between your left and right hands (or the drawing equivalent)
- Utilising the ‘Kitchen Sink’ technique where you take in lots of snippets of information (think random facts, short articles, excerpts from podcasts) and then let your brain relax – hopefully to allow in a lightbulb moment!
- Mixing up your routine – take a different route to work, explore new neighbourhoods, or visit unfamiliar places
- Get moving – in particular, something called the cross-crawl – where you get your body moving cross-laterally i.e. where your limbs move in opposition, as in crawling, walking, or swimming. Using opposite sides of the body to work together is meant to help bridge the two hemispheres of your brain
Find a Different Angle
When we always think in the same way, we tend to get the same answers. Shake things up by forcing yourself to consider things from a different perspective. This could be literally – I sometimes look at my poster designs in a mirror or from across the room – or more figuratively. One of my favourite tools for this is the ‘Oblique Strategies’. These cards, developed by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt, provide random prompts to inspire alternative thinking and break through creative blocks. They were famously used during the recording of David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ album – so who I am to argue with that?
Be Open
Inspiration can come from many different places. Expand your horizons by exploring art forms, genres, or mediums that may seem unrelated to what you are doing. Seek inspiration in different genres of film, theatre, photography, literature, music, or even nature. By staying open to where new ideas can come from, you can discover hidden connections and spark fresh ideas.
Let Yourself ‘Fail’
Serendipity only appears when things don’t always go to plan. So to find it, you need to get out of your comfort zone! One way to do this is through ‘deep practice’ – where you push yourself to learn a new skill by breaking it into small chunks and making it ‘error-focused’. It’s tough, but one of the quickest ways to improve at something. As Samuel Beckett says: ‘Fail Again. Fail Better.’
Collaborate and Seek Feedback
Hopefully, as creatives, this is something we are all doing anyway. But I know myself – when I’m stuck, it’s easy to find I’ve shut myself off – trying to solve a problem alone. But working in partnership and seeking feedback from others is a great way to tap into unexpected insights. By reminding ourselves to invite in different perspectives and actively listening, you can open doors to moments of inspiration that could act as a catalyst for your best idea yet!
Seeking and embracing serendipity can be a gateway to unlocking our fullest creative potential. Sure, you can’t guarantee you’ll stumble on the lucky power of chance, but hopefully you now know some ways to stop it passing you by. By welcoming keeping your eyes open, heading off down rabbit holes, breaking routine and seeking inspiration from diverse sources, we can all invite happy accidents and surprises into our creative journey – and transform that moment of frustration into something extraordinary.
Adam Blakemore is a freelance film poster designer and art director based in the UK, where he works under the company name Strelka. Adam has previously worked as an art director for the BBC, as well as collaborating with agencies including Glass Eye Inc, OC & Coffee & Cigarettes. He also designs a mean pitch deck!
