When I begin the design process, I almost always have a very solid mental image of what I want the end result to look like. I used to think this was a plus, but I’ve recently come to realize that it’s one of my biggest hurdles. You see, I tend to lock into that original idea and resist the urge to play with other possibilities that arise as I work on the design. Lately, I’ve learned to look out for that resistance and allow myself to explore possibilities.

Often, when a stock photo is placed in a design, its colors can give a new direction to the piece. Likewise, an illustration that I may not have thought would be very prominent, may end up working as a repeated element that carries the design.

So, my big discovery is that allowing for spontaneity and creative inspiration as you work results in better design. I know; it’s obvious, but it took me a while to realize that. The learning process continues…

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