I'm surprised you're reading this after that title, but I hope you're not expecting some great manifesto. I have been thinking a bit lately about my artist process recently and I'm trying to figure out how I think things through so I can better understand how to solve a problem. For some projects as soon as I hear the brief I have an image in my head of what it is going to look like. I tend to jump into a project following this vague vision only to hit a brick wall later realizing I don't have a fully developed concept. But this habit is usually very helpful down the road because it lets me experiment and brainstorm ideas before solidifying a concept. Sometimes I can box myself in with too many boundaries and I am trapped in a design, sensibility, or concept I don't want. Other times however, I need to plan how everything is going to look and the message that I want to be obvious. I can get detailed and meticulous but I still allow for creative spontaneity. This can be great for planning but it sometimes holds me back. I can spend too much time deliberating about what I'm going to do instead of just letting it flow and follow my own esthetics and design sense.

I also been more aware lately, even though Sarah has tried to engrain it into our heads already, that looking at and researching outside work is extremely helpful and extremely important. Its not a bad thing to look at your experience objectively and say, hey Im just a rookie, I haven't yet developed my own revolutionary style that I should use to permeate everything I do but instead, I need to be soaking in everything I can learn about design, aesthetics, color, techniques, problem-solving, etc. so I can be a better designer. I want to focus more on creating a process that will help me to create successful design.