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We’re already done with 1/4 of the year, which is pretty surreal. I swear the years go by faster and faster each time. But before we whizz into April, I’m taking a moment to stop, reflect and share with you a few of the best things I’ve read and seen in March.

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SHORT READS, IF YOU’VE ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES:

1. Daisy Buchanan on Being Your Own Boss

While I’m only my own boss some of the time I really enjoyed this from Daisy Buchanan via The Pool on why being your own boss is exciting and empowering. But it’s much harder to admit that it can be frustrating and lonely, too.

2. The Next Big Design Trend is the Opposite of Whatever’s Happening Right Now

I think we all know that trends come and go in waves and cycles. So the next big design trend is always the opposite of whatever’s happening now. Does that mean we’re about to start to see a move away from millennial minimalism?

3. Intensity vs. Consistency

I think Tina Roth Eisenberg’s words say it all here “Love Simon Sinek‘s words here, but man, Jocie Juritz’s animations made it so much more powerful. Mad respect for both.”

4. Shitty Work

This month I went to a Design Thinking Bootcamp where there was a lot of focus on learning not to be afraid to fail as one of the key elements in making great work. This lovely little piece by Alex Mathers on shitty work gets you in the right frame of mind just to make without fear.

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LONG READS, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO GET YOUR TEETH STUCK INTO:

1. G-IRL: Joey Yu

I love all of the G-IRL interviews (for reals go check them out if you haven’t already), this one with illustrator Joey Yu is particularly powerful and colourful. Read if you want to hear Joey’s thoughts on why it’s possible to create your own opportunities by believing in yourself and being persistent.

2. Zadie Smith: Dance Letters for Writers

“The connection between writing and dancing has been much on my mind recently: it’s a channel I want to keep open. It feels a little neglected — compared to, say, the relationship between music and prose — maybe because there is something counter-intuitive about it. But for me the two forms are close to each other: I feel dance has something to tell me about what I do.” Zadie Smith’s words on the links between dance and writing are not only wonderfully crafted they’re also moving whether you’re a writer or not – I think the parallels in the joy of movement and creation speak to all.

3. A New Bible for Bike Lanes

I’m fascinated by how the way we move in the world around us is ultimately always influenced by a design decision. This long read on bike lanes is a great insight into the importance of codifying and pushing those design decisions in order to create change in our cities. It also made me want to get back out on my bike, which is currently gathering dust in my “office”.

WHO TO FOLLOW, IF YOU WANT TO SPRUCE UP YOUR INSTAGRAM FEED:

@broobs.psd

Ruben Marquez is a new follow for me, thanks to the wonder that is Design*Sponge. I love the joy and colour in his photographic collages. He’s got me thinking about exciting ways I can refresh compositions and the joy of my secondary school sketchbooks. They’re perfect for welcoming in spring and powering the protesting spirit which seems to be continuing through this year.

@ana_godis

I don’t usually watch a lot of videos on Instagram but recently I’ve been obsessively watching Ana Godis’ timelapses of her work coming together. There’s just something so soothing about watching someone paint, even if it’s digitally. Ana’s are particularly watchable because of the way she uses layers of colour to create her portraits.

@helcovell

I wanted to share Hel Covell’s work with you this week because her book Jumble Wood was just published by Flying Eye and it looks magical. I love how whimsical and fun Hel’s drawings are they always leave me in a happier place after seeing them, and Jumble Wood is a book I would have wanted (and still do really want) to have on my shelf when I was little.

@accidentallywesanderson

So this is a non-illustration social favourite, but I’ve really been loving Accidentally Wes Anderson’s account recently. It’s filled with scenes so symmetrical or wonderful they could be in a Wes Anderson movie. It’s the perfect soothing escape, especially if like me you can’t wait for Isle of Dogs to land in cinemas.

 

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I’ve been thinking a lot about community and my values recently, and I’ve realized I really want to put some more work into supporting fellow creatives. Nothing feels better than when someone I admire comments on my work or buys a card, and I want to do that for others as much as I can. Plus creating that network of support, of lifting each other up, of positivity, is, I think, a really lovely way to start to build and strengthen my community.

Also, I really want that denim jacket now I’ve drawn it.

Engage

The simplest thing you can do to support fellow creatives is to engage with their work. I know we all hate Instagram, but the way to make it better is to make it about engaging with the content you love. Sometimes hours of work can go into a post and having someone engage with it (like it, leave a comment etc.) can make all the difference, and means it gets seen by a wider audience. I really loved Grace Victory’s post about her relationship with Instagram, and how engaging with other likeminded people not just supporting them but ended up improving her own visibility too. So, if you see something you like, like (or retweet, or comment, or share) it!

Reach out

If you really love what someone is doing let them know. Leaving a comment, or sending a message might seem like a small thing for you to do but it can really make someone’s day. Having someone reach out with some words of encouragement, genuinely does make the tough days a little easier, and they always seem to come just when you need them (perhaps because we always need them to some extent) or at least in my experience they do.

Promote

Let’s share each other’s work! It’s that simple, if you see something you love and you think your internet pals would like it, then share it. Every week I like to share an artist I’m loving in my newsletter, and I do the same monthly in my round up posts. But I want to do it more, so expect to see my Instagram stories and my Twitter feed filling up with posts about wonderful creative people. If you’re looking for more people (in particular ladies) to follow, the #visiblewomen hashtag on Twitter has helped me find some real gems as has the womenwhodraw network.

Buy from the source

I didn’t want this post to be all about spending money, but it is a key way you can support artists you like. Even a small purchase can make a big difference. The Just a Card campaign is always a great reminder and champion of that idea. Artists end up making and sharing a lot of content for free, so if there’s someone whose work you like and you can support them by buying a card/print/book/zine please do! You’ll end up with something lovely and you’ll be supporting them to create even more in the future. Where possible try to buy directly from the artist. So, this year I’m only going to buy greeting cards directly from makers, and I really want to boost my prints collection.

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We’ve all been there, the creative rut. In fact, I’d been stuck feeling pretty unenthused about my work quite recently, I didn’t have any ideas I liked, I was procrastinating hard and everything I was making felt subpar. I still feel a bit like that. I know I’ll feel like that again.

So here are a few ways you can engage with your creative rut and make it seem a little less overwhelming.

 

Embrace it

Okay, so you’re human. You’re not a machine, you’re a living being. That means you’re going to have to take breaks, you’re going to have periods of slower or no growth. Trees lose their leaves in winter, bears hibernate, people have creative ruts. So, embrace whatever’s going on, whether you have no ideas or no motivation and take it as a sign that you need to listen to what your body is telling you and accept you might need a little break.

Let it breathe

Linked to the point above, is the fact that sometimes we misinterpret impatience as a creative block. Cut yourself a little slack. Take the time to play around, and to find inspiration. Being bored and lazing around can be a good thing. Sometimes all you need is an extra day.

Run away from it

Generally, we’re not meant to run away from our problems. We get told over and over to face up to them and just get on with it. Sometimes that does work with a creative block, but sometimes you do need to run away from it, quite literally. Go on a run. Leave the house, the office, the country. Go do something different, be somewhere different. A change in scenery can sometimes give you a change in perspective.

Step back from it

In that time away from your desk, take a step back from yourself as well and have a think about why you’re feeling blocked. Have you been working on a load of client projects and not had the chance to work on something you love? Are you overwhelmed by a blank page? Are you over tired? Have you been stuck in a routine? Are you not doing work you’re interested in? Are you facing something else in your life? Sometimes, a creative rut is a symptom rather than the problem. Take the time to work out if there’s something else contributing to how you’re feeling, and if there’s something you can do about it.

 

Put it back in a box

Give yourself some constraints. Sometimes limiting yourself (time, subject matter, materials, style, colours etc.) can force you to be more creative. For example, I love Kevin Townsend’s  timed pieces, which then seemed to create a whole new style and way of working for him. Putting yourself in a box, is sometimes the best way to get out of it – what’s more terrifying than a completely blank page when you have no ideas?

Do you have any tips for people struggling with a creative rut?

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I was lucky enough to receive a ticket for one of the beginners classes at Print Club London this Christmas. It was something I’d wanted to do for quite a while, and as this year I’m trying to learn as many new things as I can, I was a very happy bunny when I unwrapped them. I did my session a couple of Sundays ago, and I was even happier when I left their studio with my prints in hand.

Before I went, I was asked by a couple people to tell them what it the beginner’s class is like so they could work out if they wanted to go/buy tickets as gifts. So, I thought I’d share a bit of a review here as well in case anyone else out there was wondering.

What is it?

It’s a full day workshop that takes you through the full process of creating a single colour screen print from prepping your image, to creating a screen and then actually printing. By the end of the day you get to walk away with a final print run of 10, as well as some misprints if you’re lucky. Along the way you’ll get to learn about the history of screen printing and pick up some tips from the experts.

What did I think?

The overarching thing feeling was that I had a great day of making and learning.

As someone who had never screen printed before the class, I could now confidently talk someone else through the process, which I think is a sign of a good piece of teaching. There’s just the right mix of history, examples and then plenty of making.

I was so pleased with the prints that I came out with (so pleased that I’m selling some) and I didn’t see anyone who wasn’t really happy with what they had made. All of the images, as diverse as they were, came out wonderfully. It’s a craft class where you genuinely make something of a really high quality.

This might not be important to everyone but it’s a workshop that’s still comfortable and fun if you’re on your own or if you go as a group, and (at least from the sense in my class) whatever experience you’ve had before. So no one should feel nervous or uncomfortable about going.

What tips would I give someone who wants to go?

First off, just do it. If you’re thinking about going, I would definitely recommend you book your class because it is so worth it.

Second, give some thought to the image you want to print. During the class you work on printing one image, so make sure you take some time picking out what you want to print. It can be anything a doodle, an illustration (as long as it’s not someone else’s), a photo, or something else. I saw examples of them all working well in my class. Just remember you’re printing in one single colour so you want something with a fair amount of contrast. You also need an image that’s in a high enough resolution to be printed at A4.

Third, here are some ideas of nice places you can go for lunch nearby if you’re not a local. Voodoo Ray’s is one of my favourite pizza spots in London (even though I really shouldn’t eat cheese). They sell by the slice, are reasonably priced, and delicious. If you’re in the mood for a cafe both Finger’s Crossed and Old Dalston Cafe are great options. But if you’ve got the good fortune of going when the weather’s nice, I’d say pick up some bits and pieces from Harvest E8 on your way in then have your self a picnic on the Downs.

Support my screen printing habit

I have definitely got the screen printing bug, so much so that I’m selling some of the 10 final prints I made in my store to fund going back to do their more advanced class, and perhaps even become a member. So, if you’d like a print of the design above or if you’d just like to support my screen printing dreams, you can pick one up for just £25.

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It’s time for my another monthly roundup. In this second edition I’ve got some thought provoking long reads, a YouTube recommendation and I’m channelling my inner Gene Kelly.

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SHORT READS, IF YOU’VE ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES:

1. What I Realized About My Self-Esteem Problem

While not necessarily about creativity or design, I loved this piece from (one of my personal heroes) Leandra of Man Repeller all about self-esteem. It’s a really refreshing take on the struggles a lot of us face (or rather hide from) day to day, from someone who seems to have so much confidence the world at her very well-dressed feet.

2. The most influential female designers of the last century

On the centenary of women’s suffrage in the UK, have created mini profiles on some of the female designers who have made an impact on everything from graphics to textiles over the past 100 years. It’s an inspiring list and includes one of my personal heroes Margaret Calvert.

3. Chatty Sketchbook Tour · Learning To Love My ‘Mistakes’

How I had I not been watching Minnie Small’s videos before this year? They are so good. Her videos are based around her art, but also include vlogs and more lifestyle content. I really enjoyed her most recent sketchbook walk through, mainly because of the way she approaches her rough work as a conversation between her and the page. If you’ve got the time I’d also recommend her studio redesign video, because her new space is so wonderful and well designed.

 

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LONG READS, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO GET YOUR TEETH STUCK INTO:

1. The Consumers Book

The Consumers Book is a manifesto on consuming more inspiration and combinational creativity. Made up of quotes and stories lifted from elsewhere and patched together it’s well worth a read. It’s beautifully put together as well. I know you shouldn’t judge a book on how it looks, but damn sometimes beautiful things do just work, or rather read, better.

2. Why Accessible Design Isn’t a Niche Market

In last month’s longer form piece I talked about assumptions and accessible design. If you enjoyed that post, or it got you thinking you’ll really like this too. Aiga’s eye on design reflects on a new exhibition at Cooper Hewitt which reminds us that all design is fundamentally assistive, and asks what can designing for accessibility teach us about designing universally?

PS – I love pretty much everything Eye on Design publishes

3. How One Typeface Landed on the Moon

I feel like most people associate Futura with Wes Anderson movies, and all of the aesthetic dupes of his work. But it started off as an avant-garde contribution to 1920s Modernism. Then by the 1960s, it had become part of NASA’s authoritative image. This is the story of how that happened

SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT:

This is an odd and all-encompassing favourite for the month, but I have been really loving music again. I go through phases of listening to only podcasts or music (or in rare cases nothing) but I’m back on the hunt for great new music at the minute, and dreaming of spending my days dancing around the kitchen like Gene Kelly.