Copyright Fast Company
In the creative field, customers expect top-notch thinking and designs, and they expect it in every project. But it’s not always easy to pull in those creative ideas at all times. From stress to distraction to burnout, the creative spark sometimes needs to be relit. There’s no one way to go about it and what worked last week may not work this week. But it’s important to find that solution because clients depend on it, and the business depends on it. Below, Fast Company Executive Board members share their perspectives on how creative types can take a moment (or two) to get into a different mindset that brings back that innovative spirit. 1. CREATIVE MODE SWITCHING. For me, inspiration can come from within (intrinsic) and from others (extrinsic). When I feel blocked, I get intrinsic inspiration from “creative mode switching.” If I’m stuck while designing, I might write instead, or if my writing is not flowing, I play the piano. Shifting creative channels frees me from constraints, and the fresh perspective often sparks the breakthrough I need. –Ken Olewiler,Punchcut 2. THINK ABOUT THE ACTUAL CUSTOMER. When I hit a wall, I go back to the buyer. Not a persona, but a real person making a high-stakes decision. Human-centric design starts with empathy: What do they need, feel, fear? The goal is not to add more features, but to remove roadblocks. Winning comes from balancing AI, digital, and human touch to convert in the moments that matter most when buyers want clarity, not complexity. –Gregg Johnson,Invoca Subscribe to the Daily newsletter.Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day Privacy Policy | Fast Company Newsletters 3. MOTIVATION, INSPIRATION, ACTION. For me, motivation plus inspiration equals action. When creativity stalls, I reset with music and an open mindset. I look to other fields for fresh ideas and lean on my team. Collaborating sparks new directions. Creativity under pressure isn’t about grinding harder but feeding the spark with fresh fuel to let ideas flow. –Gabriel Bridger,Rightpoint 4. CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT. I change my environment. I might go for a walk or workout. I might take my laptop to a restaurant or other public place and work from there. If my initial environment is quiet, I would go somewhere with noise and vice versa. –David Faye,Faye 5. DO SOMETHING UNRELATED. I seek distractions and dive into unrelated activities such as taking the dog for a run, heading to the gym, cleaning the garage, or watching strange documentaries. These mental breaks often bring me unexpected connections, ideas, and innovations. –Shawn Galloway,ProAct Safety, Inc. 6. TURN TO YOUR TEAM. When deadlines loom and I encounter a block, I always turn to my team. A fast brainstorm, even five minutes of bouncing half-formed ideas, can often result in a breakthrough. Seeing how others interpret the problem completely shifts my perspective. The notion that creation is not a solitary task but a collaborative one always helps me get beyond unpleasant creative blocks. –Volen Vulkov,Enhancv 7. TAKE A WALK. When I’m stuck, I walk. I learned early that inspiration rarely strikes when chained to a desk. Movement clears the head, gets circulation going, and opens space for fresh ideas. Some of my best solutions have come mid-stride, when the rhythm of walking helps me see problems in a new light. –Nicholas Wyman,IWSI America 8. TURN TO OUTSIDE INSPIRATIONS. Constraints help me think creatively when deadlines approach. Time, palette, and tools are some of my limits. Constraints help me think creatively. I often combine or use music, drama, and nature photography to frame a fresh problem and reveal an idea that a more strict design-thinking approach missed. –Gianluca Ferruggia,DesignRush 9. ASK FOR A FRESH TAKE. When I hit a creative block, the first thing I do is check in with our design and marketing team. Someone always has a different take or a fresh interpretation that I hadn’t considered. Even a quick back-and-forth can unlock something useful. It’s less about solo inspiration and more about pulling the right idea out of the group. –Travis Schreiber,erase.com 10. LOOK LONG TERM—AND BACKWARDS. I look into long-term brand goals rather than the immediate task. Stepping back helps me reconnect the work to the bigger picture and opens new pathways for ideas. I also turn to archives of past projects or timeless design references—not to copy, but to spark perspective. That shift from pressure to purpose clears blocks and keeps the creativity moving forward. –Goran Paun,ArtVersion advertisement 11. TURN TO THE REAL WORLD. When facing creative blocks, I step away from the screen and draw inspiration from nature, travel, and real-world experiences. Shifting perspective sparks fresh ideas and helps me return with clarity. Deadlines are easier to meet when creativity is fueled by authentic moments rather than forcing output under pressure. –Boris Dzhingarov,ESBO ltd 12. FIND CROSS-INDUSTRY INSIGHTS. I step into our clients’ spaces and observe real customer behavior. I also find inspiration through travel, experiencing different cultures, shopping, art and trending music. I pull ideas from unexpected places—how hotels create ambiance, airports guide flow, or music festivals manage crowd energy. Cross-industry insights often unlock the creative solutions we need for experiential challenges. –Jaime Bettencourt,Mood Media 13. OBSERVE PEOPLE. When I hit a creative block, I go for a walk and watch people. How they dress, how they interact, what sparks a smile or frustration—it’s endlessly inspiring. Observing people reminds me that design is about human behavior, and that perspective almost always unlocks fresh ideas. –Barry Lowenthal,Inuvo, Inc 14. DESIGN CONDITIONS FOR INSPIRATION. Instead of chasing inspiration, design leaders create the conditions for it to show up through perspective shifts, user empathy, and collaborative energy. –Britton Bloch,Navy Federal Credit Union 15. RECONNECT TO THE PURPOSE. I reconnect to the purpose behind the work. We’re not just constructing buildings, we’re creating spaces that strengthen community. I also draw on my team, whose shared values and collaboration often spark fresh ideas allowing us to look to new technology not as a replacement for people, but as a tool to amplify human creativity and vision, helping us move forward and deliver meaningful work. –Larry Brinker Jr.,BRINKER 16. CHANGE YOUR VIEW. When I’m stuck, I step away from the computer and look at the world around me. A walk outside, listening to music, or looking at art can spark new ideas. I also talk with my team and sketch simple shapes. Changing my view helps me find fresh ideas before the deadline. –Chris Dyer,Leadership Speaker 17. KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE OF YOUR SUCCESS. Personality type matters! As an introvert, clearing external noise brings me to my most creative space. My creative team is more extroverted and their best work is often the result of collaboration sessions filled with interactions and engagement exercises. Knowing the “root cause of your success” can make all the difference when you need a breakthrough! –George Pesansky,MyBlendedLearning.com 18. REVISIT DESIGN PRINCIPLES. When creative blocks hit under pressure, I step back and look outward—drawing inspiration from customer feedback, everyday experiences, or even unrelated industries. I’ll revisit design principles, scan case studies, or collaborate with peers to spark new perspectives. Shifting focus, even briefly, often unlocks fresh ideas and helps me return with clarity and momentum. –Maria Alonso,Fortune 206 19. LOOK BEYOND SCREENS. When facing a creative block, I look beyond screens—observing nature, architecture, or everyday interactions for fresh patterns and ideas. I also revisit user feedback, as real needs often spark solutions. Briefly stepping away to reset, then collaborating with peers, helps reframe challenges and fuel inspiration under tight deadlines. –Stephen Nalley,Black Briar Advisors 20. GO FOR A DRIVE. Take a productive pause to get behind the wheel and go for a drive by yourself to allow your brain to naturally wander. No distracting emails, texts, or social media to hamper your natural ability. Your brain usually wants to go there on its own, we just put screens in front of it that prevent it from developing the concepts fully. –Chaun Powell,Elevate by Principal 21. SEEK INSPIRATION FROM UNEXPECTED PLACES. When I hit a creative block under pressure, I step away from the screen and seek inspiration in unexpected places—fashion archives, architecture, or even a quick walk with my son. That reset clears my head. Then I return to my frameworks, which give me structure and help me turn fresh ideas into clear work. –Kristin Marquet,Marquet Media, LLC
