UX designers deal with a lot of things in their day-to-day work. Dealing with product/feature requirements, understanding user goals and business goals, coming up with creative solutions, preparing for user testing, and what not — all of this can drain a designer’s energy sometimes. It is natural for any UX designer to get stuck in a mental block. After all, UX designers are humans!
That being said, UX designers have to do their job, just like any other professional. So, what to do when you struggle to come up with creative ideas? Here are 5 ways in which you can try to get past your creative block.
1. Get feedback
The importance of feedback and iteration is not hidden in the UX domain. Not only does it help a UX designer get some more perspective but also ensures that all stakeholders and collaborators are included in the process. Consistent feedback sessions can be an efficient way to bring everyone to the same page and get more ideas. It is possible for a UX designer to miss certain use cases, or neglect some angle of the project. Getting feedback can bring these missed opportunities to light.
2. Revisit the problem statement
UX designers are essentially problem solvers. Creating fancy interface designs is not the goal of a UX designer. The UI designs and/or prototypes are not the solution. These are deliverables. These are the means to a solution. UX designers often miss this part. It is a good idea to look back at the problem statement to check whether the designs actually solve the problem. This can be a source of more strategically directed ideas.
3. Look at data
Each design decision that a UX designer makes has to have a reason behind it. The final deliverables must make sense. This will happen only when all decisions have a rationale associated with them. Assumptions can be tricky entities to base your decisions. Real data has the power to guide a UX designer in a concrete manner. Data driven design decisions result in streamlining the process and getting clarity on way forward.
4. Seek inspiration
Looking for inspiration might be a common thing and almost everyone knows about it. However, the importance of seeking inspiration should not be undermined. Whether you do a UX audit or competitive analysis or just explore randomly on the Internet — anything and everything counts as seeking inspiration. You never know what might spark an idea!