Marketers, developers, designers, and dreamers, we all hit creative blocks. Whether you’re stuck on new work, planning a client pitch, or just staring blankly at your notes app, it helps to shake things up. I like to feed my brain weird, wacky, and wonderful inputs. New places. New sounds. New ideas. Basically, I chase creative inspiration the same way a kid chases the ice cream truck.
Here are some of my favorite (and totally doable) ways to tap into your own creative juices, whether you’re brainstorming, problem-solving, or building your next big thing.
1. Don’t Skip the Intro
Seriously—don’t click “Skip Intro” the next time you binge a new show. Opening credits are a gold mine of visual innovation and creative ideas. From haunting music to abstract motion graphics, to unique photography and illustrations, they’re a great way to explore storytelling across different formats. A few to watch: Severance, Yellowstone, Last of Us.
2. Get Out of Your Own Voice
One of the biggest inspirations for me? Stories from people whose lives are completely different than mine. Explore TV shows and movies by or about Black, Asian, Latino, LGBTQ, or Gen Z and Gen Alpha creatives. Not only will you hear new vocabulary and slang, but you’ll also get a fresh perspective on daily life, humor, love, and struggle. Try Scandal, Get Out, Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights, Schitt’s Creek, Queer Eye, or Never Have I Ever.
3. Play with Music Made for Thinking
Music is a powerful tool, especially when it’s designed to stimulate creative processes. I keep a few brainstorming music videos bookmarked on YouTube, some for focus, some for energy, and some just to snap me out of a funk. Explore new genres, or pick something you hate and listen to it anyway. Bonus points for finding songs in a different language. (Here’s a favorite of mine from Christine and the Queens in French!)
4. Do a Puzzle Meant for Kids
This is a huge source of inspiration and relaxation for me. I pull out a 200-piece children’s puzzle when I feel stuck. (Yes, I own one featuring Disney villains and another shaped like a US map.) It’s oddly satisfying and just challenging enough to activate a new part of your brain without overwhelming it. Plus, it’s a great way to take a break without diving into social media.
5. Use the “Wrong” Hand
Brush your teeth, stir your coffee, or write your name using your non-dominant hand. It’s not about neatness or actual productivity, it’s about rewiring your brain and getting out of your comfort zone. There is research that supports the idea that this can stimulate cognitive and creative functions. You might even discover new possibilities in how you approach creative work.
6. Play Tourist in Your Own City
From Ripley’s to Six Flags to the local zoo or science museum, tourist attractions are bursting with design inspiration if you look closely. Notice the color palettes of souvenir shops, the signage design in waiting areas, even the music loops playing on repeat. One of my favorites? The honeybee-patterned safety strip at the Winnie the Pooh ride in Disney World. Details like that can spark new ideas for your next UX project or interior design concept. And, if you are really feeling brave, venture out alone!
7. Rediscover the Library
Your local library is an incredible source of inspiration. Wander the aisles with no agenda. Pick up old magazines. Flip through books on origami, nature photography, retirement planning, or interior design. This kind of serendipitous discovery is one of the most underrated ways to find creative inspiration. And it’s free!
8. Get Lost in the Arts
Community theater, a symphony playing along with a movie, the St. Louis Art Museum, these are treasure troves for the creative mind. Read the museum placards. Watch how local actors solve staging challenges on a shoestring budget. These moments pull you out of your everyday life and into new creative approaches. (Check out the mural on the side of our building!)
9. Color Outside the Lines
Literally. Buy a new box of crayons and a coloring book meant for toddlers. Or try adult paint-by-number kits—I fell in love with these during the pandemic. They’ve become a regular part of my creative life. The act of coloring can be meditative and unlock parts of your brain that don’t always get to play during your active stage of work.
10. Flip Your Perspective
Look at a world map from the POV of Australia where the US isn’t in the center. Suddenly, things look different. Apply this idea to your work: hand your website or app to a middle schooler or a senior citizen and ask what they think. You’ll get feedback from people outside your business or design bubble and gain a fresh perspective that might spark something brilliant.
11. Try a Digital Detox
Turn off your phone. Close every tab. Then… notice. Close your eyes, what does your house smell like? What texture is that throw pillow you’ve never really felt before? Listen to the birds. Feel the fresh air. Sometimes, the most important thing is to simply be present in the moment.
Creative inspiration doesn’t always strike like lightning. But it can be called and cultivated. Stay curious, embrace new things, and maybe get a little weird. The most creative people I know aren’t afraid to play, wander, or look silly. That might just be the only thing standing between you and your next big idea
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