Embracing Constraints
When it comes to self-initiated projects, I’m really good at getting stuck chasing a very specific idea of what i should be creating — so much so that I don’t move forward at all.
Without the pressure of having to deliver (like you would in a job), I can get lost in the “process,” start doubting what I even want to make, or end up trying to imitate something I’ve seen online.
And when it doesn’t turn out as good?
Cue the sad balloon deflating noise.
No real surprise though — it wasn’t a true creative output from me anyway.
It’s a frustrating cycle, and I know I’m not the only one who falls into it.
To break out of it, I’ve found that giving myself a few simple restrictions actually helps me loosen up and just get started — instead of getting overwhelmed by a million options.
For this exercise, I set a few simple rules:
I gave myself one minute per piece.
No deleting or ctrl+ Z was allowed.
I used a pre-defined artboard with consistent padding.
I chose a fixed color palette ahead of time.
The timer would start, and for sixty seconds I just had to do something — no second-guessing, no overthinking.
These limitations gave me permission to play.
There was no time to worry if it was "good enough". Every small decision becomes part of the outcome, whether I liked it or not.
At the end of the session, I realized how much more willing I was to take risks when the pressure was off. Creativity for me, it turns out, thrives not in a vacuum of infinite possibilities, but within the frame of thoughtful, playful boundaries.
Harking back to my graphic design roots, I’ve been exploring basic shapes, forms, and compositions — challenging myself to create a variety of patterns from a simple family of shapes.
With no specific end goal in mind, I’m curious to see how these basic patterns might evolve over time.
Maybe they’ll turn into a set of baby flashcards, a high-contrast book for little ones. Or maybe a simple card matching memory game. Who knows?
For now, the important thing is: I made something that might lead to something else. As simple as that sounds.
