I’m a product designer who works on complex B2B products, so sometimes I’m stuck on one problem. Finding the most elegant solution for the user that gives them value, supports the business, and doesn’t hurt the app logic makes it hard.

Let me share with you some basic techniques I use to overcome creative blocks when I can’t find a good solution for something I’m trying to solve. It’s important to know that what works for me might not work for you. Everyone is different, and you must find what works for you.

Let’s go tip by tip.

Is there a way to prevent creative block?

Don’t fight creative block. It comes when it comes. Working hard on something may cause us to feel stuck, and this is normal. Just take action to solve the problem you’re facing and stop trying to figure out how you’ll overcome the creative block. Keep calm and keep going.

Start with stupid ideas

This is my favorite technique. I create all the ideas I have inside Figma. I can create flows that aren’t fluent or add icons that don’t make sense, which doesn’t matter. My goal is to move my brain, so I’m starting with simple and stupid ideas. As a result, things begin to move, and good ideas come.

Talk to people

A product team’s mission is to ensure that the product succeeds. Because of that, you can ask your team for help, whether it’s your PM, designer, or developer. You can also ask for help from people from another team. It’s always good when people from different teams talk to each other to find a solution.

Ask for a meeting with a team member and explain what you did and where you are stuck. Even a short meeting of 15–30 minutes can make a difference.

The most important thing to remember here is that when you ask for help, you must explain what you have done so far and where you are stuck. When you don’t show anything, it shows you didn’t try.

Check out these other products

According to Picasso, good artists copy, great artists steal. I believe it’s also true for product design. If you’re stuck, look at another program that makes what you do and see how they solve the problem. Also, you can look at programs that aren’t exactly like yours and see what you can learn. This is a good technique, and you’ll like it.

Crazy eight

The Crazy Eight exercise is about finding eight solutions to the same problem in 8 minutes. Fold a piece of paper three times, and you’ll get eight rectangles. Give yourself 8 minutes to draw a solution to the problem you’re struggling with. You draw one solution in each rectangle. The limited time forces you to find a solution fast, which is a great way to break a creative block.

Sketch your ideas

While sitting in front of the computer and playing with Figma is easy, but you can also sketch your ideas. The different format makes you think diffrent because it’s not the same as what you’re used to. I enjoy sketching on my iPad, but pen and paper are also good.

You can ask in design communities

The problem you need to solve is not unique to you. In design communities, you can ask about the problem you need to solve, and often you will find that other designers deal with the same issue. The advice people in communities will give you can be very helpful and give you hints on how to solve the problem. You can find design communities on Linkedin, Facebook, Quora, and Reddit.

It’s time to sleep

When you can’t find a solution to a problem, sometimes it’s best to rest and forget about it. If you disconnect from the situation and go to bed, you will wake up refreshed and with more energy to tackle the issue. It is often better to leave a task on the table and forget it until the next day.

Are there other techniques that help you? Please share it in the comments

Thank you for reading the article. I hope this article helped you understand how to overcome creative blocks. Please feel free to share it with your friends or team members, and if you have any questions, please let me know.

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