I am not going to lie, this happened to me many times, staring at the empty screen or a piece of paper and thinking I will find no solution for what I needed to do.

Almost everything has a solution, so why would this be a life blocker? Here are some ways you can surpass this issue:

Break the problem into pieces

One of my biggest issues when I need to design something is that I try to think about the whole solution and FAIL. The only thing that helps me is to break the problem into pieces so that I can focus on every small aspect of the big problem I need to solve.

How to do it

1. Think about the different aspects of your problem.
2. Write down on post-its on a digital to-do list what these aspects are.
3. Work on these micro-problems and check them off the list.
4. Assemble the puzzle and review the whole solution.

The crazy 8s

Crazy 8’s is a core Design Sprint method. It is a fast sketching exercise that challenges people to sketch eight distinct ideas in eight minutes. — Design Sprints by Google

By pushing yourself to think about 8 different ideas in 8 minutes your brain enters a state of focus because you are more stressed. That’s why setting up timers will block distractions and will help you think about the problem.

How to do it

1. Take a piece of paper and fold it until you have 8 sections where you can sketch.
2. Set up a timer for 1 minute per slot.
3. Don’t think too much, time is precious.
4. Review what you got and focus on the best idea or explore the best 3.

Look at other’s work

No need to be ashamed here, we all search for inspiration sometimes. Might be our colleagues’ work or some other solutions we found online. My go-to platforms when I want to find some inspiration are Dribbble and Behance.

Another thing you can do is to search how other companies are solving this problem. What they are doing well and what they are doing wrong. Looking at the competition isn’t a bad thing, it helps us understand how we can improve the experience of our products.

Talk with someone

Sometimes a good coffee and a friend can help all of your problems. When stuck upon a design challenge talk with someone — explain to them the problem you are facing, that’s how you can check if you understood the real problem and ask for their thoughts. You can find a solution together or the solution will come to your mind while discussing.

Just take a break

If nothing works then it’s probably because you are tired or overthinking the solution. Take a break. Mental health should be your #1 priority. It’s okay to take one step back and analyze with a clear mind.

Being lazy and being mentally exhausted are two different things, don’t snooze your health signals.

Conclusion

When stuck upon a design problem you need to:

1. Stop thinking about the big picture, work on pieces
2. Seek inspiration on platforms like Dribbble or Behance
3. Discuss the problem with someone — you can find the solution together
4. Sketch fast to think about the solution without other distractions
5. Take a break.

Thank you for reading my article and if you’d like to read my next articles follow and 👏🏻.