How to Get Rid of Creative Burnout ~Fashion Design Edition~

Hello! I have just finished my summer classes from my study abroad and I took a little time to go through my portfolio, touch up a few things, and add some projects from this past year! Since being back between working and schoolwork, I have have found myself in some times of creative burnout. Creative burnout can be brutal which is why you have to take care of yourself and give yourself time to breathe. I found I have a few solutions that I found that helped and got my creative spark back!

1. Sketch with a Pen

When I was in high school, the first assigment when I got when we were given our sketchbooks was to sketch in pen. My art teacher in high school said the exercise would help us to learn that it was okay to make mistakes since you can't erase pen. I had a little notebook with me, so when I would have a break in my day I would sketch out some rough silhouettes and it helped me to get some new ideas flowing!

2. Experimental Patterning

Sometimes having a burnout means that you've done the same thing over and over again too much. One of my favorite activities to do which has also become a calming exercise for me is draping on a form. Patternmaking and draping can be a fun creative exercise because there not any rules of how a piece needs to come out. You can make one look and if you don't like it, you can change the tape or cut the fabric!

3. Moodboards!

I will say it once and I will say it again, pinterest and moodboard making is your best friend. What I loved about moodboard making is that there really doesn't have to be a plan behind what goes on the moodboard. Whenever I make a moodboard, I look up one word and then all the other pictures would be whatever I found on my Pinterest feed. When I was making my junior collection moodboard, I used that method because I was unsure what I wanted the theme of my collection was going to be. I looked up a picture of a butterfly that I liked and the rest is history :)

4. Go Outside

Although the summer often brings the heat, reconnecting with nature can clear the mind and refresh the brain versus doomscrolling on your phone. In the mornings before it gets hot I have been taking long walks around my neighborhood. Sometimes I'll listen to music or a podcast but sometimes I'll take my dogs and watch them be super excited about going on a long walk. If the weather doesn't allow going outside, such as rainy weather or it's too too hot, going to a coffee shop or a mall also works. The idea is to change the scenery to bring new experiences into the brain.

5. Rework an Old Design

Sometimes if you love something you made, it never hurts to revisit the project and rework it to make it slightly different from the original piece. I wanted to make something for fun, so I decided to make a corset again. Instead of using the same style I decided to play around with cutouts, a different neckline, and even a different lacing closure instead of grommets. I've also found a lot of lace trims that I decided to add to! It's still a work in progress, but the more I add and work on it, the more fun I have had and more ideas come to me!

If your burnout still feels like its an obstacle to your creativity, I want to remind you that it is okay to step back and take some time to recharge! Mindfulness and wellness are important to your health, so you can continue to be a stellar designer! Happy designing and creating!

~S