“Think Outside the Box? I Didn’t Even See the Box.”

A (Possibly Too Honest) Reflection on Creative Thinking as a Graphic Designer
Let’s get one thing straight: creative thinking is not about sipping a turmeric latte while staring at a blank screen waiting for the muse to show up wearing a beret. That’s not creative thinking—that’s procrastination with branding.
Creative thinking, for me, usually starts with a brief that says:
“We want something clean, but edgy. Trendy, but timeless. And can you make the logo bigger?”
Ah yes, the sweet poetry of contradictions. But that’s where the fun begins. Because being a graphic designer isn’t just about moving pixels—it’s about solving puzzles while juggling flaming swords. Blindfolded. On a deadline.
Creativity is Not Magic. It’s Mostly Panic.
People love to romanticize “the creative process,” but let’s be honest—it often begins with sheer panic, a little denial, and a deep dive into your 2007 font folder like it’s a crime scene.
But then something happens. Maybe it’s during a shower, a walk, or while aggressively stirring your third coffee. That little click. That “what if?” moment. It’s not lightning—it’s more like finally finding your glasses and realizing they were on your head the whole time.

I Don’t Brainstorm. I Braindump.
My “creative sessions” are 70% bad ideas, 20% self-doubt, and 10% gold I almost deleted by accident. I sketch. I mock. I play. Sometimes I start designing backwards—title first, idea later. You gotta trick your brain into behaving. Or at least confuse it enough to produce something interesting.
And let’s talk about inspiration. People say, “Where do you get your ideas?”
Answer: Everywhere. Vintage matchbox labels, bad menu designs, street signs, broken typewriters, awkward logos that haunt me at night. The world is a mess—and that’s where the magic is.
Feedback: The Love Language of Designers
Ah, feedback. The fuel that keeps us humble.
“It needs to pop more.”
“Can you make it fun but serious?”
“This design is perfect. Can we try something completely different?”
Yes. Of course. Let me just consult my magical unicorn of unlimited revisions.
But here’s the thing: creative thinking thrives under pressure. When someone says “No,” my brain says “Watch me.” When the brief is vague, the challenge becomes a playground. Creative thinking is rebellious. It’s resourceful. It’s taking nonsense and turning it into sense—with kerning.
Final Thoughts (Before My Next Existential Rebrand)
Creative thinking isn’t always comfortable. It requires curiosity, a thick skin, a quick wit, and a willingness to fail gloriously. But it also requires something we forget: joy. That moment when the client says “This is it!” Or when a tiny typographic detail makes you feel like a genius.
So, no—I don’t “just make things look nice.”
I make things work. I make people feel. I make brands matter.
And yes, sometimes I also make the logo bigger. With style.