Tip of the Week

If you’re stuck in a rut, it can feel as though mastering your Wii was your last big accomplishment, so here are some suggestions to get you off the video games and back in the designing mood.

Choose your soundtrack and slap on your headphones. Queue up some trash metal, rock, hippie rap, or operatic arias. Whatever floats your boat, so long as it gets your Wacom pen flying or your Photoshop fingers flying.

Let your friends inspire you. Take a gander at your one of your Web 2.0 networks and see what your pals from around the world are up to. While you’re at it, rate their work and don’t be afraid to lavish them with praiseon their blogs, in an e-mail or the forums. Speaking of forums, we’ve got a bounty of helpful members standing by to help you.

There’s some killer designs in, my favourite, iStockPhoto’s Designer Spotlight too. We’re a planet full of top talent who continually contribute their award-winning creations to the web, so poke around and see if that sparks your plugs.

Lastly, get out and take it all in. We’re not built to sit in front of monitors for hours on end so get up and move around, and jump start your ideas. Go for a walk and get inspiration from the kids in the street or that guy down the hall in your office with that grey cardigan. Whatever it takes.