What are the most common mistakes graphic arts professionals make when trying to innovate?

Staring at a computer screen before having an idea - the computer is just a tool, not a creativity machine. Ideas first, then execution.

I've heard many years ago, that if you start to brain storm, the first 10 ideas are from your logic brain, creativity kicks in only after no 10. So allow time to be creative, don't just run with the first idea. Explore and explore some more to allow your brain to delve deeper to create new design concepts.

Unfortunately, at times, we tend to overlook the beauty of ingenuity and the true delineation of the needs of each creation. Continuous changes and developments in trends often compel us to follow suit. We forget how important it is to create something unique, fearing that we may not align with the standards of the time, ultimately leading to a result that is mundane and uninspiring.

From a printers perspective, it is super important to make sure what you conceptually design can be physically executed in a feasible way for your client. Find a good printer to collaborate with EARLY on in the project to find the right medium, materials and finishes/embellishments to bring your design to life. Finding the right combination that fits your clients budget and keep on timelines is HUGE.

This is true not just for standard design tools, but also for new techniques brought on by emergerging technologies. Many designers 'shoe-horn' ideas like in like 3D, motion and AI into their work, without thinking through their overall strategy and execution. This is all to seem more competitive and 'on trend'. But as a result the over all concept can suffer, feel rushed, not well thought-out and gimmicky. New innovative techicques and tools should enhance your core concept and work and not be the central feature as your design loses meaning and originality.

I agree. Base on your major, you gotta be master of skills in those. As a fashion designer, you have master of some tailor’s skills , etc … But with my first company, they value one thing: Sense of humor. It’s mean like song “Hakuna matata”, so if you’re in rush or hard situations but your favorite tools not be there, and you gotta finish the job ,then now, your personal values show how creative you are. Each thing you knew: little or deeply at that moment become so important, and when you get through that, you understand more about yourself and your passion with job.

As a creative, you have to be willing to embrace failure. Our success often hinges on moving past the answers that feel safe and expected, and you have to be willing to get it wrong if you’re going to be brave enough to get it right. We are constant reinventors, and failure is a part of that process.

Fear is good thing. When you fear of something, you have double sense when you approach anything. It make you make decisions carefully. But don’t make it become an obsession, because when you focus on fear, losing, how much you can payback,… it’ll become an obsession and at this moment, you could be so wrong. Get out of this or draw a different way, more beautiful way, more gentle way to approach what you want cause you can, because there’re 23 characters left after “A” , and a whole universe that professional haven’t explored yet. When it comes to you at right time, you’re now M.Jordan got the ball for the last shot. Confidence couldn’t be built on imagination.

Context is everything. There are a million ways to solve a design problem, and it’s our role to whittle the options away by applying brand voice, audience context, and cultural norms (among many others!). You can create something beautiful, but if it doesn’t speak to the right audience and deliver the right message, it doesn’t matter.

I remember being a little girl and my grandmother handwritIng flyers for the church fish fry fundraiser. She would take a plain sheet of paper and a black sharpie, and she would carefully write the date, time, price, and location. She even drew a little fish on it! ?? Then she would hand copies I ut after service. Looking back at those flyers now, they were so plain! But guess what? They were effective. Because while a “pretty” design is important, the information is what is most important. So that is where I began anytime I am designing something new. Is the information I need to convey clear? If so, I proceed.

Tackling the topic of resistance to change: In the fast-paced world of graphic arts, adaptability isn't just a skill, it's your lifeline. While it's natural to find comfort in familiarity, the magic often happens outside of that comfort zone. Stay curious, stay updated, and above all, stay hungry for what's next. Embracing change doesn't mean abandoning your essence; it means enhancing it for tomorrow's audience.

If you want to change, first thing first - you have to admit that you’re not perfect. Every things we built- should not be the best, because we still have improve ourselves next days so we can improve our things better. If you can learn to put all into what you created but knowing there’re something even better is waiting base on your success today, you never want to stop. Your creative minds will always shine, your projects will inspire more people like you to join and because of community, trends are created, future’s clearer to see and change’s simple thing there… domino!

Graphic Design is a constantly changing discipline, what you like your client may not, and you may have half a dozen ideas from different people doing different jobs all expecting different results. Everything starts with the current business requirements, then the brief, concept, technology and results. Where I would understand and appreciate the Industry and competitors and do my research, I would also expect the brief to be totally transparent and very comprehensive. If you don't have these guidelines you could end up researching more, changing this and that, and doing quite a few extra versions which nobody understands, appreciates or wants.

You are not designing for yourself. Designing is a way of communication. You communicate with a certain set of audience. Do we keep the audience in our mind? Do we understand their likes, dislikes, beliefs, values and most importantly emotions? The best way to achieve that is to look at your own work by the lense of your audience. Once you design something take a break from your design. Detach yourself from it. Take a break and revisit it as an your audience. You'll surely know where it stands in terms of design and communication.