You're struggling to come up with new ideas for mobile design. How can you break out of your creative rut?

It is crucial for designers to conduct desk research to understand the relevance and innovation of technology. Brainstorming tools like ideation and Crazy 8 can help materialize these ideas.

This typically used to happen to me if I am working on similar kind of projects continuously for extended period of time. A few years back I used to play a dual role of both designing and coding (actionscript/html/css) and switching between the two really helped me break the rut. These days I try doing something radically different...indulge in some hobby (music or art), basically forcing your brain to completely change focus and then when you get back you would feel refreshed. If you cant afford a 'break' like that, then going through other experiences (could be a gaming app) totally unrelated to the subject you are designing for might help too.

Sometimes it can be really intimidating to design for Mobile screen as there is size and interaction method constraints. There are some really great resources dedicated to mobile design available on the web which might come handy next time you design for web. 1. Mobbin.design- Design pattern of already successful apps. 2. pttrns- Design pattern library 3. emptystat.es- Empty states library 4. designspells- Interaction & Animation Inspiration Avoid looking for design inspiration on dribbble as the designs posted here lacks practicality and seek inspiration form real, live, working product with great user base and design sense like Airbnb, Google etc.

If I struggle to find new creative ideas, I mostly look up solutions from a non-related area. For example, I explore a retro device and how it works and handles different problems. Before "cordless" phones, they added a very long cord to the phone, they assembled the phone to the wall so as not to move while pulling the phone. It was on the wall so you could talk with someone while cooking in the kitchen and not knock anything down on the counter. These little "solutions" can help you to imagine anything new for your mobile phone app.

When I am struggling with a creative idea, I take a break from my current task and explore some ideas on Mobbin, Behance & Dribble. Also, I sometimes ask AI to create a UI design, and AI will create some weird designs and I get the idea of what I need to add.

Feedback is a great way to hear what you won't say and see what you won't see. design in general should be user centric, thus hearing from those facing the problem you want to solve is one of the best ways to get inspirations and see design in new lights.. you can draft a guilded questionaire to help you get appropriate data, questions around past experience of users, challenges they are facing, how long the problem has existed, do they really want it solve and best approach they will be appreciate to access proposed solutions. some designs ideas won't come until you have first hand experience of the problem you intend to solve, participation is key in UX, something is wrong in the UX if you are struggling wilt design ideas.

"Date, don't marry!" That's what my colleague always says. It means don't stick to one idea too soon. It's good to listen to different people's thoughts and be open to their feedback. Taking breaks and coming back fresh helps you see things you might miss when you're tired. Going for walks, exercising, and looking after your mind are important too. Stepping away from work relaxes your brain and helps you think of new ideas. Remember, feedback can come from anyone around you, not just your coworkers. The more views you get, the better your design can be.

Feedback é contínuo, além de buscar feedbacks com pessoas experientes da área, falar com n?o designers também ajuda muito, já que eles n?o se prendem aos conceitos aprendidos por designers e podem ser uma fonte de inova??o devido a capacidade de pensar diferente. Rever a própria solu??o após um tempo é uma forma de se auto-avaliar, já que num primeiro momento o objetivo é apenas criar a solu??o da forma mais rápida possível e muitas vezes n?o é a mais eficiente, rever o próprio conceito criado depois um descanso de horas trabalhando numa mesma tarefa pode ajudar bastante.

Seeking feedback is a crucial step for any designer aiming to improve their work and tackle creative hurdles. It involves asking others for their thoughts on your designs, which can provide fresh perspectives and valuable insights. Feedback helps you see your designs from a different angle, pointing out areas that might need improvement or clarification. It's like having a second pair of eyes to catch things you might have missed. Plus, getting feedback from different people can help you understand how your design is perceived by others, which is key for making it user-friendly and effective. It's a chance to learn from their experiences and build relationships within the design community.

Best way to improve your mobile design skills. Gather feedback from real users through surveys, interviews, or usability testing. Understanding their needs and pain points can spark new ideas for improving the design.

You may use the below ideation techniques : - Six Thinking Hats??by Edward de Bono - Crazy 8’s ideation techniques However, taking a break and then looking at your task from a bird’s eye view may also get you some fresh perspective!

I would generally try to use skeuomorphisem model this will help with simplification of design as well as creating a unique design pattern

One hack in getting more ideas is using Figjam AI feature. Smart prompting can generate a bunch of nested ideas within minutes.

Sketching - The basics: Use pen and paper to sketch out ideas, wireframes, and concepts. Doodling can help stimulate creativity and allow you to quickly explore different design possibilities.

Trying out different tools means testing new ways of doing things in your job or field. It's like experimenting with different gadgets or methods to see what works best for you. By doing this, you can learn new skills, find better ways to solve problems, and keep up with changes in your industry. It's about being open to new ideas and always trying to improve. In the end, it helps you become more versatile and better at what you do.

To effectively track diverse design trends for mobile, consider exploring various sources such as: 1.Design Inspiration Websites: Like Dribbble & Behance for a range of project styles. 2.Real App Designs Showcase: Platforms like Mobbin showcasing actual app screens. 3.Analysis of Existing Apps: Experimenting with existing apps and dissecting their design elements. 4.Following Leading Designers: Stay updated with influential designers on social media platforms. 5.Daily Design Digests: Utilize resources like Muzli for daily design inspiration. By incorporating a variety of sources, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of current design trends and maintain relevance in the ever-evolving landscape of mobile design.

Following trends in mobile design can be beneficial, but it's essential to approach them thoughtfully. In my experience, a common mistake is blindly chasing trends without considering their relevance to the specific project or user base Before incorporating a trend into your design, understand the context of your project. Consider your target audience, project goals, and brand identity. Not all trends will be relevant to your project. Evaluate whether the trend enhances the user experience, solves a specific problem, or adds value to your design. Gather feedback from users to understand how they perceive the trend and whether it enhances their experience. Use this feedback to iterate on the design and make improvements as needed.

To change my mental state while designing, I mostly change my working place if I'm having some trouble finding new ideas. It can be changing your place to a coffee shop, a coworking office, or your desk at the office. Because I'm working from home, I sometimes just change rooms, instead of my working room, I take my computer to the balcony desk or sometimes to the couch in the living room. I sometimes just go to the office to change my environment.

Start Sketching I will go back to my drawing board and do a Crazy Eights excercise. This brings loads of new ideas on the table :)

When you find yourself in a creative rut or facing challenges in problem-solving, immersing yourself in a new environment can stimulate your creativity. This change of scenery disrupts your routine and exposes you to different stimuli, which can spark inspiration and encourage innovative thinking. Working in a new environment, such as a different room in your home, a coffee shop, a park, or a coworking space, provides a novel backdrop for your creative endeavors. The new surroundings offer a break from the familiar and mundane, allowing you to approach tasks with a renewed perspective.

If I can't find inspiration or my brain starts to hurt, I close the computer and do something physical. It can be yoga or sport, cooking or just cleaning the house. Both physical tiredness and thinking of something else will help you to move away from the design problem and help your mind to rest for this situation. After this, you can start thinking with a fresh mind and imagination.

You can also challenge yourself by trying to design one idea per minute, for a certain period. At some point you’ll end up designing without even thinking, and in some cases you can find yourself doing great explorations ??

Creativity connects to your state of mind. If ideas aren't coming, try to work on your environment, bring things that you enjoy, like a cup of hot chocolate for me, with my little cat around??. A very cozy space is really helpful as well.

Creative inspiring mood boards, helps in ideas and inspirations. Sometimes, all you need is the perfect picture of what you are about to design. While this is very valid too, it's important to note also that environment and other factors influences how well one can be able to design very much well. So yeah, another great option to the ones listed above is having a good creative mood boards

A design workshop with an exercise called “crazy 8s” can unlock insights from your teammates on possible design avenues. Proposed by Google Ventures from their design sprint methodology, people fold a sheet of paper into eighths and draw rough UI concepts in each square during a timed exercise. Low-effort and low-commitment is sometimes the way to go to unstick projects and break through creative barriers.