Designer's block, it's okay to talk about it…

If you’ve landed here, there’s a good chance you’re staring at your screen, feeling a little flat, and wondering why your latest project feels about as inspired as a tax return. First things first: it happens. Designer’s block is as old as Photoshop, and it can ambush anyone, whether you’re a fresh-faced freelancer or a battle-hardened agency lead. This post will help you shake it off and get your momentum back, without panicking or binning everything you’ve ever made.

Why This Matters

Let’s not sugarcoat it: designer’s block is the arch-nemesis of deadlines, decent sleep, and your general sense of self-worth. You might feel like the only person whose creativity suddenly leaked out of their ears at 10pm last night, but you are absolutely not alone. A creative block can mean slower turnarounds, projects that stall for weeks, and awkward conversations with clients sniffing around for progress updates. Worse still, it eats away at your confidence until you start to question whether you’ve genuinely forgotten how to make things look good. For people who live by their ideas, that’s no small thing.

Beyond the personal angst, there’s the professional cost. Late delivery, rushed fixes to fill the void, and missed opportunities to shine can all add up, whether you’re running your own business or handling someone else’s. And let’s be honest, nobody ever bills for the ‘creative existential crisis’ hours. Solving this doesn't just get you out of a funk; it can save you time, money, and the general misery of scrolling design Twitter looking for your lost mojo.

Common Pitfalls

Here’s where most folks get tripped up:

• Assuming the well is dry: You think because nothing good has come out in the last 48 hours, you’ve used up your last decent idea. Nonsense.
• Blank screen paralysis: That empty artboard is staring right back at you, so you scroll, you snack, you check the weather—anything except getting started.
• Waiting for perfection: You expect every single job to be portfolio-worthy. They won’t be. Some are just going to end up as sausage rolls, not showstoppers.
• Over-comparison: One quick swing through a trendy web showcase and you’re convinced everyone else has their act together. That’s their highlight reel; nobody shares their ‘stared out the window for four hours’ work.

And the one that really stings: suffering in silence. It’s easy to feel like announcing you’ve hit designer’s block is tantamount to a confession. Let’s call time on that now. This is just part of the gig.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Admit It (And Lower Your Shoulders)

Sounds obvious, but you’d be amazed how many creatives bottle it up. The sooner you say, “Alright, I’m stuck,” the sooner you can move on. Every designer I know, myself included, hits rough patches. It isn't a sign of declining talent, just a nudge to reset. Take five minutes to step away from your desk. Say it out loud if you need to.

2. Get Something Down—Anything Works

The worst thing you can do is let that empty canvas taunt you. Placeholders are your friend. Drop in your content, even if it’s ugly. Start with text blocks, images, boxes. What it looks like doesn’t matter yet. You’re not making art, you’re aiming for momentum.

3. Use Your Inspiration Resources

When you’re stuck, inspiration doesn’t often strike like lightning. You have to go foraging. There’s no shame in trawling design showcases, flicking through your old moodboards, or even revisiting successful projects from years past. Don’t feel you have to only look at things from the same sector you’re working on; great design ideas are everywhere.

4. Prioritise Your Content (So You Can Stop Overthinking The Rest)

If you’re drowning in content, start putting things into tiers. I use the classic three-level approach:

• Tier 1: Absolutely must-see content (usually right at the top): hero message, headline, main call-to-action.
• Tier 2: Stuff that’s important, but not mission-critical (service links, intros, news).
• Tier 3: Bottom-of-page material, bits it’s good to have but nobody’s scrolling to read at 2am (repeat contacts, maps, legal links).

Once the scaffolding is up, the creative part usually creeps back in. Structure always makes creative muscles twitch.

5. Take Your Eyes Off The Screen

Honestly, sometimes no amount of fiddling with layouts will fix what’s stalling you. That’s your sign to get up and move. Go for a walk, hit the kettle, chat to someone who has no idea what you do for work. Treat it as a reset. Your unconscious mind will juggle the puzzle in the background.

6. Build, Review, Repeat Without Being Harsh On Yourself

Once the bones are in place, get used to a cycle of quickly building and reviewing. Don’t expect version one to dazzle. Editing and iterating are where the magic hides. And if it feels average, it probably looks fresh to your client and their customers. Designers are notorious for being their own worst critics.

What Most People Miss

Most folks stare hopelessly at a blank screen, convinced real creatives never struggle. That misconception needs to end here.

The best designers keep going even when they don’t feel inspired. They have processes that help them push through when inspiration is nowhere in sight. As long as you keep moving from ‘stuck’ to ‘making’—even with terrible drafts—you’ll eventually create decent work.

The positive change comes when you stop waiting for brilliance and start expecting it to appear once you’re already working. Practical routines matter more than mythical inspiration.

The Bigger Picture

Overcoming designer’s block helps you avoid creative meltdowns now, but also contributes to building resilience for future projects. A single off day doesn’t define your abilities. With a support system in place to catch you when you falter (which will happen), you save hours, headaches, and possibly even your reputation.

Clients see only the final work, not the struggle that leads to it. Being reliable during a rough patch builds your reputation for both creativity and dependability.

Adding these mental models and routines to your toolkit cuts down on time spent worrying about blocks and gives you more time to enjoy the good parts of the job. You can move from just surviving to actually thriving in your creative career.

Wrap-Up

To sum up: Designer’s block happens to every single creative, no matter their experience or portfolio size. Admitting you’re stuck, getting something on the page, using your inspiration library, organising your layout by content priorities, stepping away when needed, and trusting the process—these are the habits that turn a creative rut into a temporary blip, not a full-blown crisis.

Next time you hit the wall, remember: you haven’t forgotten how to design, you’ve just run out of mental biscuits. Restock the cupboard, and get back to it.

Want more helpful systems like this? Join Pixelhaze Academy for free at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership.

Quick FAQ

How do I know if I’m really blocked, or just tired?
If nothing new comes out and your usual tricks aren’t working after a day, you’re probably blocked. Time for a reset.

What if nothing inspires me, even after browsing showcases and old work?
Switch tactics. Change physical environments or chat to people outside your field. Inspiration rarely knocks twice at the same door.

Should I tell my client I’m having a creative block?
Not unless you have to, but being honest with your fellow designers or community is hugely helpful. Everyone’s been there.

Does every design job need to be ground-breaking?
No. Plenty of great designers win by being consistently good, not by reinventing the wheel every Tuesday.

Bonus points for making it this far. Get up, stretch, and try again. You can do this.