In spring 2013, I realized I had fallen into a creative rut. I wondered why I wasn’t improving as a graphic designer. I had some good ideas for personal projects, but I never acted on them because I felt I “had no time.” Then I realized that I spent my leisure time watching Netflix, playing games and reddit-ing … I did have the time; I just wasn’t using it well.

I did have the time;
I just wasn’t using it well.

I wanted to try new things and improve my skills. So starting that June, I set a goal to design something every day for one year. Although it was a personal goal, I shared those creations with the world in order to keep myself accountable. (Otherwise, I never would have followed through.)

Looking back on it, I consider the project a tremendous success. Not only did I achieve my original goal of expanding my skill set, but there were unexpected benefits as well. I noticed a substantial increase in both the quantity and quality of my creative ideas. And by the end of the year, I realized I was also much faster at finding solutions to many of the design problems I encountered. That in turn led to increased confidence in my abilities. It’s become a cycle of continued growth.

This is why I firmly believe that every creative should take on their own daily creativity project — ideally for an entire year. The positives far outweigh the negatives. The lessons you’ll learn during the experience will make you better — both at your craft, and as a person.

“But that’s so much time to invest,” you say? Yes, it is quite an undertaking to create something every day, so I understand your hesitation to make such a commitment. Just remember, the time will pass anyway. So why not invest it wisely? If you feel you simply cannot commit to a whole year, then try it for six months, or even one month. (And also know that I believe you can last a year!)

Just remember, the time will pass anyway.
So why not invest it wisely?

In this article, I’m going to do everything I can to convince you to start your own daily project. I’m sharing discoveries and insights from my own experience to help you get the most out of yours. I’ll tell you why you should do it, how you should prepare, and what to keep in mind once you’ve started. You can do this.

Not a designer? Not a problem! This concept can be applied to any form of creative expression — photographers, culinary artists, musicians, writers, ad infinitum. Whatever you create, do it every day for one year. I know from personal experience that your talent will grow by leaps and bounds.

How this will help you

For a goal that focuses on making 365 tangible creations, many of the benefits are intangible. Here are a few of the rewards you can expect from tackling a daily creativity project:

• More efficient time management
• Increased organization
• Deeper level of creativity
• Faster pace of iteration
• Improved problem-solving capabilities
• Increased confidence in talent
• Expansion of (or freedom from) creative “comfort zone”

Setup involved

Once you’ve decided to commit to this project, there are a few things you should prepare.

Start a blog

Accountability is imperative, so you need to share your creations every day. It will also give you a visual reminder that you’re actually accomplishing something!

This is also where you should detail your process for each project — inspiration, progress shots, problems encountered, etc. (Here’s why.) Wordpress and Tumblr are two free blog editors that are quite simple to set up. Behance is another good option, since it’s designed specifically for sharing creative projects.

Utilize your Instagram

This is where you should share a pic of your finished product. In the captions, always remind your audience that they can view the whole creation process on your blog. Make sure to include your blog as the website in your profile so people can access it easily.

Take note of what hashtags your peers use when they post projects similar to yours. (And actually use them when you post! This makes it easier for people to find your work.) It would be wise to make a list of the tags so you don’t have to try and remember a dozen of them every time you publish.

Use an analytics service like Iconosquare to determine the best times of day to publish to your particular audience. More exposure = more feedback on your work!

Track your ideas

It’s helpful to start with a few concepts in your back pocket. You probably already have a few ideas floating around somewhere in your creative mind. If so, list them! It will be easier to work on them every day if you have a clear summary of what exactly you’re trying to achieve.

Note: If you’re drawing a blank as to project ideas, try listing some things you’ve never made before — things you’ve always wanted to try your hand at. What would you try if you didn’t feel the pressure for it to turn out “perfect”? What are some materials you’ve never worked with before? What’s something you felt you haven’t had time to create? Large projects can be broken down into “bite-size” pieces for each day.

The best way to make sure your ideas come to fruition is to organize them. I use Trello to do this. (Some similar options are Basecamp and Wrike.) With project management systems like these, you can log your ideas, categorize them, tag them, search for them, and schedule them. It’s an easy way to keep track of your ideas and their progress.

There’s also an app called Momento that you can use to catalog your ideas; however, you won’t be able to manage their progress from there. And you can always use pen and paper if that works better for you, but if you have even a slight tendency to be disorganized, I highly recommend you use a program designed to keep your stuff orderly.

Recipes for success

There’s no sugarcoating it: the journey through a year-long project is an arduous one. To keep yourself motivated, implement the advice below.

Establish a routine

This might mean that you always create at a certain time of day, or in a certain place, or after completing certain rituals (e.g., enjoying a cup of tea). Just make your process a habit so it feels natural.

Journal about each piece

It’s therapeutic to compile your thoughts after completing your work. Reflecting on your thought process and workflow will help you see if there’s anything you can improve upon in the future. Plus, your audience will enjoy hearing the story behind each concept.

Maximize your creative potential

Do yourself a favor and read about the science of creativity. You’ll see that it doesn’t have to be a whim you must cater to; it can be controlled and honed. Here’s a good place to start studying.

Reach out to your peers

There are hundreds, if not thousands of other creatives working toward the same goal. Get in touch with them so you can pick each other up when you stumble, and cheer each other on toward the finish line.

Some 365-ers I follow(ed):

• Sabrina Smelko, 365 Days of Type
• Robba Saldaña, The Playlist Project
• Satesh Mistry, LMNOP Project
• Jessica Hische, Daily Drop Cap
• Steffen Peterson
• Eliza Cerdeiros, Motivational Monday (Weekly, but same concept)
• David Johnson
• Bob Ewing, Hashtag Lettering

In conclusion

I think I’ve covered pretty much everything you’ll need to start your own daily project. Now it’s up to you to make it happen!

If you have any questions, please hit me up. I want you to succeed in this and I’ll do what I can to help. And once you do get going, let me know where I can follow along in your journey! Best of luck. ☺