Ah, the holidays! That magical time of year filled with screaming kids, awkward gift exchanges, and endless versions of All I Want for Christmas Is You. But don’t let the chaos derail your creativity! With a little help from Design Matters, you can turn holiday madness into a source of inspiration. Let’s dive into five ways to keep your creative juices flowing (and your sanity intact).
1. Escape to a Design Talk or Podcast
When the kids are reenacting Die Hard with Nerf guns, it’s time to retreat. Pop on your headphones, pour yourself a strong eggnog, and delve in.
What to Binge:
- “Valuing Every Voice” by Batsirai Madzonga. This episode of Design Tracks delves into the power of inclusivity in design. Batsirai Madzonga explores how amplifying diverse voices can create more meaningful and impactful user experiences.
- “Learning from failure to be a better designer” by Sam Horner. In this Talk Sam shares that he is a color-blind designer and walks us through how Netflix approaches designing products and how success and failure isn’t as simple as it seems.
Pro Tip: Bonus points if you convince your relatives you’re “working” while binge.
2. Got a Cringe-Worthy Gift? Get Scrappy with It!
You unwrap the gift, and… it’s a sweater so hideous it’s practically an art piece. Instead of stashing it away, channel your inner MacGyver and repurpose it.
What to Read:
- “Letting Loose with Color” by Laura Kalbag. This article is packed with bold, fresh ideas to inspire you to get creative with anything—even last year’s failed DIY ornament.
- “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories” This article highlights how embracing authentic, everyday stories can elevate your designs. It’s a reminder that creativity doesn’t always require perfection—being scrappy, resourceful, and tapping into real human experiences can lead to extraordinary results. Perfect for designers looking to turn limitations into opportunities.
Holiday Hack: That ugly sweater? Perfect material for festive pillow covers, quirky wrapping paper, or the weirdest collage your portfolio has ever seen. And if the gift giver happens to comment – then remember to gush over the inspiration it evoked.
3. Make the Kids Your Creative Interns
Kids are loud, messy, and absolutely brilliant when it comes to thinking outside the box. Instead of fighting the chaos, embrace it—and let them help you experiment.
What to Try:
- “Designing the Unimaginable — Skills That’ll Expand and Evolve Digital Design” by Roberto Cabezas. Let the little ones inspire your next doodle marathon.
- “Illustration Styles That Diversify”. This article is packed with bold, fresh ideas to inspire you to get creative with anything—even last year’s failed DIY ornament.
Why It Works: Kids are unfiltered creativity machines. Sure, they might draw a cat that looks like a loaf of bread, but who’s to say you can’t turn that into your next big idea?
4. Ditch Mariah Carey and Listen to Talks About Sound
Holiday playlists are great—until they’re not. When you can’t take another rendition of Last Christmas, let Design Matters talks rescue your ears.
What to Listen To:
- “Experience the Data You Can’t See” by Tiziana Alocci. Dive into the intersection of sound and design for a little auditory inspiration.
Creative Challenge: Imagine how holiday sounds—like jingling bells or the sound of ripping wrapping paper—could inspire your next design project.
5. Set Goals (While Eating Big Cookies)
The holidays are the perfect time to reflect on your design journey and dream big for the year ahead.
What to Read:
- “The Value of Design” by Helena Trampe. This article explores why design matters in business and will leave you inspired to elevate your work in 2025.
How to Do It: Grab a notebook, jot down your big ideas, and remind yourself that yes, you’re killing it. Bonus points if you pair goal-setting with cookies and cocoa—fuel for both body and soul.
Finding Inspiration in Holiday Chaos
The holidays may be hectic, but they’re also the perfect excuse to step back, recharge, and embrace the chaos as inspiration. From all of us at Design Matters, we wish you a joyful, creative holiday season. And remember: if you can turn holiday mayhem into inspiration, you can turn anything into design gold.
