How to Be More Creative as a Web Designer

The creative process is pretty torturous.

I don’t say that lightly. I’ve experienced it.

When I was a full-time musician I would have an idea for a song that I knew was going to be my big break. I’d pull out my phone record a little bit of it and go to bed.

Then, I’d wake up the next day listen to that same recording and wonder how I ever thought it was a good idea. In fact, I’d get so discouraged I’d want to give up music altogether.

Web design has been no different and I don’t think I’m alone in my experience.

The Up’s and Down’s of Creativity

There are times when I’m working on a project for a client that I feel like a web design superhero. And, then there are times in that same project I want to call it quits…forever as a web designer.

So, what do you do?

How do you keep going?

How do you grow creatively without going absolutely crazy?

That’s what we’re talking about in this week’s episode of the Self-Made Web Designer podcast.

Gil Sandoval

My guest this week is Gil Sandoval. And, I actually met Gil when my band opened up for his band at a concert we were doing together.

Later on, Gil started a design agency around the same time I was beginning to learn web design and I reached out to him for advice.

He’s gone on to work on projects for companies like Disney, Lions Gate and Universal and has been a consistent source of wisdom and insight for me.

I’m so happy that Gil is sharing his wisdom with the Self-Made Web Designer crew this week.

The Truth about Creativity in Web Design

Being creative as a web designer is a lot of work. There’s this tension that you have to balance between being making a client happy and doing work that stands out.

Then there’s an internal struggle that happens that will make you want to quit altogether.

But, there are a few things that Gil shares that has helped him to stay creative as the CEO of a design agency things like:

1. Putting people around you that will challenge you creatively
2. Building a foundation of creativity as a core value
3. Always striving to improve
4. Exploring creative interests even if they don’t make money

Gil has done all of those things and through it all he’s built an amazing, profitable business that is serving big clients.

Gil gives away all his secrets in this episode.

You’ll Learn

• How to figure out what you’re really passionate about in web design
• How to stay creative as a web designer but still make a good income
• How to grow creatively by competing with yourself
• How to define success as a web designer
• How to use failure to win in the end
• How to be confident in yourself when you’re at a low point in the creative process
• How to keep relationships healthy when there’s creative disagreements
• How to start a project off on the right foot by asking the right questions
• The truth about landing big clients

Resouces

• Gil’s Website
• Gil’s Agency
• Gil’s Instagram
• Second Hand Wisdom Podcast
• Bench Player’s Podcast
• The Seth & Gil Podcast

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