Crafts by Chris

I’m not a big fan of reality tv shows, but have to admit that Project Accessory has become my guilty pleasure. You can watch the episodes online here. (Yes, I’m being an enabler.) Each week designers, with varied backgrounds (hats, handbags, jewelry, shoes, etc.) have a different design challenge. The challenges involve creating multiple accessories in a limited amount of time around a theme. The designers are definitely pushed outside their comfort zones…jewelry designers creating a pair of shoes or a handbag.

How often do you step outside your comfort zone? If you have a clearly defined style and your work is easily recognized as yours that’s a good thing. However, if you don’t shake things up once in a while your designs may become stale. One of the things I’ve noticed while watching Project Accessory is that when the designers are pushed far out of their comfort zones, they lose their own sense of style.

So, how do you step outside of your design box while still retaining your own style? Baby steps. Change up your color palette. I’m not suggesting you work in neon colors if you generally work with a more muted color palette. Each season’s color forecast contains varied colors from brights to more muted shades. Try incorporating just a few seasonal colors into your designs. What else? Try a new technique or even working with a different medium. While the new technique or medium may not find it’s way into your designs, perhaps a shape or pattern will spark an exciting new idea.

What have you done this past year to step outside your comfort zone?