A total contradiction, I know! but hear me out...Sometimes having too many options can be overwhelming and it can create confusion when it comes to deciding where to focus your attention. Too much choice can be paralyzing.
Setting limitations, or as I like to say setting "creative challenges" in jewellery design creates focus and provides you with a direction, an area to explore and look for inspiration. Working within those parameters encourages you to think about or work on topics you normally wouldn't think about. Refining parameters or setting creative limitations forces you to rethink your approach/ process and creates a connection of new and different inspiration sources.
As a designer I find that the client sometimes sets the "creative limitation" by having particular requirements but in other cases I use the limitations listed below to outline a focal point and work from there.
Creative challenges I like to set for my self include:
Style limitations -this might include setting parameters within a particular jewellery style (either mood based or visual)
Colour limitations - this may include a metal colour/ mixed metals or gemstones colours
Material/ media limitations - explore uncommon or new materials. Prohibit yourself from working in the medium your most comfortable using
Time limitations - setting a reasonable but challenging timeframe
Technique limitations - focusing on one technique or a group of techniques like setting type/ production method/ type of articulation etc.
Its a very counterintuitive approach to achieve creative results but it works, trust me. It's creating a problem to solve and solving that problem in the most creative way possible. Use the challenges as an opportunity to improve your problem solving process, gain a better understanding of your tools and techniques and to open your mind to find new creative processes.
"We need to first be limited in order to be limitless" Phil Hansen
After being in the jewellery industry for a while I found myself feeling very uninspired and a little lost. Totally stuck in a rut. I committed to a fairly large, 100 day drawing challenge to help me find my passion again. My limitations were set around learning to use my alcohol markers (markers that I had purchased years earlier for a university project and hated with a passion). I had seen artist using markers and getting incredible results. I thought they would be perfect for communicating the beautiful colours of natural gems so my creative challenge was set around exploring and learning to use a new medium.
Creative limitations help me everyday. From working through small one-off designs or large collection designs. Setting limitations helped me to totally transform my style and my offering. I have changed my process and willingness to trying something new and this freedom wouldn't have happened unless I set some limitations first.