As the sun shines brightly and the days are longer, the lively summer season is in full swing. It’s a time to connect with friends and family, enjoy blue skies, and soak up the warm weather. For many designers, summer is a slower season, providing an ideal opportunity to plan and strategize. But who says goal-setting has to be a tedious task? Let’s infuse some fun into the process and make it an enjoyable part of your creative journey.
Here are some tips to help you set goals in a fun, engaging way that will keep you motivated and inspired all year.
Visual Goal Mapping
Transform your goal-setting process into a visual experience. Create a vision board instead of writing down your goals in a traditional list. Gather magazines, print out pictures from the internet, or draw your own visuals representing your goals. Arrange them on a board or a large sheet of paper. This visual representation can be a daily reminder of what you’re working towards and keep your goals front and center.
Tip: Use bright colors, inspiring quotes, and a variety of textures to make your vision board visually stimulating and fun to look at.
Gamify Your Goals
Turn your goals into a game to make the process more exciting. Create a point system or a rewards chart where you earn points or rewards for completing tasks related to your goals. Set milestones and celebrate each achievement with a fun reward. This could be anything from treating yourself to a nice meal to taking a day off to relax.
Tip: Involve friends or colleagues in your game. Share your progress and celebrate each other’s achievements. Adding a social element to your work can be highly inspiring. In fact, Joe C, one of our Textile Design Lab members, shared these tips for incorporating fun into productivity: “If I’m doing research, looking for inspiration, making mood boards, etc., I leave my studio and walk around the art center a bit and visit artist friends in their studios, or I enjoy little things that make me happy: flavored coffee while I research, low music playing, colorful pens to write with, etc.”
Create Themes
Assign themes to different goals or months. For example, designate September as “Skill-Building September,” where you focus on learning new techniques or tools. October could be “Outreach October,” dedicated to networking and building connections. Themed goals can make the process more exciting and give you something specific to look forward to each month.
Tip: Create a calendar that outlines your themed goals and display it in your workspace. Decorate it with illustrations and motivational quotes to keep it visually appealing.
Incorporate Play into Your Planning
Use playful tools and techniques to plan your goals. Consider using colored markers, sticky notes, and washi tape to create a colorful and interactive goal plan. Design a goal tracker that looks like a board game, where each step you take toward your goal moves you closer to the finish line.
Tip: Incorporating play into your design work can be helpful as well! From one of our Textile Design Lab experts and mentors, MaryJane Mitchell, “I like to look at some of the silly characters I create. They make me smile. Also, I remind myself that I love what I am doing, even if sometimes I can’t make a design work.”
Celebrate Your Progress
Make sure to celebrate your progress along the way. Set mini-goals and reward yourself when you achieve them. Celebrations can be small, like enjoying a favorite treat, or larger, like taking a day trip. Recognizing and rewarding your achievements keeps you motivated and adds an element of fun to the process.
Tip: Keep a “Celebration Journal” where you document your achievements and the rewards you’ve earned. This will be a cheerful reminder of your progress and keep you motivated.
Join Our August Reset!
To help you seamlessly blend fun with productivity, we’re excited to invite you to the Textile Design Lab’s August Reset event. From August 5th-30th, we’ll guide you through reflecting on your achievements, setting new goals, creating actionable plans, and staying motivated. Our supportive community is here to share insights, offer encouragement, and celebrate each step of the journey.
By joining us, you’ll work towards meeting your career and business goals and enjoy the process. Let’s make the most of this summer, living in the moment while setting ourselves up for a productive and successful second half of the year.
Our Guest Expert will be Cinthia James an author, illustrator, graphic + pattern designer. She will focus on three main topics from her book Treasure Found: An Art Journey :developing a consistent practice, overcoming self-doubt, and personalizing your creative process.
Ready to get started? Join our community today and take part in the August Reset. Together, we can embrace the fun of summer and achieve our goals with enthusiasm and creativity.
