Creativity Gone Wrong? How a ‘Disaster’ Turned into My Best Work
The Creative Disaster That Changed Everything
Have you ever worked so hard on a project, pouring in every ounce of your creativity, only to realise at the end that… it was awful and it hurt your eyeballs to look at it? That was me.
I spent hours (and hours, too many hours) on a design, meticulously studying every little detail. Every colour, every mark had a purpose.
It was supposed to tell a story. But somewhere along the way, I had pushed it too far. I had forced it, overworked it, and completely lost sight of the idea I started with.
The more I looked at it, the worse it got. It was confusing, a visual disaster, and totally unrelatable—even to me, who had pondered every single millimeter of it.
And that’s when the panic set in.
I had a client presentation looming, and I knew I couldn’t hand over something that even I didn’t believe in and was finding hard to look at. But I also didn’t have a backup plan (or any more hours to create another design). I had worked myself into a creative hole.
Looking back, I’ve realised I was in good company. Some of the world’s most famous inventions, like the Slinky and Post-it Notes, began as happy accidents.
This article ‘12 Inventions Created by Mistake’ highlights 12 brilliant inventions born from mistakes, proving that sometimes, failure isn’t failure at all—it’s just creativity in disguise.
The Moment Everything Clicked
Desperate to not be anywhere near the work, I put the project aside to try and clear my head and just started doodling.
No pressure. No expectations. Just me, a pen, and a blank piece of paper. And that’s when it happened.
The simple sketches I was doing to clear my mind? They were better than the entire project I had spent hours perfecting.
I wanted to be as far from the project as possible, but I guess my brain had another idea, because when I finally left it to its own devices, it found its creative mojo!
The sketches and ideas were fresh. They were clear. They felt right.
And suddenly, it was obvious, the big, complicated, overworked piece wasn’t the real idea. The real idea had been there all along, buried under all the stress and overthinking.
I just needed to get out of my own way.
The Final Outcome (And Why It Worked)
Those quick, effortless sketches became the foundation for the final design.
I reworked everything around that simple concept, stripping the design back to what actually mattered. And the best part? The client loved it.
And, I am proud to say, so did I :)
What This Taught Me About Creativity
✅ Overworking Kills Creativity – The harder you force an idea, the more it can lose its soul. Creativity isn’t about control - it’s about flow.
✅ Pressure Blocks Your Best Ideas – When you’re too stressed, your brain gets stuck in problem-solving mode instead of creative flow.
✅ Stepping Away Can Lead to a Breakthrough – Doodling, playing, or walking away gives your brain the space to connect ideas naturally.
✅ Simple Ideas Are Often the Best Ones – Creativity isn’t about complicated details, sometimes, less is more.
How to Get Out of Your Own Way & Let Creativity Flow
🔹 Take the Pressure Off – If you feel like you're forcing something, step back. Creativity can't be squeezed out of you like toothpaste.
🔹 Play First, Refine Later – Start with intentionally scrappy sketches, messy drafts, or even mindless doodling before trying to refine.
🔹 Trust Your Instincts – If something doesn’t feel right, there’s a reason. Listen to that gut feeling and don’t force it.
🔹 Done Is Better Than Perfect – Sometimes, the quickest version of your idea is the most authentic one.
Conclusion: Creativity Works Best When You Let It
That “doomed, sleep depriving” project? It became one of my best ideas. I just had to stop forcing it and let it happen.
💬 Have you ever turned a creative mistake into something amazing? Join me HERE on Instagram and share your experience!
