Difficult Design Problems Require Focus

Got a difficult design problem? Step away from the computer for a while, focus on the problem, paint a picture of the design in your mind.

Aside from the obvious distractions on the computer (chat messages, email notifications etc) that can draw your attention away from the problem, I find the computer itself can be a stumbling block and a distraction.

If the design problem is really just too involved or complicated to hold all at once in your mind, try drawing it out with a pencil (remember those?) and paper. If you try to mock it up with a graphics package, Visio for example, that software can also draw your focus away from the problem at hand.

Though this approach doesn't work with every design problem, I've found that it often produces the best results either immediately or by setting a seed in your mind that later 'sprouts' with a solution.