Recently, my design work has been heavily inspired by key items from my childhood. For example, I adored the book A Very Hungry Caterpillar. I find myself creating work reminiscent of Eric Carle’s style, whether intentional or not. Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter is another book I loved as a child. I often wonder if my love for watercolor stemmed from her illustrations. Now, as an adult, I look back at the art I loved so much as a kid to push past my creative block. I find that when I revisit items from my past, I can create new, innovative ideas for my designs. I also find that taking an illustrative approach to my designs works better for me than designing on the computer right away. I begin most of my work by sketching on paper and making cardboard mockups of any 3D pieces. Once the design is completely thought out on paper, I will then finish the design digitally. Doing this allows me to work around my own creative block by giving me a constant new perspective on my work. This piece is titled “Allow Yourself the Creativity of a Child” and tackles the issue of creative block. It addresses how we restrict our creativity as we grow, how we might punish creativity in children, and how outside forces might stunt our creativity. You might notice that some parts of the piece are interactive. This piece features a variety of objects that invite the viewer to interact with the artwork on a different level. My goal is that it reminds you of being a child again, and that it helps inspire you to find your own creative outlets, much like how I have discovered that looking back at things I’ve enjoyed as a child inspires me in my design work today.