Often times I find myself in a creative rut, lacking any inspiration and feeling lost. I used to give up and walk away, do something else for a bit and hope that the inspiration comes back to me. Going through my news feeds a while back I read a post about using a swipe file on your computer.

The swipe file is an advertising tool and is explained by Wikipedia as:

A swipe file is a collection of tested and proven ads and sales letters. Keeping a swipe file (templates) is a common practice used by advertising copywriters and creative directors as a ready reference of ideas for projects. (Wikipedia)

That is great, but I am not in advertising, nor am I a designer. I knew that having something like this could really spur your mind, so I started keeping a digital version of a swipe file.

Non-Advertising Swipe File

I started filling my swipe file with quotes, and pictures that I liked, things that make me think. Now this does not mean that they are all really deep, I have a picture of two squirrels fighting ninja style, for instance.

What the swipe file does for me, is nudges me out the train of thought I was stuck in, and gives me a new track. I use it about once a week (or more), and I am always on the look out to add more things to it.

The best part about a swipe file is that it is as easy as making a new folder on your computer, throwing a bunch of stuff in it, and then looking at that stuff when you get stuck.

Personally I prefer to use Yojimbo for my swipe file, it makes everything a bit easier, and I can drag and drop new items to the tab that sits on the left side of my screen.

How about that for spurring creativity.

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