Stepping Back

It’s said that design is in the details. Yet it’s the sum total of the details that makes the design. When you’re in the middle of something, you can’t see the whole thing altogether. It’s only when you step back far enough that you see its entirety. When you can see the whole, say, from the “30,000 ft. level”, you become aware of patterns, anomalies, structures, contexts and overall design.

Try these simple techniques for getting a new perspective on your work-in-progress:
  • Take a break. Walk away from your computer or drafting table and do something entirely different for a few hours.
  • Look at the work upside down or in a mirror. Rotation and reflection changes the orientation brings a fresh perspective, literally.
  • Take a picture  with your camera phone. Seeing your work in miniature on the phone’s display gives a sort of 30,o00-ft level view.

Zoom in on your design and then zoom out. Reflect and evaluate before calling it finished.

What are some ways you refresh your point of view while developing design or art?

Alvalyn Lundgren

Alvalyn Lundgren is a creative entrepreneur, podcaster, and author who has been freelancing for more than 40 years. She is the founder of Alvalyn Creative, a strategic creative consultancy focusing on brand strategy, visual design, and illustration for businesses, organizations, and independent authors. She is also the founder of several educational initiatives: Freelance Road Trip, Occuprise Network, and Alvalyn Creative Academy, and teaches part time in professional design programs with UCLA Extension and ArtCenter Extended Studies. She resides in southern California. She is the creator of Freelance Road Trip — a business school and podcast for creative freelancers. She teaches design and design practice in certificate programs and independently. Her new book, "Freelancing By Design: Essential Strategies and Proven Tactics To Build a Thriving Freelance Business From Your Creative Work" releases on July 1, 2026.