Fuel your creativity in 2025: Top tips from the latest RECESS Creative Playbook

In today’s fast-paced world, staying inspired and having the right tools are essential for success. Feel like you're starting the year a little short on inspiration - I have good news! The RECESS Creative Playbook 2025 has just dropped. This playbook brings together insights from 37 creatives across 32 countries, sharing their favourite hacks, tips, tools, and resources to help you up your creative game.

This year’s incredible contributors include Artan Mansouri, Global Creative Director at Spotify in Sweden, Trevor Robinson OBE, founder and creative director of Quiet Storm in the UK, and Atiya Zaidi, CCO and CEO at BBDO Pakistan. Alongside them, there are creatives from top agencies like R/GA, VML, Grey, Ogilvy, Publicis, DDB, VT Pro Design, 180 Amsterdam, and Wieden+Kennedy. Plus, you’ll find brand leaders from Absolut, Vox Media, and AB InBev, as well as forward-thinking artists from Boomraang Studio in India and Studio ENESS in Australia.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the key takeaways, sharing practical advice, recommendations and inspiration to help you level up your creativity this year. So before we go any further, you may want to grab a cuppa, a notepad and a pen because RECESS 2025 is packed full of useful content.

Tools and hacks for creative success

Let’s start with some essential tools and hacks that these creatives swear by to keep their work fresh and innovative:

Colour palette generators

Creating the right colour palette is a must for any designer. Coolors is a great tool that helps you build harmonious colour combinations quickly for everything from mood boards to presentations.

Curated inspiration

Finding inspiration can sometimes feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack! There are so many options, many of which we've never heard of. Platforms like Savee help you discover and save curated inspiration from around the world.

AI-powered mood boards

If you love mood boards but want something a bit more modern (and maybe less commercial) than Pinterest, try Cosmos. This AI tool lets you input colour codes (like HEX codes) and generates a collection of images that match.

Video editing made easy

In a world where video content is king, CapCut  makes video editing a breeze—plus, it’s perfect for collaboration with your team. 

Writing and effeciency enhancements

Writing is key in so many creative fields, and tools like Quillbot for grammar checks and paraphrasing, Hemingway App to highlight long sentences, and simplify your copy, and of course Claude.AI (a next-gen writing assistant) can help improve your writing flow.

Design and Image Generation Tools

Visualising ideas quickly is essential. Tools like Adobe Firefly let you generate images based on vector outlines, and Leonardo.ai is perfect for creating quick mockups.

Networking and Community Engagement

Connecting with others is invaluable in the creative world. Join communities that host monthly events, dive into online forums, or attend local meetups to network with fellow creatives.

Print and offline creativity

"Print is not dead!" As exclaimed by our Mail Unleashed guest and marketing legend, Seema Kumari. While digital tools are crucial, don’t forget the power of print to engage your senses and increase memorability. In fact, studies have shown that not only is printed paper favoured among students, but reading from paper is also linked to higher levels comprehension and recall. Researchers at Stavanger University in Norway found that people tend to absorb less information when reading on a Kindle versus printed paper. If you're looking for examples of brands using print and creative mail to stand out, check out our eBook, Physically Irresistible. It’s packed with inspiration.

Must-reads for boosting creativity in 2025

RECESS 2025 has plenty of book recommendations for those trying to nurture their creativity and make waves in the advertising industry. 

Here are a few the report recommends to get you inspired.

It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be 
Paul Arden 

A must-read for creatives, unveiling the bold, unconventional strategies of advertising agency CP+B while offering practical advice on finding and promoting big ideas.

Damn Good Advice (for people with talent!)
George Lois

An insightful guide on how to land a job and thrive in the advertising industry, offering unique tips for those entering and progressing in the field.

The Advertising Concept Book. Think Now, Design Later 
Pete Barry

A practical guide to advertising wisdom, breaking down creative processes and strategies, ideal for anyone looking to understand the foundations of impactful ad concepts.

Steal Like an Artist:  10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative 
Austin Kloen

Artist Austin Kleon's beautifully illustrated bestseller teaches readers how to use their surroundings and their own creativity to discover their own artistic path

The War of Art 
Steven pressfield

This no-nonsense book inspires anyone, from artists to entrepreneurs, to push past barriers and reach their full creative potential.

In addition to books, while you're away from the screen here are some other recommendations to get those creative juices flowing.

Physical mood boards

While digital boards are easy, creating physical mood boards can spark inspiration in ways screens sometimes can’t. So, take a break from the screen and dive into printed textures and swatches.

Networking events

Industry events are a great chance to meet other creatives face-to-face. Whether it’s a workshop, exhibition, or meetup, getting out there and connecting is key to growth.

Printed portfolios

In a digital-first world, a physical portfolio can truly make you stand out in interviews or networking events.

Podcasts to keep you inspired

When you’re on the move, podcasts are an excellent way to stay inspired. Here are some of the recommendations from the contributors to RECESS 2025.

Creative Pep Talk – Offers actionable advice for creatives looking to thrive

The Creative Boom Podcast – Features interviews with design and art leaders

Design Better Podcast – Provides insights into design leadership from top creatives

On Strategy - Listen as planners and strategists tell the stories behind some of the best advertising and marketing campaigns

Uncensored CMO - Explore the good, the bad and quite frankly downright ugly truth about marketing theory and practice.

Overcoming creative blocks in 2025

Creative blocks can feel like walls you can’t get past, but they’re often just temporary. Here are a few strategies to help you break through.

Taking breaks can provide fresh clarity and energy, helping you return to your work with a renewed perspective. Seeking new experiences outside of your usual routine can spark fresh ideas and inspire creativity. Collaborating with others often leads to unexpected insights and solutions, while embracing curiosity and experimenting with new ideas—even if they don’t always work out—helps you grow and evolve in your creative journey.

Final thoughts

The insights in the RECESS 2025 Creative Playbook are a goldmine for anyone looking to up their creative game, not just those with ‘creative’ in their job description. By using the tools, advice, and hacks shared by these amazing contributors, you’ll be ready to push your creativity to new heights this year. 

Creativity thrives on collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning, so embrace experimentation, connect with others, and keep exploring new ways to bring your ideas to life.

Download the full report the 2025 RECESS Creative Playbook for even more inspiration.