Creativity thrives on experimentation, and Suz Sirunyan put this to the take a look at with a daring 100-day problem—creating each day net experiments purely for the enjoyment of exploration. What began as a private venture shortly grew right into a community-driven journey, inspiring designers and builders alike. On this article, she shares the teachings realized from stepping exterior her consolation zone, embracing imperfection, and rediscovering the enjoyable in digital design.
When Consolation Zones Get Too Snug
Once I began my 100-day problem in August 2024, I used to be a digital designer who had discovered her rhythm—a secure consumer base, a strong portfolio, and an honest paycheck. Like many in net design, I had my system down: align with the model, nail the UX, and maintain the consumer completely satisfied. Rinse and repeat.
However one thing stored nagging at me. Our trade’s obsession with finest practices and conversion charges had squeezed the enjoyable out of digital design—that uncooked, playful vitality that drew many people to the sphere within the first place. So I made a decision to interrupt my very own guidelines. Day by day for 100 days, I’d create one thing purely experimental, with out the security internet of consumer briefs or consumer testing.
Breaking the Loop
Armed with my trusted trio—Illustrator, Figma, and After Results—I dove in. Every day adopted a easy rhythm: conceptualize an thought (normally whereas consuming an excessive amount of espresso), design the weather, and convey it to life via prototyping and animation. What began as a private experiment quickly changed into one thing a lot greater than I had anticipated.
What amazed me wasn’t simply the designs I created, however the ripple impact they’d on our neighborhood. As the times glided by, builders started selecting up these experimental ideas and reworking them into actual, functioning web sites. What began as a solo journey morphed right into a collaborative exploration of what’s doable on the net.
By way of blood, sweat, and possibly too many vitality drinks, right here’s what 100 days of pushing artistic boundaries taught me:
1. Motivation is a Fantasy
We’ve all been there—watching David Goggins at midnight, feeling invincible, prepared to overcome the world. The following morning? Actuality hits in another way.
Motivation, I’ve realized, is simply the media’s favourite fairy story. It sells as a result of it feels good, like watching Rocky climb these steps. However actual development? That occurs at 5 AM, when your eyes are heavy, and the one factor pushing you ahead is a promise you made to your self.
The reality about extraordinary creators isn’t horny. They’re not fueled by motivational movies or inspirational quotes. They’re those who confirmed up yesterday, confirmed up as we speak, and can present up once more tomorrow. Easy, constant motion—that’s the key sauce no one desires to speak about as a result of it’s too extraordinary.
However watch somebody do something constantly for lengthy sufficient, and instantly, “extraordinary” transforms into one thing exceptional.
2. The Burnout Antidote
Round day 45, burnout wasn’t simply knocking—it was breaking down the door. The temptation to put up mediocre work simply to take care of the streak was actual. However I’d made myself a promise: no settling. As an alternative of pushing via with depleted creativity, I turned to studying. Each time I felt caught, I picked up a brand new approach, performed with generative artwork, and explored animation rules I’d been too busy to check.
It seems that uncooked curiosity all of us begin with by no means actually dies—it simply will get buried beneath deadlines and expectations. The whole lot shifted the second I gave myself permission to be a newbie once more. My burnout didn’t simply fade; it remodeled into gasoline.
3. Creativity is a Muscle
The whole lot builds on what got here earlier than. I realized to faucet into creativity like a child—amassing concepts that excited me, embracing imperfection, and giving myself area between inspiration and creation. The extra I practiced this, the extra pure it grew to become. Similar to figuring out, artistic muscular tissues develop stronger with use.
The toughest half wasn’t creating one thing new day by day—it was letting go of the stress to make it good. Some days, concepts flowed effortlessly; different days, it felt like squeezing water from a stone. However every try, every “rep,” made the subsequent one slightly bit simpler.
4. Take a look at Concepts, Don’t Cuddle Them
The whole lot builds on what got here earlier than. I realized to faucet into creativity like a child—amassing concepts that excited me, embracing imperfection, and permitting area between inspiration and creation. The extra I practiced, the extra pure it grew to become. Similar to figuring out, artistic muscular tissues develop stronger with use.
The toughest half wasn’t creating one thing new day by day—it was letting go of the stress to make it good. Some days, concepts flowed effortlessly; different days, it felt like squeezing water from a stone. However with every try, every ‘rep,’ the subsequent one grew to become slightly simpler.
5. Group Makes it Worthwhile
The primary 20 days felt like shouting right into a void. 4 hours per design, zero engagement. That’s 80 hours of questioning each life resolution. However then, one thing shifted. A developer recreated certainly one of my interfaces in pure CSS. One other turned a glitchy animation right into a React part. Instantly, my solo experiment grew to become a collaborative playground.
Watching proficient builders remodel my visible experiments into practical code wasn’t simply inspiring—it modified your complete that means of the venture. What began as a private problem developed right into a neighborhood of creators, every including their very own spin to the story.
The Record of Dev Legends
Right here’s the checklist of super-talented, resilient, and slightly bit loopy builders who acquired impressed and introduced these designs to life. With out you, this problem wouldn’t have been this a lot enjoyable. Thanks!
Ashwin Thomas
Profile: LinkedIn
Demos:
Saurabh Chakradhari
Profile: LinkedIn
Demos:
James Blaskett
Profile: LinkedIn
Demos:
Antoine Wodniack
Profile: LinkedIn
Demo: CodePen Demo
Joseph Suberu
Nicola Merici
Profile: LinkedIn
Demo: 100 Days Problem
Joshua Fry
Profile: LinkedIn
Demo: SuzBG Webflow
Internet Bae (Kleary)
Profile: LinkedIn
Demo: Clipped Webflow
Philippe Goulliart
Profile: LinkedIn
Demo: Drop Hover Animation
Anas E.
Profile: LinkedIn
Demo: Dynamic Phrases Animation
Joris Hens
Profile: LinkedIn
Demo: Hero Animation
Rajashri Brahma
Profile: LinkedIn
Demo: Drag & Draw Impact
The Finish is Simply the Starting
As I write this in early 2025, trying again at these 100 days that resulted in 2024, I discover myself in a unique place than the place I began. Not as a result of I grew to become a greater designer (although that occurred too), however as a result of I rediscovered why I fell in love with digital design within the first place. It’s not about good pixels or flawless animations—it’s about pushing boundaries, staying curious, and constructing connections.
What higher method to shut a yr than with the hundredth experiment? By way of this journey, I watched easy design experiments remodel into absolutely practical experiences, noticed builders flip visible ideas into open-source libraries, and linked with creators I now contemplate buddies. Every day wasn’t nearly posting a brand new design—it was about contributing to a bigger dialog about what’s doable on the net.
For these fascinated with beginning their very own 100-day problem: don’t watch for the right second or the right thought. Begin with what you’ve and the place you might be. You may suppose you’re embarking on a solo journey of talent enchancment, however belief me—you’re about to find one thing way more invaluable alongside the best way.
