The Rule Breaker

Rules are there to guide us, but sometimes, breaking them is where true creativity happens.

This week, we’re challenging you to embrace rebellion—break a rule in your creative process. It could be a technical guideline, a personal boundary, or even a well-established artistic convention.

Stepping outside the lines might feel uncomfortable, but it can also lead to surprising breakthroughs, fresh ideas, and new perspectives. Let’s see what happens when we embrace imperfection and defy the norms.

The Challenge Prompt

Your mission this week: Break a rule in your creative process.

• Choose a rule you’ve always followed—it could be technical, personal, or conventional.

• Defy it boldly. Let the process take you somewhere unexpected.

Remember: This is about exploration, not perfection. Breaking rules is how we discover new possibilities.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you might break the rules in your medium:

Visual Artists

• Use “forbidden” colors you never mix—clash hues boldly and see what happens.

• Ignore the rule of thirds or symmetry in your composition.

• Paint with unconventional tools like sponges, sticks, or even your hands.

Writers

• Throw grammar and punctuation out the window. Let the flow of your thoughts take over.

• Write a story that ends in the middle or begins at the end.

• Experiment with a style or genre that feels completely “wrong” for you.

Designers

• Create a messy, imperfect design—embrace chaos instead of clean lines.

• Use clashing fonts or an unusual color palette you’d never consider.

• Deliberately over-design your piece or break balance rules to make it stand out.

Musicians

• Break a traditional chord progression or scale structure.

• Layer sounds in unconventional ways or add “offbeat” elements that feel disruptive.

• Create something dissonant, experimental, or completely outside your usual genre.

Optional Add-On: Reflect on Your Process

Take time to reflect on your experience after breaking the rule:

• What rule did you choose to break, and why?

• How did it feel to go against it?

• Did it spark new ideas or techniques for you?

• What did you learn from the process?

Sharing your reflection can inspire others and show the value of creative rule-breaking.

Closing Encouragement

Breaking rules isn’t about being reckless. It’s about finding freedom, growth, and innovation in places you’ve never explored. When you step outside the lines, you give yourself permission to create without limits.

This week, be bold. Embrace imperfection. See what surprises come from defying the rules you’ve always followed.

We’re excited to see your rebellious creations! Share your work and reflections with the Simplex Minds community by tagging us and using the hashtag #SimplexChallenge.

What rule will you break this week? Push the boundaries, explore the unknown, and create something unexpected. Let’s break some rules together!