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10 Lessons to Help You Build a Successful Creative Career

Pursuing a creative career is not easy. And our creative team had learned that when it comes to leading a successful creative career, details matter.

Whether you’re just starting or already have experience and struggling to push forward, in this article, we share the biggest lessons we’ve learned to help you navigate your journey as a creative person.

1. Failure is not the end. It’s a lesson for your future self

Failure is embarrassing and demoralizing, but don’t let it stop you. 

If you’re experiencing failure right now, remember that you’ll get through it. And you’ll be stronger after it. But be willing to accept the situation and learn from it. So when you fail, ask yourself:

Knowing what you know now, what will you do differently in the future?

Remember the rule, the more you can embrace change, the more resilient you become towards future challenges.

2. Be yourself, always

Honor your identity and perspective, сreate content that you like, first of all. And do it for yourself first, be passionate about what you do, and people will follow you. For example, as all our designers are individuals, we always choose projects based on the skills and desires of each team member.

3. Be best at what you do

It’s trite but practice and produce high-quality work. It’s what will get you noticed and make you stand out from all your competitors in a crowded field. So never stop learning, and remember that professionalism has no limits.

4. Nothing is a waste of time

Trust your gut and follow curiosity. It will allow you to discover things about yourself, your desires, and the world around you. We encourage you all to don’t settle. Chase what you love. And remember, every chapter in your story will add up. None of it is a waste of time.

Steve Jobs had the best way of addressing this in his 2005 Commencement speech at Stanford.‍

5. Stay playful

A desire to be taken seriously early in our career can often inhibit us, but experienced designers remember how important it is to play, as well. The more joy you put into a project, the more joy comes out. Don’t try to be too serious. Deep into the project and fill it with emotions.

6. Stop waiting for a muse

Pablo Picasso famously stated, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” When you’ve been in the creative industry long enough, you come to realize that motivation won’t be there all the time. You have to try and make an effort to create something beautiful.

7. Internships and volunteering

This is about getting experience at the beginning of your journey. Make the most of your internship. Be on time, work hard, be available and be flexible – ready to try new things. This is where you’re earning your reputation in the industry you’ve got your eyes on.

8. Keep your portfolio up to date

Remember, your portfolio is like your face. So keeping it up to date is essential. Because a quality portfolio is a window onto your talent, professionalism, and self-awareness – bloated portfolios dilute your best work. But hasty portfolios with spelling errors will be ignored – and the standard for self-presentation has never been higher.

9. Take risks with your career

People who stand still stagnate. Forward progression is everything if you are to develop a long-lasting career. Radical shifts in career or projects that initially seem too challenging can be terrifying, but the stock cliche – we regret what we didn’t do in life, not what we did – holds pretty true for creatives looking back on their careers.

10. Trust your instincts

Education, training, and logic are essential skills, but our instincts often provide the magic. The better we get at listening to our inner voice, the better we can harness the power of our instincts. And if you suspect something’s wrong with your design but don’t know what it is, take it apart and start again. 

Last words – be real.

We are still a work in progress – learning, changing, growing – just like you. So stay curious and keep exploring.

We are ready to help you push forward – Want to be a part of our team? We are growing and looking for talented people to grow with us!
Check the list of open positions on our site. We will be excited to review your candidacy.