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We’ve gathered essential tips from seasoned creatives to help you navigate your career with confidence, clarity and long-term success.
The creative journey is exhilarating, rewarding and, at times, incredibly challenging. Whether you’re a designer, illustrator, filmmaker, writer or photographer, the path to success is rarely straightforward. And so the wisdom of those who have walked this road before can be invaluable, offering insights that could save you time, energy and frustration.
With that in mind, we asked experienced creatives to share what they wished they’d known earlier in their careers, and their responses were eye-opening. From learning how to handle rejection to understanding the true value of networking, these lessons provide a roadmap for anyone looking to build a sustainable and fulfilling creative career.
Remember, these insights come from hard-earned experience. By keeping them in mind, you can navigate your creative career with more confidence, resilience and clarity. You can also read the full discussion here: you just need to sign up to Creative Boom’s own social community, The Studio, and it’s totally free!
1. Networking is more important than you imagine
One hard lesson most of us learn over time is that, yes, your skills matter, but who you know—and more importantly, who knows you—can open doors you never imagined. And so Jonathan White, branding specialist at HeadSpace, urges you: “Network, network, network! Plus, if there’s anything you can ‘systemise’ behind the scenes, then that’s a wise move to free up your time and energy for creativity.”
2. Your work is not a reflection of your worth
It doesn’t matter how talented or hard-working you are: rejection and criticism are inevitable. And as Egle Sanna points out: “You can be badly affected by it, especially when your vision or idea gets rejected by colleagues or clients.” So, it’s important to learn to separate your creative work from your self-esteem. As Egle stresses: “The key is understanding your creative work is not a reflection of your worth.”
3. Soft skills matter more than you think
Another lesson that relates to the last one is that being able to communicate and sell your ideas is just as important as the work itself. As Adam Fairhurst explains: “Working on soft skills is more important than you think. You can make a ‘perfect’ design, but if you don’t know how to sell it as the right solution, your project can go in the wrong direction.”
4. Success takes time
It’s a frustrating thing to learn, especially when you’re young and ambitious, but ultimately, there’s no such thing as an overnight success. Instead, you have to be patient and trust the process. As Adrian Carroll, creative director and co-founder at D8, says: “It takes time to grow, gain experience, and get to do the type of work you want to do. It doesn’t—and for most people isn’t—an immediate thing.”
5. Know when to walk away
Not every project or collaboration is right, so one of the most important lessons is recognising when it’s time to move on. “You don’t just have to be patient with yourself and others,” says director and screenwriter Miles Watts. “You also need to recognise when a project doesn’t quite have the right components or collaborators, and hold out for the right team… as well as knowing when to drop something and move on.”
6. Finding your creative style takes time
Being a creative means being willing to experiment, explore, and not rush the process of discovering your unique voice. As senior designer Rose O’Mahony says: “It takes a while to find your creative style and a place where you feel valuable and happy. So learn from people, and be as open as possible.”
7. Collaboration is key
Creativity thrives in partnerships, so seek out collaborators who inspire and challenge you. “Collaborations are where the creative magic happens,” says Jonathan. “So look for inspiring creatives to forge lasting partnerships with—it’s far too tough to go it alone!”
8. Confidence and volume aren’t the same thing
Here’s one most of us have to learn through bitter experiences. “Just because someone is louder and more confident than you, doesn’t mean they’re right or better than you,” says graphic designer Sarah Standing. “So maintain your own confidence and value your opinions.”
9. Your career is also a business
No, you didn’t go into a creative profession just to make money. But ultimately, creativity alone isn’t enough—you need to build trust and learn how to sell your vision. As designer and artist Matthew Gallagher says: “Once you start out, especially if you are running your own studio, trust is paramount. Your business is now ‘selling’—selling your company, its vision, and its ability to solve problems.”
10. Diverse experiences enrich your creativity
Embracing skills and interests outside your creative field can indeed make your work richer. As creative director Rebecca Harrison says: “Hobbies, interests, and experiences that have nothing to do with design are crucial in broadening your practice. You do not need to fit into the cookie-cutter shape of what a creative is.”
11. Who you know (and who knows you) matters
Talent is crucial, but relationships often make a difference in career growth. As creative and art director Alessandro Novelli puts it: “It’s all about contacts and who you know—but better, who knows you. Craft is important but secondary.”
12. Diversity strengthens your work
Looking for inspiration in the same places all the time will not help your cause. Instead, finding different perspectives leads to stronger, more innovative ideas. As creative consultant Quba Michalski says: “Live a full life, try new things, learn new skills, see new places and meet new people. Your brain will take all these and synthesise them into richer, fuller ideas.”
13. Clients are not the enemy
Our final tip is to build relationships, listen to people’s needs, and remember: you work with them, not for them. “Clients aren’t your friends, but they aren’t the enemy either,” notes photo retoucher and creative artworker Sandrine Bascouert. “If you’re a freelancer, you work with your clients, not for them. Take the time to listen to their concerns and be empathetic.”
