3/20/25 — Poetic State

Creatives are in a strange place.

3/20/25

FYI - I’m not a recruiter. I’ve been getting a lot of messages about jobs lately, so I just want to clarify—I’m not a recruiter. I gave it a try for eight years, but my heart has always been in design and helping people.

Recruiting was sometimes lucrative, always stressful, and rarely fun. I’m not built for it. While I love connecting people and sharing resources, it’s not what I do. If you're reaching out about a job, I might have a lead, but please check out what I do before sending a DM. All love though!
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About two years ago, I decided to fully lean into my coaching practice, though I’ve been certified for over a decade. Over the years, I’ve coached a handful of the industry's best designers, worked with founders, and collaborated with top design studios—getting to see this industry from the inside out.

I still love it. I’ll always be connected to designers, creators, and makers.

Right now, I see our industry through multiple lenses. As an ex-designer, ex-recruiter, and now a certified creative career coach, I feel torn. There are opportunities—I see them. I also spend a lot of time talking to people struggling to land them.

I can’t help but think that being a creative isn’t just a skill or a job; it’s a way of seeing and translating human experiences. The world will always need it. As long as capitalism exists (and even after), people will continue to create things of value.

But here’s the butt-ugly truth: The value of hard and technical design skills is being commodified. (Am I wrong?!) And if that’s the case... what remains valuable in creative services? People. Personality. Integrity. Trust. The soft skills. Are you good to work with? Do you handle details well?
Are you a catalyst for growth? This is what matters most.

Creatives are in a strange place. Being good at making beautiful things doesn’t mean you're good at making money. The myth of the starving artist has been debunked—there are creatives thriving—but maybe the table where we eat is shrinking.

I talk to people with dream jobs at big companies, making money but feeling empty. Stressed, fearing layoffs, searching for meaning. Some have good managers, some don’t—but most don’t feel resolved with settling for this.

I talk to people building their own thing. They have freedom and expression but carry a different kind of stress—everything falls on them. And then there’s everyone else looking for work.

Data suggests our field is contracting. Some places are hiring, yet LinkedIn is full of talented people searching. Certain sectors are struggling. Others thriving. Our work is shifting and being applied differently.

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So, how are you navigating this time?
Whether you're thriving, stuck, or unsure about your next step, I wonder:

🔹 Are you getting outside more?
🔹 Are you leaning into your community?
🔹 Are you reconnecting with your purpose/craft?
🔹 Are you moving toward work with broader meaning?

Let’s talk. Maybe together, we can find you some clarity in the confusion.