Need a fresh dose of creative inspiration?
We had the pleasure of speaking with 17 prolific creatives for this year’s list of top designers and illustrators, from mural painters to Skillshare teachers and creative coaches. Despite their dazzlingly diverse array of backgrounds, many shared similar words of wisdom for people just setting off on a creative path. From practical tips on communicating with clients, to looking after your mental wellbeing, here are their best bits of advice:
Strive for Progress, Not Perfection
“You can’t always control external success, but you can always choose to keep creating. Don’t worry about being perfect — focus on being curious.”
“Don’t wait for permission to begin; a messy canvas is better than a blank one. You don’t need a big title, a fancy job, or the perfect brief to start creating meaningful work. Some of the best opportunities come from passion projects—things you create out of pure curiosity or love. They not only help you find your voice but also attract the kind of work you want to be hired for.”
“Don’t wait to be ‘ready’ — get creative now. Make stuff and figure out what works and what doesn’t. It’s the only way.”
“Every expert was once a beginner. You cannot expect yourself to pick up something and immediately be fantastic at it. You need to let yourself make bad art, or make some business mistakes – it’s part of the process.”
“Showing your work to as many people as possible is the key to landing clients! DM, email, call or just post often. Being consistent with this can only lead to a fruitful journey.”
“Creating frequently and moving fast from one piece to the next helps you learn faster, experiment more, and improve your skills through experience.”
Don’t Box Yourself In
“I learned how important it is to share work that I believe in while ignoring the noise of trends and competition. Over time, I have been fortunate enough to attract clients who respect my mentality and have an open mind to see what I see.”
“Don’t stress too much about style! Explore as much as possible.”
“The most important lesson is that sticking to a unique style matters more than catering to the market.”
“Create what makes YOU happy and allow yourself to make mistakes. You’ll get to the level you want to be when you enjoy yourself and leave yourself plenty of room to learn and keep improving.”
“There’s one piece of advice that I always preach when we do talks or have students visit the studio: ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ It sounds a bit careless without context but it’s another way of saying ‘don’t hold back.'”
Understand Design Thinking
“You need to deeply understand the audience you’re building for; if your work doesn’t strike an emotional chord or resonate, it becomes just a ‘pretty’ design.”
“My advice is to focus on the things AI can’t do, like understanding people, thinking creatively, and building strong storytelling.”
“Interesting work is thoughtful and pushes boundaries while being memorable. Attention to detail, thoughtfulness, and high standards are essential.”
Communication is Key
“I approach client presentations like storytelling: there’s a build-up, anticipation, and finally, a striking reveal that showcases the design in real-world applications. I want clients to feel the potential of the brand—how it could live on shelves, at events, or on their digital platforms — so they can envision how it will support their goals and connect with their audience.”
“The best ideas can fall flat without clear and timely communication—with clients and your our own team. We’ve learned to manage expectations, and treat every project as a partnership rather than just a service. That shift has made our creative process more collaborative and our studio much stronger.”
– MUTI
“Always be pitching your work/cold emailing. No matter what. Find the time each work day to reach out and introduce yourself/share your work. It may feel like you’re bothering people, but no one actually knows that you exist.”
Look After Your Mental Health
“Be patient with yourself. Avoid comparing yourself to others and work on yourself instead. Focus on what you can control. Share the work you love. Be open-minded to new ways of thinking. Your mental health is huge – have boundaries and don’t forget to touch grass. “
“One of the most important things these days is to keep social media at arm’s length. The algorithms don’t care about good work, and all the main platforms are designed to turn you into a full-time content generator for them. Trust in your work regardless of engagement, and try not to chase all the hollow metrics.”
“Make time every day to go outside and let nature inspire and support you. This career can get lonely and overwhelming, and nature has always made me feel safe when I needed it most.”
“Cherishing your time and looking after yourself is absolutely required to keep going! While it’s good to keep working towards a goal, it’s so easy to slip into fatigue. Our bodies can only handle so much. It’s a pretty difficult lesson to learn for creatives that want to achieve a lot, but allowing yourself to rest and be something other than a creative can be so liberating. Take that well-deserved nap, drink plenty of water, go to that bakery you’ve been wanting to go to, dance! When you’re feeling refreshed, you can come back to work with a newer sense of motivation.”
