Starting a creative career is a bit like stepping onto a rollercoaster you didn’t quite read the safety manual for. It’s thrilling, fast, often bumpy, and occasionally leaves you wondering why you got on in the first place.

I still remember standing at the edge of my first design job, portfolio clutched tightly, heart pounding. I had no idea what I was doing — but I also had no idea how much I was about to learn.

Looking back now, after years as a freelance graphic designer, branding consultant, creative coach, and small business design specialist, there are a few things I wish someone had told me.

So this post is for you — whether you’re just getting started, stuck in the messy middle, or quietly questioning if you’re cut out for this. Here’s everything I wish I’d known when I started out in the creative industry.

The Early Days Will Feel Like Fire

When you first start your creative journey, everything feels electric.

You’re hungry, hopeful, and a little bit terrified. You say yes to everything. You over-deliver. You stay up late fixing tiny details no one else will notice. You get your first taste of positive feedback and it’s addictive.

You think, “This is it. I’m finally doing the thing.”

And you are.

That buzz you feel? It’s real. Cherish it. Bottle it. It’ll carry you through the long nights, confusing briefs, and self-doubt spirals later on.

But here’s the thing: that high won’t last forever. And when it fades, it doesn’t mean you’ve lost your edge. It just means you’re growing — and growth rarely feels comfortable.

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You’ll Be Disappointed (And That’s Normal)

Let’s talk about the stuff they don’t cover in design school.

You’ll pour your heart into projects that never see the light of day.

You’ll present a bold new concept, only for it to be watered down in a meeting room filled with people who prefer the “safe” option.

You’ll hear “Can we make the logo bigger?” more times than you think is reasonable.

Sometimes, you’ll feel invisible. Other times, like you’re the only one not winning awards or landing dream clients. You’ll be knee-deep in feedback, wondering if anyone else feels this disheartened.

Spoiler: they do.

Every local designer, every branding expert, every freelancer and creative director you admire — they’ve all been there. Self-doubt doesn’t disappear with experience; you just learn how to move through it.

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Failure Is Part of the Job

You’ll make mistakes.

You’ll send the wrong file.

You’ll misjudge a brief. You’ll get colour profiles wrong. You’ll create something you’re proud of, only to realise you’ve spelt the client’s name wrong on the front page.

You will mess up.

And guess what? That doesn’t make you a bad designer. It makes you human.

Failure isn’t the opposite of success in the creative world — it’s the foundation of it. Every misstep teaches you something. Every cringe moment adds a layer of resilience. Every ghosted proposal makes your instincts sharper for next time.

Progress isn’t linear, and creativity certainly isn’t tidy. The best thing you can do is give yourself permission to fail, learn, and move forward.

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You’ll Learn What Really Matters (And It’s Not What You Think)

Here’s what won’t matter in five years:

• The pitch you bombed.
• The client who ghosted you.
• The time you used the wrong font on a major proposal.

Here’s what will matter:

• The friends you make along the way.
• The late-night chats with fellow designers who get it.
• The boundaries you learn to set around your time, energy, and self-worth.
• Your ability to say no.
• The side project you start for fun that ends up becoming a business.
• The small business owner who tells you your work gave them confidence to launch.

As a branding designer, your work is never just about logos or colour palettes. It’s about helping people see themselves clearly — and showing up for your own creative identity along the way.

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Creativity Isn’t Linear

There’s this idea that once you “make it” in the creative industry, everything gets easier.

That’s a myth.

Whether you’re a freelance logo designer working with local clients, or a seasoned studio owner working on high-end brand strategy, creativity continues to ebb and flow. Sometimes it’s wildly fulfilling. Other times, it feels like pulling teeth.

You’ll go through seasons — of burnout, of inspiration, of reinvention. You’ll outgrow clients, styles, roles, and even parts of your identity.

That’s not failure. That’s evolution.

Don’t cling too tightly to one version of success. Let your creative career expand with you.

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What I Know Now

If I could go back and whisper a few truths into my younger self’s ear, here’s what I’d say:

• You don’t need to prove your worth by saying yes to everything.
• Rest is productive. (Seriously.)
• Your weirdest ideas will often be your best.
• You can be creative and strategic.
• You’re allowed to pivot, pause, or start again.
• You will find your people — the ones who lift you up and laugh at your niche design memes.
  

And most of all: You don’t have to have it all figured out.

You just have to keep going.

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For the Creatives Questioning Everything

If you’ve made it this far, maybe you’re in that messy middle. Wondering if you’re on the right path. Feeling like the spark has dimmed. Trying to figure out how to turn your creative skills into something sustainable.

You’re not alone.

I work with designers and creatives navigating career crossroads — from branding and portfolio clarity to navigating burnout, imposter syndrome, or shifting into new spaces.

If you’re stuck, overwhelmed, or just unsure of your next move — let’s talk.

👉 Book a free discovery call and let’s get you back on track.

You don’t have to do it alone.

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