“The ability to test and learn is great for growth”

Creative Career Conundrums is a weekly advice column from If You Could Jobs. Each week their selected panel of professionals from the creative industry answers your burning career questions to help you navigate the creative journey.

This week’s question:

“I’m a foreign designer working abroad in a studio where most of the work is client-driven, leaving little room for creative exploration. Due to visa requirements, I need to stay in a full-time role, which limits my flexibility to pursue freelance opportunities. While I’m committed to my current job, I want to grow beyond its constraints. I’m considering consistently sharing personal projects on social media as a way to develop my voice and eventually become an independent designer. Without a mentor or direct guidance, I wonder if this approach can still lead to meaningful growth.

In a role with limited creative freedom, how can I continue to grow as a designer? Is building an online presence a realistic path toward future independence, even without a mentor?”

Shanice Mears, co-founder and head of culture & communities at The Elephant Room:

I think it’s great that you are so passionate about growth and empowering yourself by thinking of new ways you can become more independent as a designer. It might feel really far away right now, but you are already in the right mindset, so it’s on its way.

I think the fact that you have a full-time job and are gaining direct client experience is important. Don’t disregard the experience you’re currently building, especially soft skills like communication, punctuality, teamwork, and managing upwards. All of those things will have a direct impact on how you move forward as a designer and a creative. Continue to work on things you love but make sure you manage your time. Don’t overwhelm yourself; pace yourself. Everything you do, provided you feel comfortable, I would encourage you to share. Get feedback or maybe join some online portfolio reviews and sign up for speed networking groups. The ability to test and learn is great for growth.

Are you a part of any community groups? You should search for creative or designer groups, maybe on WhatsApp or via email. Being a part of those communities can also expose you to new opportunities. Don’t be afraid to share online because that can also lead you to new communities and different opportunities.

As someone who wants to extend their creativity further, I would also make sure to be following people who inspire you. You might love their work or even want to be friends with them someday, so keep meeting people and boosting your network, especially with your peers. Use things like LinkedIn, Threads, and TikTok to reach out to people and share what you might need.

Don’t be afraid to go through trial and error on this journey. Meet people, try new things, create, and share it with the world. Mentorship will come if you join virtual programs and maybe online talks, etc. But you can also search for some things that could be local. Try both.

In answering your creative career conundrums we realise that some issues need expert support, so we’ve collated a list of additional resources that can support you across things that might arise at work.

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