An ode to passion projects
This post could also be titled “Passion Projects: The Secret to My Sanity”
Because whether the studio is in a slow season or I’ve just needed a quiet weekend to myself to remember who I am as a designer, passion projects always save the day.
I have yet to spend a day/weekend/month working on a passion project and regretting it. In fact, every passion project I have ever dedicated myself to has led to marvelous outcomes.
What started out as a way to build out a portfolio made up primarily of school projects that didn’t align with the kind of work I wanted to create, has over the years turned into a creative practice that fills my cup in so many ways. So now, despite ongoing work with so many incredible clients and having a portfolio full of very real, beautiful projects I still make time to create brands and web layouts just for fun.
Why? I’m so glad you asked!
1. Passion projects are an incredible way to blow off creative steam.
I love to work collaboratively. I love the way that going back and forth with clients ensures that we’re pushing boundaries, trying new things, and ultimately creating visuals that perfectly align with the business goals. But sometimes it’s fun to do things exactly the way I want them done. No feedback. No input. Just straight up my own vision, executed my way.
Yes, I realize that sounds a liiiittle controlling, but that’s the beauty of these projects —they have all the space for creative control!
2. Passion projects are a great way to explore trends.
I do my best to steer away from creating “trendy” brands as much as possible. I believe that brands should be able to stand the test of time and not need to be refreshed 8 months down the line when there are new trends out there. But as a designer immersed in the age of social media where new trends are flashed in my face on the reg, it’s fun to be able to play with the trends without the risk of using them in a client project that’s going to feel outdated a few months down the line.
3. Passion projects are one of the best ways to attract “dream clients”
When you’re in flow, creating a brand or a website that you love and that feels like an authentic representation of your design style, that energy is palpable on the other side. By putting out work that you love and showing the world what you’re capable of when you’re flying in your own style, you attract the kind of people who want and need your services in your style.
Your invitation
Passion projects aren’t just for designers. They’re for anyone and everyone who identifies as a creative — especially creatives who use their skills as their primary source of income.
I think it’s easy for us to start to feel stuck or stagnant in what we’re creating. It’s also hard to feel inspired to try new things when we’re constantly creating for other people. So allow this to be an invitation to take some time to create just for the sake of it, whether you end up sharing it or not is up to you. The only goal of a passion project is to remember why you love what you do so much and to allow yourself to experience the fun and joy that comes when you allow yourself to play with your genius.
