Rebuilding a Creative Identity After Corporate Design Burnout

I am questioning my graphic design career

Guess what?

I've been on quite the rollercoaster lately. Ever felt like your job was squeezing all the creativity out of you? If so, you might find a bit of your story in mine.

I was stuck in corporate graphic design, constantly churning out work that felt more like a chore than a passion. It was about meeting targets and fitting into a preset mold—no space for my true self. Honestly, it was draining my soul and making my creativity dry.

So many ruminating thoughts I have in my head:

• “This is not what I have imagined myself to be as a graphic designer.”

• “I don’t even have time to do personal creative stuff because of my job.”

• “This is not feeding my creative soul, and what the hell am I doing with my life.”

That’s when it hit me: I needed a major change! After years of corporate design burnout, it was time to rebuild my creative identity.

Taking a Leap of Faith

So, I did something crazy—I quit. 

Just like that, I walked away to rediscover the art I truly love. No more conforming to templates or following rigid guidelines. Now, it's just me and my sketchbook, starting from square one.

The freedom has been exhilarating, but I won't lie—it's also been a bit terrifying. I'm relearning what it means to create without barriers, exploring everything from simple doodles to grand canvases.

Here and Now

I decided to start from ground zero.

It's not about achieving perfection but exploring and seeing what develops when I'm genuinely being myself, not just another cog in the corporate machine. But with this newfound freedom comes a whirlwind of thoughts as chaotic and tangled as a bowl of spaghetti.

That's exactly why I started this newsletter, Spaghetti Thoughts. It's my space to let all those scrambled ideas overflow—a blend of art, life, and all the in-betweens. Each edition is a slice of my journey, my effort to sort through my thoughts and find clarity. Writing this is as much about connecting with you as it is about looking after my mental well-being.

No more rushing and applying to stupid job posts. No more worrying about my future. This is my time to relax and go back to basics.

What about you?

Have you ever felt the urge to break free and start anew and faced your struggles with creative burnout?

Hit reply and tell me about it.

Maybe we can exchange stories and support each other as we each navigate our unique creative paths, messy and tangled though they might be.

Stay creative,

Ariana