Yet hyper-positivity isn't sustainable for those on the bestowing or receiving end. At risk of sounding like a downer, I find myself disinterested in vibing strictly in a positive direction.
Read MoreIllustration by WNW Member Jason Raish
Illustration by WNW Member Yifan Wu
Abundance in Scarcity: Why Prosperity Should Be at the Heart of Your Practice
Generally, we’re not interested in gigs that don’t deliver on creative fulfillment or social currency. Why do we limit ourselves?… When we succumb to the myth of one marketplace, we scramble to be seen and heard. We scramble for opportunity along the well-worn path.
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An Illustrator’s Guide to Tracking Emails to Art Directors
Whether you’re just starting to truck your way down the freelance road or you’re a seasoned pro, reaching out to art directors and companies is one of the most fruitful ways to get design work. I’m going to share with you exactly how I’m contacting art directors and companies I want to work with.
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Asking Not Asking #23: King of None
“My biggest challenge is not being able to quantify and expose my strengths. Jack of all trades... King of none.”
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Illustration by WNW Member Rob Dobi
Over30Under30, a New Project That Addresses Advertising’s Ageism Problem
Over30Under30 is an interview project that balances the conversation by celebrating a demographic that the creative industry is simply not supporting or promoting enough. It highlights the work, stories, and experiences of creatives over or approaching 50, and provides inspiration for those who will someday get there (ie, everyone.)
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Illustration by Andrea Johansson
The Beautiful Game Behind the Women’s World Cup Advertising
“For a minute I was nine again, screaming my head off as Mia Hamm slides across the pitch on her knees, pumping her fists. As often as advertising squeezes our insecurities in its spindly fingers, occasionally it produces the inverse effect: connects us to our dreams.”
Read MoreHow to Use Working Not Working to Land a Job at a Top Company Like Nike
“I applied to a full-time role at Nike and within a day I heard back about a job in New York...And just like that, I kicked off a very streamlined and informal conversation with a team at Nike about what they are looking for and how I could help. With the help of WNW’s platform, the interview process was casual and clear, breaking down the formality of job-seeking and interviewing.”
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Illustration by WNW Member Kevin Whipple
The Tenuous Climb to Creative Fulfillment
The pressure of doing what you love stands to kill you faster than doing what makes you apathetic. Our identities more quickly attach to a profession we hold dear because it runs parallel to our sense of personal purpose. We feel exultation at our highest heights and utter despair at our lowest lows.
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Illustration by WNW Member Greg Kletsel
The Best Writing Advice I Ever Ignored
For years, I’ve continuously devoured and internalized every piece of writing advice available. Every tip, trick, tidbit, factoid, and helpful hint. Every “do” and every “don’t.” None of it has made me a better writer. Turns out, all that advice getting passed down as gospel is totally unhelpful.
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Modified Artwork based on an original work (visible below) by WNW Member Uli Knoerzer
Recruiting Humans First: A Better Way to Build Your Team
“Team building gets a lot of my mind space these days and I’m always tinkering with how I can make the recruiting process better. I have encountered enough disjointed, unhappy teams to know that I wish that on no one. There’s a better way.”
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Asking Not Asking #20: Coworker Drama
“It seems like this person doesn’t like me and is maybe even trying to sabotage me. They haven’t done anything outright blatant, but I sense their resistance to my ideas when I bring them up in team meetings…I’ve enjoyed my job up until now, but the conflict with this coworker looms over me when I go to work every day and I wonder how I can resolve it.”
Read MoreDoes Self-Promotion Scare You? This Copywriter Demystifies the Dark Art
At a time where most people stop at posting “I’m available, book me!” and “Reach out if you need freelance help!” we have to practice what we preach and sell ourselves to cut through the clutter.
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