Hobby or career? A reflection on working in a creative field
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If you work in—or are hoping to work in—a creative field, you’re clearly not in it for the money. There are plenty of other careers that pay more and offer greater financial security. But the work we do fulfills us. We create because, for some reason, it speaks to us in a way others might not understand. However, when that passion becomes your full-time job, the line between hobby and profession begins to blur.
I’ve been creative and drawn to hands-on work for as long as I can remember. But it wasn’t until high school that I truly got serious about the work I do. That’s when I discovered graphic design—and it just clicked. It allowed me to be creative while solving problems, and I found myself eager to learn new design techniques and principles. Experimenting with programs and software to enhance my work didn’t feel like work—it was fun.
Years of studying design as both an undergrad and graduate student, while also working in design-related roles and freelancing, have shifted that perspective. I no longer feel the same excitement to explore design just for the sake of it. It’s not that the passion is gone, but that childlike excitement has faded. These days, I see design more as a function of my job than a source of personal creativity.
When design was just a hobby, I created things for myself—because I wanted to. Now that it’s my career, I design for others.
That’s just how life works, but for creatives, it’s a slippery slope. It’s easy to fall into a cycle of repetition where your work plateaus, simply because you’re no longer feeding the passion that started it all. And for many, that leads to burnout.
It’s the worst feeling—the thing you once couldn’t stop thinking about has become a chore. Turning your hobby into a profession is an amazing opportunity, but forgetting that it was a hobby first can hurt the quality of your professional work.
When you feel stuck or uninspired, try something new. Push yourself to create something just for you—something that challenges you and helps you learn. Got an empty wall? Design a poster.
Breaking out of your usual workflow can also help. If Adobe Illustrator isn’t doing it for you, try something different. Maybe that’s a piece of free software that isn’t client-worthy but feels fun. Or maybe it means breaking the rules. For example, design that wall poster using Blender—a tool typically used for 3D modeling and animation—just to see what happens.
At the end of the day, don’t forget why you fell in love with your craft in the first place. Nurturing your creativity outside of work will only enhance what you do professionally. Keep learning, keep experimenting, and challenge yourself. You might just reignite the spark that brought you here to begin with.
Hi! My name is Peyton McKenzie.
I am a professional graphic designer, photographer and content creator.
I encourage you to explore my portfolio to get a better idea of the work I create. If you are interested in working with me or have inquiries of any kind, don’t hesitate to reach out over email.
