As December arrives with its characteristic mix of deadlines, chaos and exhaustion, creatives across the UK are taking stock. This year has been unsettling, to say the least, marked by economic uncertainty and market shifts that have left many of us wondering whether we’ll still have a job this time next year.
So we decided to take the temperature, so to speak, of the profession, with a candid conversation on our own private network, The Studio. We share the most interesting responses below, including some insightful lessons learned not from textbooks but from the daily grind of building sustainable creative practices.
You can read the full discussion, by the way, right here on The Studio. (Not joined up yet? Don’t worry, it’s totally free.)
Highs and lows
We’ll start with photo retoucher and creative artworker Sandrine Bascouert, who speaks for many when she describes her year as “so bizarre, with so many lows and a few highs.” As a result, she’s decided to embrace the unpredictability of business. “I’ve sharpened my outreach a bit, which has paid off, and tried to use this time for learning new skills.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Sandrine remains determined. “I’m hopeful I’ll be able to expand my offer in the next year, so I feel it won’t be in vain,” she says. “Fingers crossed for a few more discerning clients on my list, and great projects with soul. I’m up to the challenge!”
In difficult times, sometimes that can-do attitude is what you need to make it over the next hurdle. Graphic designer Tony Clarkson puts it simply. “Just ask,” he reasons. “So what if the answer’s no? At least you know and can move on from it. If it’s yes, be persistent instead of waiting for them to come back to you. Seems obvious really, but…” That ellipsis speaks volumes: the obvious often needs to be relearned under pressure.
Being proactive
The importance of action over prevarication was, indeed, a strong theme that emerged from our discussion. For instance, story coach and strategist Baishali Johal says that this year, she’s been “shedding self-limiting beliefs, overthinking and uncertainty”. She reflects that: “I was overthinking what to do and trying to find the ‘perfect’ way to do things. All I needed to do was take quick action on every idea, and the action would tell me how to move forward.”
She offers an example of what that looks like in practice. “I attended an online webinar mid-year and hesitantly put my website in the group chat to be ‘roasted’,” she recalls. “But the marketing guru loved the video on my website. Months later, a paying client booked me because they saw my website on the webinar replay.”
And here’s another discovery she’s made this year: “Slowness can be a gift in disguise.” For context, after going full-time with her storytelling business in January, Baishali had been expecting rapid growth. Instead, she found breathing room. “Because of the slowness, I’ve been able to make really intentional decisions and do R&D to refine both my offers and long-term business strategy.”
Illustrator Annie McGee has also realised the limits of trying to move too fast in 2025. “This year I’m shedding the pressure to match everyone else’s pace,” she says. “My energy has its own rhythm, and fighting it just makes everything harder.” Her key takeaway? “Protect your pace. Build tiny systems that save your future self. Say no when you need to. And trust that quiet movements still count.”
Strange new world
Designer Kultar Ruprai sums up the year pragmatically: “Strange in many ways, what with all the happenings in the world: war, Trump, rises in tax and bills, etc. Work has been up and down, but not in a consistent way as previously. Yet we’re still alive and smiling, so I’m grateful nonetheless.”
As for 2026, illustrator and mixed-media artist UU Lau crystallises her approach into three mottos. The first is to “Own your voice”. This means, for example, “Stop copying trends: the world needs your unique design.” It also means avoiding the trap she fell into this year, of designing what she thought clients wanted. “Huge mistake. The work ended up looking too generic and ironically took me way more time.”
UU now leads with her unique style, but she’s learned that articulation matters. “My work inspires, but my words provide the necessary clarity. This dual skill—authentic creation and confident explanation—is essential for moving beyond the fear of being ‘too unique’.”
Her second motto, “Preparation catches opportunity”, proved its worth in 2025 when she secured two public projects, including her first mural collaboration for UNIQLO UK. “We secured the work because we had properly documented our past projects, even small ones,” she explains. “Your archive becomes your strongest pitch.”
Her third motto addresses wellbeing: “Seek joy and community to keep the flow going.” She’s discovered that her mindset dictates the outcome. “When you design unhappily, your work will tell.” To stay fresh, she’s actively engaged with the creative community, attending events and fairs. For more ideas about that, read our guide to building kindness and empathy into your daily routine.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the most transformative lessons are often the ones we have to learn for ourselves, year after year, until they finally stick. But it’s also helpful to learn from others, and throughout 2025, certain lessons have come out in our community discussions on The Studio, time and time again.
Persistence matters, but so does knowing your limits. Authenticity cuts through, but you need the words to explain your vision. Slowness can be productive, asking opens doors, and community sustains. Learn from these hard-won truths in 2026, and you won’t go far wrong.
