Working on something meaningful is a common desire – but how? We started asking folks to share the story of how they ended up working on a project they felt was meaningful because we wanted inspiration but also because we wondered if hearing from people from across a range of industries would help us identify patterns making it more likely for anyone to be able to find and work on projects that they would find meaningful.

Dineo Mosiane

My most meaningful project has been Melody Misfits, my comic series I’m working on. I’ve had the idea for it since I was around 16 and have been chipping away at it ever since. I had finished writing it and was already making pages in 2024, however I got extremely burnt out because I realized I wasn’t producing the story I wanted. It’s important to remember, think from an outside perspective. I realized if I had stumbled across this story, I wouldn’t have read it! I was pandering to an audience that didn’t make me feel creatively fulfilled. Read more>>

Marcus Hardy

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was “Moon.” A multi-media project that includes a short film and a series of compositions that center around themes of family, self-love, romantic intuition, and balance in how we strive to create creative works without needing to force ourselves. Behind this project, I wanted to make something personal, meaningful, and understandingly abstract in its messaging rooted in the connection between familial connections and the celestial body of the Moon to the Earth. I had just invested in two new studio LED lights I wanted to use for potential videos/photography shoots I had in mind, which I had only done once before, but I knew in my heart I wanted to do it. Read more>>

Tench Cholnoky

The most meaningful project I’ve done is my work in my art collective, //PIXELMOUTH. Pixelmouth is a collective consisting of me and two collaborators, and we’ve been hosting shows in New York City for a little over two years now. In January of 2025 we had our first Residency, Cult of Consumption at Grace Exhibition Space. Being a creative in New York is tricky. There are plenty of opportunities out there, but they can be hard to find. The biggest limiting factor that I’ve seen for artists in the city is space. So creating our own space to showcase different artists work has been a transformative experience. Read more>>

Wakanyi Hoffman

After graduating with a masters degree in development education and global learning from University College London, I decided to start a project that would curate, digitize and share in an open-source format, indigenous folktales from Africa to promote African children’s literature from an African perspective to global educators, parents, and children. The African Folktales Project started as something for my children. It slowly grew into a podcast hosted and produced by my oldest kids (providing background music and making it, too). From there, it grew into a curriculum for teachers certified to teach about climate change. Read more>>

Rob Harrower

I love to work on stories revolving around the human condition. I am one of the front runners of the 48 hour audio drama festival. This project started in early 2023 for me. I began as an actor an audio engineer, and took over the project in July of 2024.

One of the reasons I enjoy thge 48 hour audio drama festival is because I enjoy audio drama. It’s one of thje largest media formats out there, and is contiunally on the rise. Some amazing stories have been told through this format. Read more>>

Aundre Christopher

Honestly.. it would have to be building my podcast ( @fashionablylatethepodcast ) with my brother and host Ray ( @ray_alwayslate ).

This isn’t my first time trying to start a podcast, about 5 years ago I spent over 2 years of my time , money , ideas and ultimately wasted it. I’ve learned that it is very important to build something with someone who has the same vision. When everyone clicks and has the same end goal within projects it’s gonna go far. Read more>>

Gerik Flaczynski

One of most meaningful projects I’ve worked on and continue to work on is Polish Village 419. @polishvillage419 is an Instagram community that I started in 2019 to recognize the accomplishments and legacy of the Polish American community of Toledo, Ohio. Coming from Polish American ancestry, I have learned a lot about my heritage and why it matters. Through the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, and other local sources, I have gathered images and information about my city that have contributed to the creation of my project. The account over the last 6 years has changed from just a time capsule of images to more of a brand. While I’m still unsure of where this project will go from here, it is been a hobby of mine since highschool and has propelled me to study marketing, digital marketing, and management at the University of Toledo, which I currently attend. Read more>>

Myrto

The most meaningful project I have worked on so far is the first piece I ever choreographed. It is an 8 minute piece set to 19 dancers, quite a challenge for someone who had never choreographed before. It was a piece inspired by the Maenads, who were the female followers of Dionysus, a group so powerful even though they were lost in a trance and they were descending into madness in a state of ecstatic frenzy through a combination of dancing and intoxication. They embody the “dangers” of uninhibited female rage and power which was completely unacceptable in the past, but is also still something we fight for in the present, as we, as women are expected to “behave”. Read more>>

Ludovicus “Luis” Bisschops

One of the most meaningful projects I have worked on is my Indonesia book “The lost paradise” (Das verlorene Paradies, published in German). Many years ago, I fell in love with Indonesia, its culture, its people and its food. For this specific project I travelled to pretty much every part of Indonesia divided over a total of over 20 trips. I was able to live with the people and experience their culture firsthand. From Irian Jaya (today Papua) living with the headhunters to climbing Kelimutu volcano in the early morning hours to being invited to funerals and weddings in Bali. Close second meaningful projects include working with Star Chefs such as Paul Bocuse, Paul Prudhomme and Cas Spijkers. I’m eternally grateful for having had this opportunity. Read more>>

Kate Cole

There were plenty of men in these roles, and perhaps some women in STEM, but you rarely saw women in trade professions truly shown on the page. Working in heritage building rehabilitation projects in my day job, I’m endlessly inspired by the grit and resilience I see in my fellow women on the scaffold or in the workshop. I wanted to see these incredible women–and the men who support them–represented in the romance books that line bookstore shelves. The idea came to me one day: write a Women in Trades Romance™ series and create the stories that I long to read. With Under Construction, the series was born. Read more>>

Ling Zhao

I dedicated almost two years of my college life working on my first animated film, and it profoundly changed me—both as a person and in how I see the world.

Looking back, the experience was like a bittersweet symphony. My partner and I pulled so many all-nighters, constantly arguing over ideas, but also celebrating every little breakthrough or creative spark. Throughout this journey, we received unwavering support and encouragement from peers and mentors alike, and their applause remains a cherished memory. Read more>>

Diona Nicole Murray

I’ve had the privilege of working on many meaningful projects, which is one of the reasons I love what I do. My work allows me to make people’s dreams and visions tangible through my gift of art and design. I am entrusted with the thoughts and ideas of other creatives, and I often have the ability to see their vision so clearly that I can help breathe life into it. I connect best with organizations and nonprofits whose mission, vision, and values align with my own. I’m drawn to initiatives centered around change, impact, and making a positive difference in the community. Read more>>

Tim Scritchfield

I have been making music in band settings since I was 16. When my last band broke up in 2021, I was disenchanted and tried to quit music. A good friend (and former drummer in 3 of my bands) suggested I use the studio time the band had already booked to record solo. That studio session and the subsequent album proved to be the most important thing I’ve ever done artistically. I have recorded a another album since and have been playing solo shows as stage name “He, Then” ever since. These past few years have been the most meaningful for me. Read more>>

Debra Lott

Many of my paintings hold deep meaning, but one series stands out when I’m asked, “What is the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?” My goal was to challenge societal narratives that marginalize senior women and create a tribute to the complexity and richness of their lives, stories, and identities. Read more>>

David Green

I’ve written a number of books, but the one that’s most meaningful to me is the one I currently have on submission through my agent: ‘Magic, Maps, and Mischief’.

I’m autistic, and I strongly feel autistic representation in mass-market media has a long way to go before it can be called balanced, fair, or accurate. More often than not, in books, TV and film, autistic people are painted as Rain Man or Sheldon Cooper. We’re often the butt of the joke, and never the protagonist. There is little nuance. Read more>>

Alexis & Aliyah Harris

The most meaningful project we’ve worked on so far has definitely been our first film project, Greenwood Grove. Not only did we get the chance to lead in it, but we also had the chance to work behind the scenes. This project was everything we had hoped for and more. After years of going on hundreds of auditions and facing so many close calls with bookings, we realized we needed to create a place where we could showcase our own creative work and acting. It was important to us. My mom would also tell us, “If Hollywood doesn’t offer you a seat at the table, get some wood and build your own!” Read more>>

Avery Smith

Around 2019, I was studying music performance and production at Fullerton College when I decided to slip my resume and cover letter under the doors of local studios hoping someone would give me an internship. One studio, MAPS, out in Fullerton eventually got back to me, giving me the go to shadow their producers. It was here that I met DJ De Neve, a producer and musician who would become a close friend and bandmate. We would go on to collaborate on multiple projects for clients and friends, playing historic venues such as the Troubadour, Viper Room, and House of Blues along the way. As these projects came and went, I continued to pursue music performance on saxophone and bassoon as well as my secondary education degree and credential. Read more>>

Sam Puskas

Once we wrapped on the Obi-Wan series in 2022 and I’ve returned from the States, I started directing in Budapest. My directorial debut was Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie at the Central Theatre, the one that Jodie Comer played on the West End and took to Broadway right after. Read more>>

Brenda Perez

The very first ever wedding-related painting I made was for my husband. A few months before our wedding, his dad passed away and I wanted to think of a meaningful way to incorporate him into our wedding day. I decided to make a painting of my husband with his parents to gift to him on the morning of our wedding which he opened with his mom and brother. That angel painting led to one of the most beautiful moments of our wedding day, and the pictures of that moment led to friends and family reaching out to me asking to create angel paintings for them as well. After that, I built my skill and confidence to start live painting guest portraits at weddings, so it really was the catalyst moment for me. Read more>>

Erin Erickson

Through the years of running Blowfish Designs I have been most inspired by the collaborative projects with artists and other small businesses doing creative endeavors. I have loved getting to connect with others who have a vision of creating something to speak for their mission or their business and having the opportunity to bring that to life for them. Some of my favorite projects include making hats from prayer flags that were strung up on the top of a mountain to then raise money to preserve these places, putting trail maps on fabric for a mountain biking organization who supports trail building, or making hats for a group of women who were about to set sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Read more>>

Sarah May

Opening The Shirley Project Space commercial gallery 3 years ago has been the most meaningful leap in my professional life. The seeds for this venture were planted 10 years ago when I started hosting a goal-setting group for creative women on my roof in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The evenings were casual and social but they offered support and friendly accountability for women artists, writers, musicians and filmmakers who were juggling personal and professional lives. As an artist, I was aware of how art making often takes a backseat to more practical endeavors. These evenings helped artists priortize their creative lives. Read more>>

Nikki Bartel

The most meaningful project is about to launch beginning Saturday, April 12, 2025
Radiance – A Journey toward healing and empowerment for renewal.
In an increasingly turbulent world—politically, socially, and spiritually—women need spaces where they can come together, heal, and rise. Women’s circles offer this sanctuary: a sacred space where vulnerability is embraced with compassion, healing is nurtured, and transformation begins.
As Two Women with One Vision this was a core mission that we are bringing to the NE Ohio women’s creative community. Read more>>

Aurora Sandelands

This might sound a little cliché, but I honestly think every tattoo I’ve done—whether deeply personal or just something fun—has its own kind of meaning. Even if it’s something as simple as a frog in a hat or as symbolic as a birth flower, the fact that someone chose me to be part of that moment means a lot. Tattooing is such a powerful and ancient craft, and I know it’s much bigger than me. But getting to contribute to it, one piece at a time, feels really special. I’m just grateful people trust me to be part of their stories. Read more>>

Marguritte James

Currently, I am working on the most important project of my career. It’s called Saving and Framing Wake County. Most people don’t know, but I have been homeless for a little over a year. It’s not something I advertise because, one, my situation is better than most in my position, and two, there were certain rooms I would not have been able to enter had I been honest about my living situation. Read more>>

Britt Albrecht

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on has been my zine, I Think This House Is Haunted. It started as a way to explore grief and the way certain memories live in the body—how you can move forward on the outside while still feeling like something is echoing through you. I used the metaphor of the body as a haunted house, where each room holds traces of something lost, something unfinished. Read more>>

Ciggy

One of the coolest projects we’ve ever put together was our first album release show in 2023. After being a band for 2 years at that point, we had several songs that were ready to record. We reached out to our friend Phil to record us, and he set us up in a small room in his house. We recorded 13 instrumental tracks live with layered vocals, and Maximum all the Time was born. Soon after we began to plan our album release show. During this time we would make really ominous instagram posts about it to get people excited. What makes this show shine to us is that it was the first event we ever put on. We knew that it needed to be special, and we put our heart and soul into every aspect of it. Read more>>

Fabio Dourone

It’s difficult to choose just one project as the most significant because each one holds beautiful stories and special moments. But if I had to talk about a recent one with a story that truly left a mark, it would be this one.

It all started in 2020 with a simple comment on Instagram. Elodie, with whom I’ve worked my entire life, saw a photo and said: “I want to do something on that building.” The image in question was of La Pyramide in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire—an impressive Brutalist building designed by Rinaldo Olivieri. To give you an idea, it’s somewhat like the Eiffel Tower of Abidjan, but in a very deteriorated state. And so, with an impossible comment about an impossible project, it all began. Read more>>

Dante Jigamian

The most meaningful project I have worked on is a short film I wrote and directed titled “Purple Death & Party Hats.” In early 2020, a month before the pandemic, I lost my older brother to an accidental overdose. This loss profoundly shaped my identity and perspective as a storyteller. When in a directing class at school, we were encouraged to write a short drama and somewhere along the way I got the idea to write a story about a young girl dealing with addiction on her 16th birthday. Her addiction is manifested as an imaginary best friend who she ends up OD’ing on and, at the end of the film (spoilers) she dies. Read more>>

Baret Boisson

Most, if not all of my work has significance to me. In my “Inspiring Greatness” series, for which I had a solo show at the National Civil Rights Museum, I capture men and women whose life’s work and ideals are guided by a vision of progress, inclusivity and hope. Even when I paint butterflies in my series called “Journey Into Dawn,” it is as a reminder that life is as fragile as it is fleeting, and to make the most of every day that we are given. My latest project is as meaningful as ever: to paint with joy and curiosity and respect for all who inhabit our planet as a way of to spreading a message of love, hope and resilience. Read more>>

Ella Fields

While every project I work on and create takes on a vast amount of meaning through every part of the process, my mind is first drawn to a film that I created when I was 16 years old called “Bloom.” This was a film that was deeply personal to me, both in theme and in process. In a claymation depiction of a sexual assault, a girl must face her past experiences and find a way to use them towards helping others heal. I set out with both a curiosity and in internal necessity to work through an experience I had as an early teenager, I approached “Bloom” with an immense amount of emotion to pour into the clay that I sculpted and animated with. This was my first time making a claymation film of this scope, and while I didn’t quite know what I was doing, the process of pushing past the initial roadblocks that come along with learning something was such a crucial skill that I continue to grow. Read more>>

Jill Wells

In my over three decades of experience in the arts, one of the most meaningful projects I’ve had the privilege to work on is the Freedom of Expression (FOE) Project, which I launched in 2022 alongside my colleague Katie Flippen, a leader in the Midwest arts, culture, and disability spaces. This initiative has truly transformed the arts scene and raised community awareness on accessibility and inclusion. In our first year, we worked together with 12 artists, working in multiple disciplines and living with disabilities, to create a collaborative space where their voices could be amplified. Read more>>

Yi Charice Tang

Two years ago, the GAIA Quartet came together when four girls who enjoyed playing music decided to form an all-female quartet.

I’m the only member of GAIA who isn’t from the U.S. Growing up and studying in both China and Germany, I’ve seen how music can connect people across cultures and languages. But most of the time, that connection happens only through European classical repertoire—like Mozart and Beethoven. When I played works by non-Western, female, underrepresented, and living composers, I noticed that audiences struggled to connect. There’s still a common belief that classical music only belongs to the past and only to Europe. Read more>>

Kofoworola Adebiyi

I recently curated and organized the first ever “artofpath” group exhibition in my hometown Lagos, Nigeria.

The exhibit was purposed towards launching and fulfilling a longtime creative vision to inspire healing through the visual arts and poetry. Art has the ability to provide comfort amidst suffering. I believe this comfort can inspire lives with the strength and faith needed to unveil their own vulnerability and walk the journey unto holistic healing and this belief served as an undeniable catalyst in the establishment of this exhibition. Read more>>

Cameron Marble

I work in storytelling through video, performance, and movie magic. Every project has been meaningful because every project has been true to who I am, or a true story.
I’ve always had difficulty communicating who I am due to a speech phonemic disorder, but by learning to adapt through art…specifically visual storytelling…I’ve grown to express myself, and grown to learn my art practice is actually based in community building. Read more>>

Lenora McClellan

The book by Gods grace my personal testimony, tells the real life story of the trauma I faced as a child, teenager, and young adult, and how God brought me through it all. I recently had a book club entitled from trauma to triumph where we discussed the house I was molested in at 9 years old, my journey from thoughts of suicide and my surrender to God.It’s meaningful because It opened up the door for me to be transparent to other people who have experienced the same thing, sharing my story took away the shame I had hidden for many years. Read more>>

Bin Bin Kuo

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my original solo performance, The Real T-Gaysian of NYC. It’s a one-person stage production that explores the lives of six gay Taiwanese characters living in New York City. Through a dynamic blend of live performance and pre-recorded video projections, the show takes audiences on a journey through the joys and struggles of these diverse and complex individuals. It offers a fresh, intimate perspective on the gay Taiwanese experience in New York—highlighting themes of identity, belonging, and the unique challenges that come with being both Asian and LGBTQ+ in today’s world. Read more>>