We asked some of the most talented folks in the community to talk to us about projects they’ve worked on that they still think about, projects that really meant something. Have you had such an experience? Are you looking for inspiration for your next project? Check out the stories below, they are exciting, entertaining, and most importantly – inspiring.

Madd Keys

My most meaningful project so far is my first studio album Villain Arc which released on October 8th, 2023! This album, not to be confused with a debut album, came about after a significant rebrand as I changed my stage name and moved to Houston from Memphis. I went through a significant breakup, so I began drastically changing my life uncovering unconscious patterns I received or created from my trauma and this influenced the music I created. The album dived into my people pleasing tendencies, the breakup I experienced, the way I moved out if desperation, and my need for female validation due to how I was raised. It’s a cautionary tale of me taking my self love more seriously in hopes that the listener will follow suit! I created the album with the intention that the production and sequencing would take the listener through the chakras from the root to the crown and activate a huge emotional release! When you begin to prioritize yourself, people who benefitted from your lack of boundaries will treat you like the bad guy making everyone a villain in someone’s story. Read more>>

Elicia Castillo

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on began with my close friend, John Dawkins. We’ve always shared a creative itch and a dream of making art our careers. As a musician and visual artist, we formed a perfect duo. When college started, John began writing his first EP, and I followed him through late-night writing sessions, recording, and developing his brand. This made photographing and designing the covers for his first EP so special. I knew this project would be incomparable because of the deep connection and time I invested in it. Now that John is diving into another EP and album, this past year has been filled with music videos, studio shoots, and creating the new album cover. Through it all, I’ve seen how our crafts evolve together through different seasons of our lives. Read more>>

Summer Crosley

For over a decade I have been part of numerous ocean conservation projects around the globe. Helping to raise awareness of our shortage of water supply, ocean clean up groups, and bringing safe drinking water to countries in need of it. Read more>>

Synah

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on has been the release of my EP, Ways to Feel. This EP represents much more than just music- it’s a reflection of my personal journey and emotional expression. It includes three songs: “Take It Back,” “Somethin Bout U,” and “No Rush,” which all explore different aspects of human connection, vulnerability, and confidence. The journey to this release was not a straightforward one. I originally released some of these tracks as singles back in 2018, but after going through various changes in my life, I decided to revisit and remix and remaster them for this EP. The release coincided with a lot of internal growth for me as an artist. I’d been building my social media presence, expanding my music to include fashion content, and dealing with challenges like career transitions and personal emotions. Read more>>

Kelly Mccrea

One of the most meaningful projects I have worked on involved creating two tufted pieces. The first piece was a 3×5 tufted mirror frame that I made and is now hanging in the lobby of Honey Beauty Studio in downtown Olympia. The second piece was a 3-foot tufted version of Baker’s Dozen Tattoo’s logo, a business in downtown Olympia. Both of these projects are so meaningful to me because I never imagined having something I created displayed in a local business. I have been tufting for about 2 years now, so having people reach out for commissioned rugs is wonderful. I am grateful for the relationships I’ve made through this journey and the fellow business owners I’ve gotten to know. Read more>>

Nghi Duong

From what I’ve seen, a project that matters is one that gives a lot to both the people who watch it and the people who make it. One of the coolest projects I’ve ever worked on was Pixar, Inside Out 2. This movie followed Riley, a teenager, as she tried to make friends at school, deal with puberty, and a bunch of new emotions. It really hit home for me when I was a teenager, and it still does for a lot of teens today. Whenever I hear someone say they can relate to Riley, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside because it means that the message we wanted to get across—that all those emotions are normal and everyone goes through them—is getting through. Read more>>

Eric Murphy

The most meaningful projects I worked on are my Oakland International shirts and Oakland AllStars mix media artwork. For the Oakland International shirts, It started with a travel exhibit I managed between Oakland, Ca. and our sister city of Fukuoka, Japan in the summer of 2012. We were celebrating our 50th Anniversary and I had an Oakland artist, Emmy Award winner, James Gayles and my artist/photographer from Fukuoka, Japan, Hiroko To. It was during this time I first learned how to say Oakland in another language after taking a Japanese (Nihongo) class at Laney College in 2011. This later led me to want to know how to say Oakland in other languages. I also love history, especially Oakland history and languages made the perfect marriage for this project. Read more>>

Daniel Marosi

In Miami, there are giant highway signs covered with tarps. Those road signs are meant to be uncovered when new highways are completed. However, after a hurricane one year, some tarps blew off and drivers exited the highway on roads that were not yet paved. Cars got stuck in sand and rocks and emergency vehicles had to pull them out. It was an example of official signage telling the wrong message. I connected that experience with words that defined me for many years. People whom I admired, and I considered an authority, told me I was limited and inferior in ways that eventually proved to be flat wrong. Limitations and fears from others were impressed on my young mind, generating incorrect thoughts that developed into bad behaviors. My identity became so distorted I eventually sought help from an excellent pastor friend and some great therapists. Read more>>

Michael Piper

My most meaningful project to date would have to be my self-published book American Ink$linger: The Confessions and Illustrations of a Penitentiary Tattoo Artist. It’s a memoir along with my complete collection of artwork from the twelve years I spent locked up. Read more>>

Rushikesh Bhadane

My first feature film, which was also my thesis film, as the producer, writer and director, Duhi, a multi-lingual grief dramedy adventuring around a remote Indian forest with three mismatched family members, was the most challenging learning experience ever. After a year and half of conceptualizing, writing and rewriting the script, I had a solid pitch deck and a good idea of the essential budget, helping me present the film to multiple production companies in India. Followed by numerous rejections, I finally secured full funding under a decent production company, which gave me a huge boost of confidence. However, two days prior to my flight back home, four months before we were going into principle photography, I unexpectedly lost the funds. Read more>>

Lellopepper

It’s interesting when I think about singling out one project as the “most meaningful” because it reminds me that I approach each new creation and idea with the same sense of discovery and purpose. My art is deeply rooted in the present moment. And thinking back on it all, it feels like one big meaningful movement. I think the true beauty of my work lies in its evolution, like nature itself. My focus has been on projects tied to our environment, nature’s intricate rhythms, and how we can impact humanity, especially in relation to climate awareness and sustainability. These works flow and shift day to day, growing organically. That constant movement, the dynamic conversation with the world around me, is what gives my art its soul. Staying present, responding to what the moment calls for, is the essence of meaning for me as an artist. Read more>>

Josh Burton

The most meaningful project I have worked on was my documentary, “Kyler Smith: Unfiltered,” which was my thesis project for the film program at Cleveland State University. This project had an impact on me because this was my first official documentary film I directed and also got to work with a trustworthy group of individuals to bring the film to life. The documentary follows Kyler Smith, a Cleveland radio DJ host and restaurant owner of ‘The Filter Experience,’ and his journey of success in entertainment and entrepreneurship. I started this project for my thesis but I wanted to make something I would be proud of inside and outside of school. Read more>>

Kesha Linder

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is the upcoming The Artist Collection drop that will be dropping in November. This project is inspired by the military. I’m reworking vintage military pieces from the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines. It is near and dear to my heart because I’m a veteran. I was in the Air Force and I had many family members who joined the military as well. Even though it was my ideal career path, it help to build a foundation in my life that I am super grateful for. This drop has been challenging and it has pushed my creativity to new level,just like the military did. Read more>>

Emily Morgan

I recently created an album cover for Turtle Boat, a Columbus-based jazz trio, and it holds deep significance for me, as it represents not only my first major commission but also remains one of my personal favorites. The artwork, created for their album Fear Is Heavy, I’ve Got Plans, explores the interplay between contrasting forces—pain and hope, darkness and light, fear and beauty. The composition evokes a turbulent, stormy sea, symbolizing the emotional depths explored in the band’s music and paying homage to the origins of their name. Read more>>

Corinne Roberts

The Wanderlust Playing Cards and Oracle Deck I’ve always loved illustrating whimsical fantasy worlds and creating a mood/story for each one. Painting with watercolor is also physically and mentally relaxing for me. However, during the pandemic, my love became a need and form of escapism as I needed to “travel” when I couldn’t. I pushed myself to create more complex landscapes/cityscapes and my passion for creating whimsical worlds grew. By 2023 I had well over 70+ watercolor and pen illustrations. I decided to create the Wanderlust Playing Cards and Oracle Deck collecting 54 of my favorite illustrations.  Read more>>

Xavaire Parker

My most meaningful project I’ve worked on was the beat I made, “Angry Orchard.” This was the song that made me realize that no matter how many times I wanted to quit beat making keep trying. I was at a breaking point where I said to myself that I couldn’t make music at all, I wanted to quit. When I was listening to my favorite artist at the time. I was listening to the drums of one of his songs. I made the beat using those drums. I showed the beat to my closest friends and some family members they said it was amazing. Right then and there I knew that I can actually makes beats Read more>>

Meccagodzilla

First and foremost, it’s important to be fully self-expressed, regardless of what the outside world thinks. If by chance what I’m creating or my approach has the potential to create significant social impact for others, that’s a bonus that I’ve welcomed and leaned into time and time again. Most of what I create has meaning—whether it’s instrumental EPs and albums that share love and light vibrations, or rap songs that challenge harmful conventional norms or push for human consciousness to question, heal, and lots more. I’m not the type of artist that is driven by numbers, audience response, or vanity metrics. While it would be great to have tens of thousands of fans (and I do want that, haha), I mostly focus on creating art that means something to me. Read more>>

Dunice Harrell

I’d like to share the story behind The Gift of a Lifetime (GOAL) Program, a project that holds a very special place in my heart. This initiative was born from the belief that every senior graduate, regardless of their financial background, deserves the chance to celebrate one of the most pivotal moments in their life with a professional portrait. The idea for GOAL came from a deeply personal realization: many students, particularly those from low-income or underserved communities, miss out on having their graduation commemorated with a professional portrait due to financial barriers. For these students, not being able to capture this moment can feel like an opportunity lost, a celebration diminished. I knew I could change that, not just by offering photography services but by creating an experience that was empowering and affirming. Read more>>

Madeline Liu

Part of the joy of being an illustrator is to story-tell meaningful life experiences. I’ll never forget three key projects I’ve done. The first was a commission for a word-of-mouth customer who wanted to create a magical scene from a photo of where he and his girlfriend met. After we had it printed, they framed it, I heard back from him about a year and a half later that he was incredibly inspired by my ability to creatively bring his vision and emotion to life and that he was pivoting his career to pursue art! This moment warmed my heart and made me incredibly happy and thankful to do what I do.  Read more>>

Siyi Tang

Period. is the most meaningful project I’ve worked on, which is an exploration of women’s menstrual experience, starting from my own experience. A few years ago, I suddenly had irregular periods and was eventually diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). During the course of my diagnosis and treatment, I became aware of the various dilemmas women face as they go through the unique life experience of menstruation. So, I began to communicate with the women around me and menstruation-related issues, and I found that women from different families, different backgrounds, and different generations have different perceptions of menstruation, and are so consistent in facing a variety of menstruation-related troubles. This project is relevant to my life, to my identity as woman, and to the women I know. Read more>>

Darcie Fuqua

God has allowed me to write about the intersection of faith and mental illness from experience to a broad audience of believers and nonbelievers. Sometimes, writing can be a very lonely and isolated profession, so when you get reader feedback, even just one email from a soul who says your story touched them and moved them closer to Jesus, it compels you to keep sharing your testimony. I wrote an article, “Does God Still Love Me When I’m Depressed,” for ibelieve.com, and I received several emails from men and women who felt heard and seen after reading the words God impressed on my heart. There is so much reward and beauty in reflecting the light of Jesus into the dark seasons of other’s lives. Read more>>

Maciej Maćkowski

There have been some cool and important moments in my music-making and live performance adventure so far. The first music released on cd, the first contact with my own music on vinyl are definitely landmarks and important events for me. They also included participating and performing at big music festivals such as Unsound, Up To Date Festival, Red Bull Music Weekender and Tauron Nowa Muzyka. A performance in Stockholm and the release of a cassette in Japan would also add to this modest but important list for me. From the perspective of commercial work, collaborations with brands such as Tylko, Swatch or Puma, the use of my music in film productions available on AXN/Netflix, but also actions related to the creation and participation in charitable initiatives, such as compilations and releases dedicated to supporting Palestine or Ukraine, were certainly important. Read more>>

Yana Grishchuk

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is undoubtedly Aesthetic Hunters, an educational visual arts program I founded. It began as a way for me to share my knowledge of photography and visual art, but it quickly evolved into something much bigger than I had anticipated. Today, Aesthetic Hunters is an international photo project with nearly 2,000 students from all around the world. What makes this project so significant to me is that it embodies a philosophy I live by: A meaningful life is when you’re not at the center of it. Over the years, I realized that accumulating skills and achieving personal success can become routine, and the real fulfillment comes from sharing that experience with others. It became clear to me that I wanted to inspire people, to open the world of beauty and creativity to those who craved it—whether they had experience or were too hesitant to begin. Read more>>

Bethany Bowman

About a year after I began writing my Music Spotlight column, I did a feature on RCA’s Historic Studio B in Nashville. Now a part of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the studio/museum’s curator provided a stunning story of all the greats who first recorded there. Hitmakers who have made records in Studio B include Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, Everly Brothers Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves, Willie Nelson, Floyd Cramer, Roy Orbison, Charley Pride, Charlie Daniels, Connie Smith, and most notably Elvis Presley. Learning and writing about the history of this studio has been my favorite project to date. Read more>>

Aaron Akins

One of my most recent meaningful projects was writing, composing and singing a song titled ” When Do We Love ” featuring none other than Walter and Scotty of The Legendary Soul group, THE WHISPERS. The journey that lead to their involvement is one I’ll never forget. It all begin when I was performing at the world-renowned Catalina jazz club in Hollywood.  As fate would have it, Walter and Scotty were in the audience that night. After the show, they made their way over to congratulate me.  Their first guestion was did I write the final song of the set. I proudly replied that I had. Read more>>

Jonathan Lo

I think the most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far has actually been a personal passion side project called “The Octopian”. (@theoctopian) It’s a self published “zine” that visually explores design/architecture/lifestyle/fashion but with a subtle sci-fi filter. It also features current artists from different genres. It’s been something that has given me great joy, allowed me to meet so many amazing people, and been an important project to keep me motivated and creatively inspired, and more importantly, not associated with any client work. We’ve made 5 issues so far and currently working on the No. 6. Read more>>

Nicole Pedraza

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve been a part of was my performance residency at the Deering Estate, an art museum and nature preserve in Miami, FL. The residency was all about community engagement, collaboration, and creating a contemporary dance piece that explored the parallels between nature and human relationships. Growing up in that area, there weren’t many accessible performing arts opportunities for my family. I knew early on that I wanted to dive deeper into contemporary dance, but there weren’t affordable options beyond the ballet training I was familiar with. So, for my residency, I made sure there was a free community component, giving people a chance to explore how movement, nature, and different artistic disciplines influence one another. Read more>>

Quinty Van Der Geest

The most meaningful project, besides my music itself, has been selling my music rights to the people who trust and see potential in my career and me as an artist. It’s something we started to build a sustainable career in music with a win-win on both ends. For fans and myself. Wanting to go into music as a singer-songwriter, it’s something i’ve known and wanted since I can remember. It was actually my mom who said we should find a way that’s going to be beneficial on all ends. A matter of how, basically.  In 2022/2023 we traveled around the world, my family and I, which created space for inspiration and new ideas. That’s when we read the news that Justin Bieber had sold his music rights for over 200 million dollars. A lightbulb in my moms head lit up. It sparked the interest to dive deeper into what these music rights are and what kind of value it could have. As my ambitions are as big as they can get.  Read more>>

Lauren Carmen

One project that will always mean a lot to me was the first Nutcracker ballet I had a chance to costume design. At the time, I was dancing full-time in a ballet company, and the professional training program I had danced at as a child reached out and hired me to design their Nutcracker. This was before I went to graduate school for Costume Design, and was an important chance that someone took on me (Thank you Leslie!), to design a project of that scale, which was both an important experience for me to have and learn from, and an important piece of my portfolio in applying to future opportunities at the time. Read more>>

Cesar Rendon

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is a monologue short film called “Within Quiet Tides”, which is available on my YouTube channel. This film serves as a prologue to my first upcoming feature, “The Silence Within”. The inspiration for “Within Quiet Tides” came from my desire to introduce Robert, a character who plays a supporting role in the feature. While writing the script, I drew on personal experiences, including the passing of my father, navigating friendships, and figuring out my future after high school. The story centers on Robert, who writes a heartfelt letter to his late father while sitting at the beach, a place where they shared meaningful moments. Read more>>

Clayton Guiltner

Every project I’ve worked on, regardless of size, has been meaningful. Each production takes on a life of its own—guided by experience but always touched by a certain magic. One of my most significant projects remains Thirst by Eugene O’Neill, which I produced and directed in 2013. I discovered the play in a collection of O’Neill’s early one-acts and was immediately intrigued by its setting: three survivors stranded on a life raft in the middle of the ocean, battling the elements and their own inner demons. Read more>>

Eunseo Ryu

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on would have to be Fungal Fantasia. It’s a group project I created with a friend for school, and it holds significant value not just because it’s a key portfolio piece, but because of the challenges we faced and the lessons we learned along the way. Fungal Fantasia is a 3D animated short based on an original story we developed, featuring ‘mushroom spirits’ as the main characters. Since it was an original concept, we had to model and rig the characters ourselves—skills we were completely unfamiliar with at the time. Read more>>

Heather Rae

I am releasing a brand new song called “Over My Dead Body”! The song is about standing up to someone who has tried very hard to tear you down. The idea started with a toxic relationship I found myself caught in, but the more I wrote it, the more it took on various meanings to me. I can sometimes be my own worst enemy and that just feels like a war within myself. This song is important to me because it represents all the necessary ingredients needed to get one’s life back on track: strength, grit and determination. Read more>>

Nick Young

So far, my most meaningful project is my 1st short film, Blue Lotus. It’s a martial arts/action short film that I wrote, choreographed & directed. It came about because of inspiration from my friend & fellow aspiring filmmaker Brian DiLorenzo making a short film called “Void” + an inspirational quote by mixed martial artist Benson Henderson about pursuing your dreams. After hearing him talk on a UFC broadcast, the inspiration instantly struck. Read more>>

Alexandria Rising

The most meaningful projects I have worked on are the ones that transform how a person feels and views their body. I’ve done many scar coverups, tattooed people who have suffered from skin conditions, and people who are insecure about certain parts of their bodies. Helping people fall in love with the parts of their bodies they’ve been insecure about is so special to me. My purpose in life is to turn everything and everyone I touch into art. And, that is how I live my life. Read more>>

Can Sarac

I love putting a part of myself into my projects. When I work on personal pieces, I often reflect on something meaningful about myself. As a result, every project I’ve worked on holds deep significance and has a special place in my heart. However, if I had to choose one, it would be the van model I created during one of my beginner classes at Gnomon School of VFX. That vehicle belongs to my greatest supporters in life: my grandparents. They’ve supported me in every way possible throughout my life, and that’s why this project stands out from the rest. Read more>>

Karla Guzman

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my short film “Speak No Evil”, which marked a turning point in my career. As an actress, I’ve always been passionate about storytelling, but this was my debut as a filmmaker—where I stepped into the roles of creator, writer, producer, and lead actress. It was the first time I had the chance to fully bring my vision to life, both in front of and behind the camera, making it not just a film but a deeply personal and transformative journey. Read more>>

William Ax

I created, produced and ran a music festival in Aveiro (city in Portugal), a city where local artists basically have nowhere to play due to the very strict conditions for live/street music. It was a 2 days festival for local artists only (either living there or who were originally from there). Even though it was an absurd amount of work to get it done, it was a great success. It presented 16 artists and different genres (rock, fado, rap, metal, pop, MPB (Brazilian Folk Music) etc). Read more>>

Ryder Klein

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on was my second album “Immersion.” This project is all about my study abroad experience last year which was the best experience of my life, studying in Berlin and traveling to six other countries. I loved working on this album because it was definitely the most challenging project of my career, but also one of the scariest things I’ve ever done because it’s a whole collaboration album. I had no idea what to expect with the features that I wanted on the album, some I’ve never worked with and some that I have worked with in the past. It was so rewarding because everybody that I worked with on this album did such an incredible job and played such a big role with creating something great. The biggest takeaway is that there is so much talent in this world, and everybody wants to work and get their voice heard, so it was amazing. Read more>>

Khazm Kogita

My debut solo album “Diaries of a MAD” was one of the most challenging and meaningful projects I’ve worked on to date. I’ve collaborated with alot of artists in different groups and collectives and am no stranger to the craft and the process of making music, but this project was different. It was personal. Perhaps too personal… I began writing in 2000, making good progress, and even finished the album art in 2001. Never really satisfied, I would keep re-recording songs, scrapping it, then moving on to other songs. This happened for a few more years until I encountered a near death experience that landed me in a hospital for about 7 months. With a newfound sense of urgency, I ended up producing and writing all new songs during that time. My man Gabe Teodros brought the studio to the hospital and we recorded feverishly. Miraculously, I overcame rehabilitation and immediately upon getting out, I pressed up an abbreviated sample of the album on wax called “Preludes: Diaries of a MAD” in 2005, with the intention of releasing the full project the following year.  Read more>>

Mia Tarazi

I specialize in mixed media intuitive psychedelic artwork. I do acrylic paint pours that I turn into paintings using various techniques. The colors and patterns create images I paint on top of the paint pours in my head. I do my pours for fun, and I will stare at them for a while, get an idea, and then sketch them out. I then take my drawing, cut it out, trace the outline onto my painting, fill it in with white acyclic gesso, then sketch out my drawing on the piece, where I then use multiple mediums such as markers, paint markers, acrylic paint, glitter, gold leaf and fill in my drawing. This is a process I developed myself, and it makes me stand out. I have shared this process online; many people believe it is unique. Over time, alongside traditional artwork, I have taught myself digital painting, which makes creating some products, such as stickers, a lot easier. Read more>>

Stephanie Hanlon

For the past couple of years I’ve been working on a series of family portraits and candids on my film Rolleiflex. It started when my 12 year old daughter started going through some struggles. It was a scary time as a parent because you don’t want to see your children suffer and I felt powerless. So I began to notice more articles about the state of families, children and parents in America, in an effort to understand our own situation better. Headlines highlighted a loneliness epidemic, alarming rise in suicides in young people, more demand for psychiatric medications and therapy, alarming rises in school shootings, declining birth rates, and so much more. This caused me to look at my own family dynamic and what could be contributing to this crisis. Read more>>