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.

Andrew Moore

The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on so far is the debut album my band just released on October 5 2024, Andrew Moore and Hooch – Artists of the Moon. I have written songs and kept them locked away for around 15 years. I have always wanted to have an original album of songs that I have written. I had the pleasure of doing so with 4 great band members and friends this year. Every song on the album is a song of personal experience and was written with 100% transparency at different points of my life and how I truly felt. I hope it hits home with our listeners. Read more>>

Rylin Rossano

My podcast Take Care of Your Body by Ry came to life during one of the most difficult moments of my life. I was leaving a doctor’s appointment, feeling completely overwhelmed. It wasn’t just the weight of the condition I’ve been navigating; it was the emotional toll of trying to advocate for myself in a system that often left me feeling unseen. As I sat in my car, I felt a surge of frustration, anger, and sadness. I’d spent so much time trying to care for my body, yet I still felt like I was falling short, as if I was constantly fighting a battle I couldn’t win. That moment made me question everything: my strength, my resilience, and even my purpose. Read more>>

Christopher Galiyas

I feel that all of my projects are meaningful in some way, whether if it’s for me personally or for the client I’m working with. In both cases, I always put my heart and soul into them, there are a lot of artists out there & they chose me to bring their vision to life, so I always stive to put my everything into each and every commission. My absolute favorite projects to do are designing / painting baby nurseries. There is just something so special about a new life being brought into this world & the parents wanting to give their new child a fun, whimsical, one-of-a-kind nursery that he/she can grow up in is just amazing to me. I, in a small way, get to be part of the journey and I get to become part of the story.  Read more>>

E A

My most meaningful project would have to be the project I am currently working on titled, “GOD LOVES YOU, SO DO I.” I had just finished my previous project which most would claim to be my most impactful as of yet, but I wanted to create something that would heal as much as energize. The last project was titled, “EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE” and represented my journey in creation and gathering all the experiences and emotions that I felt during that time period (and still believe in to this day) and expressing it through the medium of music and visuals to create something that would be my magnum opus, my greatest piece of art to date. It was filled with turmoil and anger with themes of war and obscurity, but with this current one, I am mainly trying to heal. After war comes time of peace and healing and this is what this project represents for me, something that can be used to heal and mend our hearts and souls. Read more>>

Shaina K

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was a Valentine’s Day self portrait I did this year. It was meaningful for a couple reasons: 1. It affirmed my commitment to love myself, the way I want to be loved. For the first time, I bought myself Valentine’s Day flowers. I got pretty for myself and I decided to create the images I wanted to see more on my social media feeds: a plus size black woman in a luxurious setting. Living in a world as a single black female who is plus sized and doesn’t necessarily fit into quite a few boxes, being the “main character” never seemed truly attainable. In media and film, the people who looked like me are typically the supporting characters if they’re present at all. Simply there to be the comedic relief and or the shoulder to cry on. Now, the few black and plus size leads that I see are still cast in similar roles: funny but fat. At a certain point, I felt like I was choosing to live my life limited to that same role: funny but sat. I wanted to change the idea that while funny and fact is good, being the pretty girl, holding the pretty roses in a main character setting was also good and attainable. So, I made up in my mind to take those quintessential “main character engulfed with roses” photos. While, I do want to recreate the shoot on a larger scale to intensify the luxury I imagine, this experience truly what made me believe I could do the create more of the images I have been dreaming of: a black who isn’t just funny and fat but is living a life of luxury; while being kind to herself and romancing life for herself. Read more>>

Valerie Baeza

Each scented candle is a meaningful project. It starts with inspiration and curiosity. Am I celebrating specific notes or a universal moment or a beloved book? From there I tie in a story, the title. A lot of my titles are sweet, thought provoking or provocative, but they’re always universal. I test rigorously. Various fragrance oil combination with q-tips for a unique scent, and that process takes several days or up to year as was the case for Narnian Forest. Read more>>

Phinny Nguy

The inspiration behind Cherei, my jewelry brand, was deeply personal, shaped by my cultural identity and life experiences. Growing up in a traditional Asian household in Toronto, Canada, I encountered discrimination and harassment as an Asian, transgender non-binary and neurodivergent individual. These challenges fuelled my determination to create a brand that not only reflected my unique perspective but also challenged societal norms and fostered greater acceptance and understanding of diverse identities. Read more>>

Yoan Dominguez Gonzalez

The most significant project that I have worked on is my clothing brand, Casamanu. Making clothes and apparel accessories earned its importance early in my life in its necessity for my family to survive. Growing up in Cuba came with the challenges of the economy and communist government. As a child, I watched each family member make clothes to sell in order to earn a living. They all had different professions and careers, yet they all needed to do more to survive. The part-time clothing businesses they all created gave me hope that I could not articulate at such a young age. During this time, I naturally was able to develop skills in sewing and trading by assisting my family. As you could imagine, clothing in Cuba serves as a scarce need given the low supply of fabric. I don’t think I was fully aware as a child to know how impactful each fabric sown together brought me security, knowing my family would survive; not to mention the example my family established through their perservence and inventions that would eventually fuel my passion. As I began to study at The University of Holguin in Cuba, I became exposed to other cultures outside of Cuba that shared the importance of sown thread but in a way that transcended from basic need into hope, art and identity. Given my major at the university in financing and marketing, I entered the world of fashion to inspire others through the power of thread. Read more>>

Andre Miller

The Redemption of a Delta Blues Man: Robert Johnson 29 painting series. I embarked on this journey feeling as though Robert himself was urging me to tell his story…I realized later on that this was a calling…and a ministry from the Creator of the Universe to tell a story of redemption to all who would be touched by the story. It started with me doing a painting of Robert Johnson that leaned into the mythos of him striking a Faustian deal with the devil. But quickly turn into a journey of a deep dive into the man and telling a different story. Read more>>

Rawhoney.

Our upcoming EP, “insane from exposure” has easily been the most meaningful piece of work we’ve created so far, not only from an artistic perspective, but from a personal one as well! This body of work challenged us in such new ways, and following up our debut EP “how could life be pretty without you?” presented us with a choice in regards to how exactly we go about expanding our sonic pallet and the expectations of our current audience. Read more>>

Michaela Tong

So far the most meaningful project i have worked on to date took place at the end of September of this year that was months in the making. In April, i was invited to Vancouver Fashion Week SS24 and had the honour to shoot a campaign for the Smouldy collection that was showcased on the runway. Later in August, Stef (smouldy designer) messaged me saying she was going to be in my city for another show/runway and if i wanted to collaborate on a shoot for a brand new collection. i worked alongside Emily Machan (my creative partner and other half of our creative agency “Mei”) as well to bring a vision to life. i built a master call sheet that consisted of dates, times, places, and the spaces that this divine team of eight had executed beautifully. This was the one of Mei’s biggest projects to date and i’m incredibly proud of this “Smouldy X Mei” campaign and hopefully by the time this interview releases i will have shared the photos :) Read more>>

David Coloma

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has been my heavy metal band, Destroyer Creator, and the creation of my latest EP. This project came to life thanks to the City of Austin’s 2023-2024 Live Music Grant, which provided the crucial support needed to bring my artistic vision to fruition. Austin has been my home for two decades, shaping me both as an individual and as a musician. The city’s vibrant live music scene is deeply woven into its identity, and being part of that culture has been an incredible privilege. Through this project, I had the chance to collaborate with some of Austin’s most talented musicians and producers—individuals I’ve admired and built friendships with over the years. Together, we created something that not only represents my personal style but also honors the city’s rich musical heritage. Read more>>

Leslie Benitah

Without question, the most meaningful project of my career has been The Last Ones. This initiative, born out of urgency and a deep personal connection to Holocaust survivors, has shaped my life in profound ways. It’s more than a project—it’s a mission to preserve the stories of those who lived through one of humanity’s darkest chapters, ensuring their voices are heard long after they’re gone. The inspiration for The Last Ones comes from my grandparents, all Holocaust survivors, who never shared their stories with me. Growing up, their silence felt like an impenetrable wall, and as a journalist, I was determined to uncover what had been left unsaid. For years, I pieced together fragments of their lives through research, travel, and interviews, driven by the realization that so many survivors leave this world with their histories untold. Read more>>

James T. Washburn

My most recent production, FABLE: Tales from Another World, lives at a uniquely meaningful point in time and (metaphorical) space – it marked a turning point for my company’s reach within our community, and drew on aspects of my identity that I hadn’t had an opportunity to express so intimately before. The production was a one-night-only, immersive world building project. For just six hours, the audience was invited to step into “a world not unlike our own, where magic and mystery await.” Wandering down various paths, they might encounter any number of characters from an expansive canon of original folktales inspired by Slavic, Filipino, and Celtic traditions. Storytellers shared these tales, while the enigmatic Copyist listened to the audience’s own stories; a rotating cast of Suns and Moons danced an endless, looping love story across the mainstage; and Death herself crafted new stories that would only be heard by those lucky enough to draw cards from her divination deck. Read more>>

 Clive Knights

That would be founding a new school of architecture. The story began with my appointment at Portland State in 1994 under the auspices of an agreement to start a joint professional Master of Architecture program in Portland in partnership with the other university in Oregon (which shall remain nameless) that was already teaching architecture down the valley. After a year or two it became crystal clear that the other university, with its long-established architecture program, had absolutely no intention of partnering with a fledgling program like ours at PSU, with our 3 faculty against their 30 or so faculty. So, we kicked them off our Portland campus and they dutifully spent the next decade maneuvering within state politics to make sure we were never given permission to start a Master’s program. A full inventory of the ugliness of humanity was directed toward us in many different forms of arrogance and derision that took us by surprise, so adamant were they that their monopoly on state funded architectural education would endure without competition. Read more>>

Twinkle Zaman

The most meaningful project would be probably be the novel I recently finished writing. My book ‘Love Notes’ means a lot me as well. So much went into both. I think the novel was difficult for me for a lot of reasons. I’ve never written a whole story, I’ve never had to pitch before, I really had no idea what this process would be like. It’s more than just telling a story. You want others to believe in it as much as you do. I always knew the storyline and the concept but getting it down was much harder than I imagined. You hear people who have written like twenty novels and I’m just like ‘how’! It takes you through so much. It’s a brand new experience for me and I am excited for what’s to come. It was a lot of hard work…still a lot of hard work. It means so much to me and I feel really protective over it. Read more>>

Nelli Kamaeva

1. Genetic Lab and Flow Health Designing for healthcare has been one of the most impactful parts of my career. At Flow Health and in the genetic lab Kromos, I worked on improving web applications, admin panels, and patient experiences. These tools not only streamlined the workflows of lab employees but also enhanced how patients interacted with their health data. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see how thoughtful design can directly contribute to better medical outcomes and a more human-centered healthcare system. 2. Posters for Local Creative Markets Creating posters for local creative markets has been a meaningful way to support artisans and makers. These markets bring together people who create by hand — jewelry, artwork, clothing, books, and the posters I design become the visual voice of their passion. Every project is an opportunity to highlight their individuality and attract the community to celebrate and support these creators. Read more>>

Channing Sparks

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my children’s book, “First Runner-Up: A Story of Representation and Perseverance”. The book is deeply personal and inspired by my own journey growing up as a young dancer in a predominantly Caucasian community. As a child, I often found myself feeling like I didn’t fully belong, both on and off the stage. Whether it was in casting decisions, costume selections, or simply the lack of diverse role models in dance, I quickly became aware of how underrepresented I was. These experiences sparked a drive in me to overcome those barriers and to inspire others facing similar challenges. Read more>>

Hannah Rice

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on thus far is the short film, The Chop, that I wrote and starred in last Summer. The film follows Taka, a New Zealand park ranger who is working in a California National Park. For Taka, trees are people and when a tree is being cut down to make space for a parking lot, she must find the courage to stop the chop. For me, this film embodies how disconnected we’ve become from nature, how it’s become a utility to be capitalized on. Coming from a country like Aotearoa, New Zealand, my connection to nature has always been strong and it’s heartbreaking to see how humanity has become so arrogant as to assume that they deserve to have nature at their disposal. I won’t pretend to be innocent in all of this and am certainly guilty of my far share of misuse of the environment. Films about the environment can often feel heady or immediately alienate an audience. With The Chop, I wanted to keep the story small and to tell the tale using humor while also leaving the audience with a sense of hope. Read more>>

Emma Gabriel

A good friend reached out to me to cover some old homemade hand poke tattoos. I had no idea how unhappy she was with them or how self conscious the markings made her feel about her legs. We decided on some dark large scale flowers to disguise them and talked through the best approach. I was very honoured that she trusted me with such a large scale project at the beginning of my career.  We had a lot of fun during the process and once the project was complete I learned just how impactful the new tattoo was for her. She told me that the tattoo had given her the confidence to show off her legs, which she wasn’t able to do comfortably before. Read more>>

Charlynne Boddie

There are several: 1) Being on the production team for the Take It Back Foundation solid waste music video with record producer Jolie Jones, daughter of music icon Quincy Jones, that was seen as a trailer in all US movie theaters. This music video took a look at the hazards of environmental damage through solid waste and used music icons from all genres of the music industry to share the message of how to prevent solid waste. I was a regional press officer for the US Environmental Protection Agency at the time and Ms. Jones asked me to work with her on this project and help procure some federal funding to finish the video which had Bugs Bunny, Bette Midler, Kenny Loggins, Queen Latifah, Quincy Jones, Ozzy Osbourne, Stevie Wonder, Pat Benatar, Leta Ford, BB King, Natalie Cole and Barry White singing on it. (You can check out the music video on You Tube by looking for: Take It Back Foundation – Yakety Yak (Take It Back) music video.) Read more>>

Narmin Kassam

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was an immersive installation titled “Reflection”, created for the 2023 National Illume Visual Arts Festival in Toronto, Canada, as a national finalist in the visual arts category. As an African-born woman and former refugee, I deeply connect with each figure in my paintings. The figures represent both beauty and the struggles inherent in their unsung stories of resilience. Their voices are expressed through their thoughts, styles, ethnicities, and shapes. My creative journey originated from a dream—a vision of suspended figures, mirrors, and light. when I decided to challenge myself by submitting an installation, an experimental art form, rather than a painting which I was comfortable making. It was an opportunity for me to step outside my comfort zone as a mixed-media paper collage artist and engage with a new medium. This decision marked a turning point in my artistic practice, pushing me to explore new dimensions, both literally and figuratively.  Read more>>

Jonathan Suarez

My most meaningful project to date was our last EP self titled Baby Grendel. Because of time and money constraints it took about 2 years to complete the project after I’d finished writing the majority of the material. During those 2 years I fought to keep myself in the Pacific North West (around my collaborators in the Portland music scene) working seasonal manual labor and farming jobs. I’d fallen on hard times and struggled with food and housing insecurity. It’s not easy to put in hours of work on music after coming home from a grueling day of farming to a tiny roach ridden room you’re renting. This process was exhausting and at times miserable but it gave me the gift of understanding how much the songs meant to me. As far as the content of the project, I hope that I was able to reach a new level of honesty with these tracks, to me that’s the real meaning sauce. Read more>>

E.g. Seven

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on thus far is my first full book “Stardust Pilgrimage”. I thought of the premise while awaiting my son’s birth in the hospital. The connection is a father son space fantasy. The son is curious and the father is a retired warrior (being an army veteran). I would say that is very much our dynamic. I finished and self-published the book earlier this year and I await the day my son is old enough to read it. I wrote it for him. Read more>>

Paul Jach

My wife, Kristy Brucale Jach, and I co-founded the non-profit, Boonton Arts. Through this organization, we have created the Dog Days of Summer & Some Cool Cats program. The program places sculptures on exhibit in the public helping independent businesses in our town. We have also participated as artists, creating a dog or cat sculpture each year. In addition, we have facilitated five full-scale murals in Boonton. The most meaningful for me and my community was a three-story flag mural on the side of our town’s VFW post, painted in 2014. To this day, the mural serves as a welcome to Boonton’s Main Street, and the town itself. The gratitude that the veterans expressed and the overwhelming appreciation that our community demonstrated, made this project stand out as one of my most impactful to date. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to design the mural and paint it through Boonton Arts along with my wife Kristy, and fellow artists Anthony Weird*Eye*One and Rob Hessler. Read more>>

Sasha Reist

My most meaningful project to date was creating “Changement,” a short documentary the discusses the use of traditional gender roles in ballet. I made this documentary my junior fall in college for my Documentary Production class with my incredible film partner, Jackson Hayes. It brought more to my career than I could have ever imagined. It was my first experience creating a documentary short and taught me so much about not only film production, but storytelling. It put me on the map as a filmmaker in college; I got to go to multiple film festivals, including screening my film through the U of A at SXSW. It led me to my incredible mentor, Kerryn Negus, who has been a guiding light throughout my film journey. It gave me my great film partner, Jackson Hayes, who I continue to learn so much from and will be one of my best friends for life. Lastly, creating “Changement” emphasized my purpose in creating art- to use the intersection and combination of dance and film to shed light on queer stories and make the world a better place for not just LGBTQ+ folk, but for everyone. At the end of the day, instilling change to help the LGBTQ+ community benefits EVERYONE. Read more>>

Mai Alsewaify

Most of the meaningful projects I’ve enjoyed working on have involved recreating movie-inspired scenes. Growing up in the Middle East, I developed a deep love for cinema from an early age, watching classic American films with my dad. In a way, it became a shared bond between us, something we both loved and could discuss together after each movie. I’ve recently done a Dune, Poor Things and noir films themed shoot. Read more>>