We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lia Fetterhoff a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

Yes, I wish I had started my creative career sooner, but I’m also glad I didn’t. Experience has brought in perspectives that I wouldn’t have appreciated otherwise.

As a teenager, I immersed myself in writing songs, poems, and envisioning my “Swishie design studio” brand inspired by artists like Lisa Frank and Flavia. However, formal art learning experiences in my teens and twenties left me discouraged. In middle school, I received my first B in an art class, leading me to doubt my artistic abilities. As a straight-A student, this was devastating: it felt like there was a “right” way of doing art that would always remain a mystery to me. After college, I attempted an art class for fun but had to drop out due to personal matters. I then spent years working a 9-5 job, but two pivotal moments redirected me back to my creative path.

The first turning point was leaving a toxic work environment without a job lined up, five years into my design career. This decision was triggered by the emotional toll the job took on me, leaving me breaking down a day after returning from my honeymoon. I was the kind of person who enjoyed work, and no job should ever leave you feeling like that. After leaving, I began exploring the concept of “Life Experience Design,” which led me to write an ebook and develop courses, workshops, podcasts, and YouTube videos for my Swishie brand. The second opportunity came when I was laid off for the first time, coincidentally ten years after starting my passion projects around content creation. With newfound time and financial freedom, I rediscovered my love for art through a fine art program that resonated with me. Despite being only a few months into this journey, I’ve finally overcome the belief that I wasn’t meant to be an artist. Now, as I approach forty, I’ve gained clarity about why I create and feel like I’m finally finding my creative voice.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a multi-passionate creative, and the common theme is inspiring women of color to redefine what success looks like in a way that is truly authentic to them.

My profession is as a product designer, and I’ve built apps and websites that millions all over the world have interacted with. I find joy in solving problems in a meaningful way, and this means understanding what people are trying to do, what they currently struggle with, and designing digital experiences to help them meet their goals. I get to talk to people and collaborate with peers to make this happen. Over the years, I also built communities, spoke, and mentored on design to support women in their design careers.

I’m also a content creator through Swishie, where I write, host, and share advice on design and life topics. Over the years, I’ve realized that design can be a great framework for taking risks and inviting more intentionality into big life decisions: where should I raise my family? is it worth pursuing a new career now? I’ve been living on autopilot and have no idea what I actually enjoy – how do I wake up feeling more excited about my life? These are my favorite conversations to have: learning about others’ wake-up calls, pivots, and big visions for their lives. I have a ten-episode podcast on this that I recorded during lockdown, and more recently have thought about bringing this back for a second season.

Finally, I’m starting my journey into fine art: oil painting, charcoal drawing, and finding my artistic voice in a visual way. I weave in my learnings and art into the Swishie newsletter and Instagram account, and this time next year my goal is to bring my writing and art together in a more cohesive way.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Thirteen years ago, my life took a dramatic turn. I left a toxic relationship, moved out of our shared apartment, and then, within weeks, my dad passed away. This period marked a profound breakdown and rebuilding phase in my life. I moved in with my sister, cut ties with unreliable friends, and devoted myself to pursuing a Master’s degree in design. Many days were filled with deep self-reflection, helping me gain a better understanding of my true desires and how I wanted to make the most of my precious time on this planet.

Grief and loss are among life’s most challenging experiences. They shift your perspective, making you realize that existence is a gift not to be taken for granted. Every day becomes a reminder that no matter how tough it gets, it’s not the worst day because you’re still alive. As an eternal optimist, losing my dad, as painful as it was, also became a catalyst for positive change in my life. It served as a gentle nudge to remind me that I’m always just one decision away from living the life of my dreams, from pursuing my true calling. Life is fleeting, and we only get one shot at it. This realization fuels my approach to life. I believe that the risks and growth opportunities are always worth it when they align with the life you envision for yourself. The key to living a life without regrets is by making decisions that feel life-affirming.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I believe that choosing the safe path is the most stifling decision one can make, as it means not fully embracing your unique potential. A life filled with creativity is a journey of self-awareness and self-expression, driven by your internal sense of purpose and the desire to share it with others. All it takes to be creative is a willingness to create something and share it with the world, without it needing to be perfect.

A life well-lived may mean taking significant risks, such as accepting a pay cut, embarking on a new journey as a beginner, or making a bold decision with uncertain outcomes. Alternatively, it can be as simple as volunteering your time for a cause you’re passionate about, being present for your family, or bringing joy to your community. The main point is that you’re deciding to create an intentional ripple in your life that wasn’t there before. With one creative decision, it becomes easier to make more.

In a world full of consumers, we need more people to create. It’s easy to tell who is lit from within from those merely going through the motions…and the world needs more people who have come alive.

Contact Info:

• Website: swishie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swishieofficial
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/liafetterhoff
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@swishieofficial
• Other: https://swishie.substack.com/