Every once in a while we have the good fortune of working on a project that we feel truly matters, a project that we’ll still be thinking about years from now. Maybe even something we can imagine telling our grandkids about – surely you’ve had moments like that where something you did in your professional life really mattered?

Kate Glasheen

One of my entries into the Graphic Canon series was a comic adaptation of William Faulkner’s lesser known short story, The Hill. It was the fusion of my two loves, literature and comics. It also linked me to a hero of mine in Faulkner. As I Lay Dying was an incredibly pivotal book for me. The story was told through a myriad of voices, stream of conscious at times, and in defiance of the confines of punctuation as I was drilled to understand it. It was my first full encounter with a book that used every part of itself to tell its story and bucked what I had always been told proper writing looked like. The Hill was hard enough to find that my editor on the project (Russ Kick, RIP) had to dig for the collection that contained it in university libraries, and once found, sent me cell phone pictures on his flip phone of the each page of the story. Artists had free rein in our interpretations in the Graphic Canon series, but because of The Hill’s rarity at the time it was important to me to transcribe it in full. So now, through my adaptation, William Faulkner’s story is much more accessible than it was before. This project made me feel like I was a link in the chain of literature through time. It made me feel like I was a part of this thing that so enriched me, and now I was hopefully passing that torch on to some reader somewhere in some small way. Read more>>

Liz Saunders

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on would likely be my kinetic sculptural mobiles, as the concepts behind them gave life to my painting series ‘Commuter’s Paradise’. I started building these mobiles while still in art school – I had begun my studies with the intention of focussing solely on painting, but within the first year or two struggles with chronic pain had me switch into sculpture. I felt drawn from there to explore found object sculpture, the notion of turning everyday detritus that would normally go overlooked and unloved into something one couldn’t look away from. By suspending these objects mid-air, I delighted in witnessing a sense of movement overcome them, almost as though they were dancing and alive. Soon, I realized a sort of formula for selecting my materials which made the sculptures so much more meaningful to me. Read more>>

Ken Baker

The most meaningful projects involve fostering a community of ambassadors who are rethinking the entire food ecosystem. It’s about addressing where access comes from, how we can create sustainability in our food systems, and how we build stronger connections within our communities from the ground up. By focusing on solutions that come from the ground up rather than the top down, we’re making real, lasting change. Through our network of local restaurants, community-based organizations, and food donors across the food system, Rethink Food has provided over 29 million meals to local communities facing food insecurity, directed over $132 million to small local restaurants and businesses, and repurposed over 2.6 million pounds of excess food across its programs since our founding in 2017. Read more>>

Andrés Lira

During my final year at CSU, Sacramento, I was taking a film production course and had the opportunity to create a documentary for my thesis project. Only a few of students were allowed to direct a film and at the time the pandemic had begun forcing everyone to study remotely. Farmworkers were one of the few essential workers who remained on site when many people were working from home so I decided to make a film on the farmworking community. I spent months documenting the variety of jobs they do and interviewed them on their experiences immigrating to the U.S. I shot and edited everything myself to create an encapsulation on the realities that come with being undocumented as an essential worker. After finishing the film and presenting it to my class, I was encouraged by my professor to submit it to film festivals. It has gone on to screen and win awards at many prestigious festivals and has really helped establish myself as an emerging filmmaker. I come from a family of farmworkers and also worked in the fields during summers so it meant that much more to be able to amplify the voices of my community. Read more>>

Jeff Sanders

I was invited to the 2018 Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival and commissioned to build and install a huge original artwork. The journey unfolded from an email I received that I didn’t think was real, to securing a commission to build the largest piece of art I’d ever conceived of, to figuring out how to source 100,000 LEGO parts and then building an art piece that was bigger than any wall I had in my home, on so on, and so on. The end of a long story is that I had the experience of a lifetime in the UAE sharing this experience of the festival with dozens of artists from around the world. It changed how I viewed myself as an artist, and the trajectory of my artistic career. Read more>>

Sebastian Kane Gonzalez

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on with SKG Projects was Live Session 001. This session wasn’t just a music recording—it was an experience rooted in the heart of why SKG Projects exists: bringing creatives together to glorify God with the talents and gifts He’s given us. Too often, we get caught up in comparisons or competition, forgetting that our gifts are not for elevating ourselves but for giving glory back to the One who gave them. Live Session 001 was a beautiful reminder of this truth. This project was about unity, collaboration, and celebrating diversity in creativity. We brought together an incredible group of people, each with a unique perspective and skill set. Creatives like Josh McGriff and Paulito Works captured moments visually, while my audio partner Lufsound ensured every sound was captured with excellence. Catleegraphy, the one and only, brought her own energy, rounding out a team that worked seamlessly together. We also welcomed vendors who added their own flavor and energy, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Read more>>

Augie Duke

I feel incredibly blessed to have worked on a handful of projects that have meant so much to me. I’ll start with my first, way back when, because that project sparked my passion for acting. Jessica Sonneborn and Billy McAdams, two incredible filmmakers, were working on their first feature-length movie. My baby brother had just collaborated with them on a pilot, and my mom mentioned my name to them, knowing they were casting for their next project. I ended up auditioning, got a callback, and eventually booked the role. It felt amazing—like I was on the right path. It was one of my first films, and I made lifelong friends during that experience. Read more>>

Lydia Serfling

One of my most meaningful design projects is the branding I created for a strength and conditioning college course curriculum. My primary work is in collegiate athletics and recreation, where I have had the privilege of learning from some of the most accomplished professionals in the field. Early in my career, I was fortunate to work for an exceptional mentor and contribute to his world-class program for educating and hiring student personal trainers. His innovative, in-house program included an introductory strength and conditioning course supported by comprehensive visual aids that eventually called for an updated design to better showcase its timeless substance. I felt it was my calling to honor the program’s legacy and aimed to reflect its excellence through the bold colors and deeply meaningful weight stack pin logo. The entire project was an homage to my mentor and the unwavering excellence he brings to everything he pursues. Believe it or not, my commitment to learning graphic design actually began with this project in mind! Read more>>

Ness Kent

Mess Arts, a New Orleans youth arts non profit, has been the most thrilling, heart warming, and meaningful project I have worked on in my creative career. This work with the young artists in our community has been impactful to me in ways that are hard to fully express in words for my art practice and personal growth. My heart is filled to the brim with love and joy from the community that has blossomed—where we can all express ourselves and grow together through the arts. Below is our mission, and origin story of the organization and the project at large. Mess Arts is a queer-led visual arts program with a special focus on youth leadership, safe spaces, and community. We are a 501(c)(3) non profit arts organization that offers high quality arts education, centering youth voice and leadership. We offer a range of classes, camps, and events all on a sliding scale and scholarship basis, ensuring equity. At Mess Arts, process over product is highly valued, along with the community-building power of the arts! Mess Arts allows for the creation of safe and joyful space so young artists can express themselves freely, and actualize their own wild and wonderful ideas, creating a sense of empowerment within all who participate. Read more>>

Naila Ansari Carbonell Catilo

As a professor, researcher, and creative, my work centers on the profound and transformative power of Black women’s stories. My project, The Movement of Joy, is a celebration of Black women’s humanity, resilience, and boundless capacity for joy. Traveling across the country, I interview Black women from diverse walks of life, archiving their narratives of discovering Joy. Through these interviews, I push against historical stereotypes that have confined and dehumanized us, showcasing instead the richness and fullness of our lives. The stories I collect become the foundation for a multifaceted body of work that includes performances, lectures, and community dialogues. Each performance and lecture explores the intersections of race, gender, and faith, demonstrating that when Black women prevail, we all prevail. In doing so, I aim to redefine how Black women are seen, celebrated, and understood—not just as survivors of oppression but as creators, visionaries, and essential contributors to society. Read more>>

Jessie Read

I teach an art class for kids each week. I have a group of boys and girls aged 6-9. We talk about the ‘Old Masters’, I introduce them to all sorts of materials from paint to clay to pipe cleaners and everything in between. My goal is to teach them something about art, obviously, but I really try to teach them that you are allowed to go ‘outside of the lines’. Seriously. Do it. Go outside of the lines – think differently, use different materials, close your eyes, paint with your opposite hand, incorporate words, mix colors, bend the rules, create. I love to see what they come up with. It’s brilliant and uninhibited. We have fun, it’s loud, it’s messy and it’s meaningful. As Picasso said ‘every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up’. Read more>>

Jarell Rochelle

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever worked on was a lecture/performance at Evelyn Meador Public Library (the best public library staff ever!) in Seabrook, Texas, through my company, Xpress VIBE. It was powerful. I started by sharing my story, you know, where I’m from—the southwest side of Alief, Texas (and proud of it!) – my street dance background, my theatrical performances, my scholarly research, etc. So, I’m up there, sharing with these young men and women, and I throw up “the dub” – fingers crossed like the infamous West Coast gang sign. Then, something amazing happened. Two young black men in the audience stood up, threw their hands up, and shouted, “DUBS UP!” The two men (who cannot be named due to legalities) were part of a special program that worked toward rehabilitating troubled black youth so that they could get their life back on track: get GEDs – apply to colleges, good works like that. The two teenage young men were a part of this group, and they just so happened to be taking a field trip that day to the public library to hear me share my story… Read more>>

Sue Hough

A project that really stands out to me is “SHE Week,” an event created by the Women In Business committee at the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. I was part of the committee and played a key role in bringing this one-week event to life. We not only worked on the branding and graphics, but I also helped highlight the importance of diversity by organizing a panel of minority women to share their experiences and struggles with race. I was even one of the speakers and shared my own personal story too. I also came up with the idea of SHEROES – a way to recognize and honor women who are doing amazing things in our community through nominations and awards. Read more>>

Giovanni Lamonte

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is a docuseries I created for the LSU Gymnastics team called The Climb. This project was especially significant to me because it wasn’t just about capturing the athletic achievements of these incredible gymnasts; it was about telling their stories as individuals. Through The Climb, I had the privilege of showcasing who they are beyond the sport—their personal journeys, the challenges they faced, and the resilience they demonstrated in their pursuit of a national championship. Seeing the impact these stories had on our audience, and knowing I was able to give a voice to these athletes’ experiences, made it an unforgettable and deeply rewarding project. Read more>>

Khaled Dajani

My most meaningful projects have been born out of adversity. I have faced their fair share of adversity, challenges, failures and successes. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. All of my breakdowns, defeats and bad choices came to a head when I got sick. It was rock bottom. It was also one of the best things to ever happen to me. Facing my own mortality forced me to re-evaluate my values and priorities. While I’ve always found fulfillment in creative pursuits like music, writing, and photography, I realized I also craved a deeper connection with others and a desire to serve. This led me to create two initiatives: FYGY (Fuck Yeah! Go You!) and The Better You Co. Read more>>

Sebastián Gálvez

Every project I work on holds deep meaning for me. The ones I create from scratch give me the unparalleled satisfaction of building something entirely my own—watching it start as an idea, simmer with potential, transform through collaboration, and eventually take flight. It’s a fulfilling journey that always feels like a triumph. On the other hand, booking a job as an actor is a major achievement in itself. In a field where so many talented performers are vying for the same roles, landing one feels like hitting the lottery. There’s a unique joy in taking someone else’s words and story, collaborating with a team of like-minded creatives, and helping to bring it all to life. Read more>>

Omisha Chaitanya

Mastering Blue by Misuser felt like an important step in my professional career. I am forever grateful to Maria for taking a leap of faith in working with me. Here was an artist, Misuser (formerly known as ksrmr), whose music I had admired from afar, whose live shows I had attended, and who chose to bring me into her creative circle as her resident mastering engineer. At the time, my mastering portfolio was much smaller than it is now—I had only mastered a few records before Blue and was eager to dive deeper into the craft. The confidence I’ve built since then is largely thanks to the trust Maria, and other artists like her, placed in me. Read more>>

Katie Simrell

Last year I competed in the League of Legends LCS Cosplay contest. I had participated once before during the pandemic and even placed as a finalist for one of my big armor cosplay builds (Iron Inquisitor Kayle). I didn’t win back in 2020, but I knew I could level up my skills and make something even more impressive for 2023- so I decided to make a glowing & articulated centaur cosplay for my entry. And that’s how I landed on the design of Nightbringer Lillia. I didn’t even play LoL anymore, and I had never played Lillia as a champ (fake fan lol). But I liked her design and was itching for a challenge. There was a lot to unpack for this costume: how to make it light up, how to make it “walk”, and how to balance a crazy heavy deer prosthetic on my body. She ended up being the cosplay that took the longest and cost me the most money. LEDs aren’t cheap! And thru this crafting process I ran into a lot of technical issues that made me want to give up. Nothing has frustrated me more than this centaur. But she got finished! The legs moved, the lights glowed, the paint was polished. I was so proud of how much work I had put into this cosplay.  Read more>>

Matina Cordell

The most meaningful project I have ever worked on, was my college final for my photography class. I had been going to school at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA and had been in the photography program from 2009- 2014 with the same instructor, Mr. Ryan Even. My journey into the photography program started with the last film class being taught at the school, where I was starting from scratch. It was here that I was taught the building blocks which five years later would help me in my college final, mind you I started by photographing trees and landscapes and was completely scared to photograph people. The day our final was announced, we were told we had free rein to do whatever we wanted for the project. I told Ryan I wanted to try putting together a styled shoot. A styled shoot is a creative project where vendors collaborate together to bring a vision to life around a theme, whether it be a wedding, engagement, or creative halloween session. Ryan was completely all for the project I had wanted to focus on for my final, he just asked that I keep track of everything, contacting vendors, the process, etc, not just the final images. Read more>>

Arsenio Diaz

One of the most meaningful projects I have worked on is the creation and recording of the single “La Rumba de Sandokan” (Sandokan’s Rumba). This is a song in which you can experience the sound of one of the most iconic musical instruments from India, the Sitar, fusioned with melodies and rhythmic patterns from the Afro-Cuban repertoire. It was recorded using ethnic instruments from different parts of the world like the Sitar, the African Udu, a flute, and several percussion instruments from Latin America. This fusion is successfully achieved thanks to the respectful approach to these genres, and the collaboration of the exceptional musicians who accompanied me on this adventure like Lenia Diaz, Eduardo Rodriguez, Omar Hernandez, Manuel Clua, Michael Gil, and Gonzalo Teran. Read more>>

Andrew De Burgh

Perhaps the most meaningful project I’ve worked is my first ever TV series, the Cpics Original psychological thriller “The Twisted Doll” which I created, wrote and directed. It just released a couple of weeks ago and is currently streaming on Cpics and ZEE5 (under the Cpics add-on channel) if anyone would like to watch it! Executive produced by Kavi Raz (“The Black Prince”), the show stars newcomers Summer Singh and Felix Merback in the lead roles, as well as Bree Mignano (“Attaway General”), Xander Bailey (“Beckman”), Andrew Ghai (“For All Mankind”), social media influencer Carrington Durham, Rebecca Ritz (“Minority Report”), Chelsea Gilson (“Hawaii Five-0”) and Will Roberts (“Oppenheimer”). It also features sound design by Steve Campagna (“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”) and original music by Elezeid (PlayStation 5’s “Z-Warp”). Read more>>

Sally Lopercio

The most meaningful projects I’ve worked on help connect me to my local community here in Olympia, WA. An example: A family had reached out to me after hearing about my upcycled jewelry creations. They had lost their matriarch, a loving Grandma, and in the process of cleaning out her home, stumbled upon a box of broken vintage dishes. Each piece was tied to memories—holiday dinners, birthday parties and long conversations over coffee/tea. They asked for help in turning these broken pieces into something each grandchild could keep. My first step was confirming that they did not want to keep items in their current condition or try to repair the items. I think it’s important to try to repair damage, if possible, to maintain the original purpose of the item(s). After examining the fragments – it became clear that the shards of plates would be an ideal candidate for repurposing. All agreed that the pieces were ready for creative reuse. The family decided they wanted custom pendants for each member, each reflecting a unique memory of their beloved family member. Read more>>

Wild Rellzz

The most meaningful project for me is the one I’m diving into right now. In 2025, I’m dropping a mixtape album that’s shaping up to be my best work yet. The title? Still cooking—but trust me, this one’s special. This time, I’m not chasing hits or viral moments; I’m just making music that feels right—pure, raw, and real. Every track coming out of the booth is hitting my soul in a way I can’t even describe. I’m in my own lane, no limits, no rules. I’m shooting for the gods and aiming straight at the stars! Read more>>

Sophia Parker

Working on graphics for Project HEAL, especially ones specifically related to eating disorder awareness, is extremely important to me. As someone with lived experience of an eating disorder and a passion for the work that Project HEAL does, I think that it is so important to share not only facts, but real stories about people’s experiences. It’s so important to me to educate people about the realities and impacts of eating disorders, as well as how Project HEAL – in addition to the impact it has in treatment sphere – works to include everyone in the conversation Read more>>