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.

Ana Lizeth

During the pandemic, the city of Myrtle Beach asked local artists to submit artwork that described proper social distancing for walkers and bikers..
I went back and forth with myself, but I decided to stop undermining my art and I gave it a shot.
I drew a few people wearing masks, walking 6 feet apart, in colorful clothing, enjoying their walk, with the city and landmarks in the background. Read more>>

Erica Dawn Smith

Serving as a set designer, scenic artist, and prop master at Nashville Children’s Theatre has been one of my most rewarding artistic experiences. Collaborating with a talented team to produce professional productions for young audiences was truly fulfilling. Witnessing children’s reactions to the sets I helped create–hearing their gasps, giggles, and exclamations of joy brought profound meaning to my work. These moments are etched in my memory, reminding me of the impact art can have on young minds. Read more>>

Vignesh Hari Krishnan

The Lineages: Madras Checks project has been one of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on because it represents a convergence of personal history, cultural identity, and design innovation. It’s a profoundly personal exploration of heritage and how it can be preserved and reimagined for a modern audience. While studying at Yale, I began to reflect more deeply on the intersections of culture, identity, and design. It was during this time that I revisited Madras checks, a pattern deeply tied to my roots and heritage. As I learned more about the legacy of Elihu Yale, whose ties to both Chennai and the founding of Yale University are woven into complex colonial histories around Madras Checks, I began to see Madras checks as more than just a fabric. They represent a story of trade, culture, and power dynamics, a tangible reminder of the interconnectedness between these places and histories. Read more>>

Christa Rosenkranz

I have recently started painting pet portraits. I have a degree in illustration but realized quickly out of school that I didn’t love freelancing for other people’s projects, and changed careers into massage therapy which was rewarding but did take me away from my art for years. I am an animal lover though and have always had multiple pets- currently 2 cats, a dog and a horse. My horse developed a COPD a couple summers ago though and then my dog, who is older but still spunky, suddenly had a tumor on his head and tried to go into heart failure, resulting in piles of vet bills. I needed to make more money and started advertising pet portraits to help pay for them, and it quickly blossomed into complete side hustle. Read more>>

Kelley Pettibone

While attending my undergrad degree I experienced the losses of my biological father, my adoptive father, my mother, and my maternal grandparents. As an only child I was left feeling overwhelmed, orphaned, and homeless. In addition to having to maintain my workload at school I had been assigned enormous decisions to make regarding responsibilities that had now become mine. Most days were a struggle to find the energy to want to go to engage in anything and I became uninspired to create. As you can imagine, during a time when I needed to be planning a BFA exhibition and preparing to begin graduate school this was not conducive to a successful completion of my degree or a great experience in kicking off my journey into a MFA degree. Read more>>

Mischa Pfister

Prior to the pandemic, I wrote a television pilot script based on an idea that had been brewing in my mind for years; one that incorporated all of the elements that I felt defined me as an artist… my “dream” project.

It was eventually optioned and pitched to ten different networks. But even though we had an A-List celebrity attached to executive produce, being the no-name writer I was at the time, it proved to be a difficult sell. Read more>>

Alexandria Gartland

I would have to say the most meaningful project I’ve worked on was my first EP, “Wish Wash”. I had the songs ready for a couple of years, I had the title I wanted to use already, and the cover shoot idea. Bringing it all to life was the part that took a while, but once it was over, it was very satisfying to know that I accomplished it. I produced something tangible that once was only an idea in my mind. It took several creative brains, a lot of energy and work between everyone that helped out, but the overall product was something I was proud of and very excited that I got to share with the world. Read more>>

Tina Tsung

One of the most meaningful projects in my career was the redesign of Bank of the West’s digital banking platform. It was a rare opportunity to weave sustainability into the traditionally conservative financial services industry. Bank of the West stood out as one of the few banking institutions actively championing eco-conscious initiatives, and my task was to translate their mission into a seamless digital experience. Read more>>

Sofia Shen

I believe that most of the projects I’ve worked on hold meaning for me in their own way. Meaning is inherently subjective; anything can become meaningful if we assign it value. That said, I’d like to share a project I’m currently working on that feels particularly significant to me. It’s a collection of fashionable handbags made from real chicken bones. Read more>>

Halim Lee

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is Frozen Island. Live. This project was created during my time as an MFA student at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and is a physical publication that evolved from my earlier digital project, the Frozen Island website (https://frozenisland.live).

The publication features a set of perforated, lick-and-stick stamps on its cover, designed as small gifts from Frozen Island. These stamps function as mini-portals that transport readers to surprising moments in Google Maps. By tagging a stamp with a mobile device, viewers can virtually travel to strange and beautiful places around the world. Read more>>

Saskia Archer

This project was a true recreation of the events that occurred on and around October 12th, 2002 in Bali. Known internationally as “the Bali bombings.”

Aged just 22, my character Hanabeth, was dubbed the ‘Angel of Bali’ due to her heroic nature. Hanabeth helped a young Australian, Tom Singer, age 17, who was struggling amongst the flames of the Sari Club. A photo was captured by a local journalist of her amidst the flames. It was immediately distributed and splashed across front pages of newspapers worldwide after the attack. Read more>>

Caren Libby

My series Exploring St. Louis and Beyond is more than a project; it’s a creative pursuit that combines my love for photography and a deep curiosity about the world around me. This journey began long before the series took shape. In 1995, I traded Missouri’s rolling landscapes for the sunny coasts and towering redwoods of Northern California. I captured the natural ecosystems and diverse people of the region. My career as a manufacturer’s representative offered opportunities to photograph clients and their merchandise, honing my skills in digital photography and the potential of Photoshop. Read more>>

Alexandra Corin Johnston

In the summer of 2022, shortly after our wedding, my husband, Justin Shilton, and I shot our first feature film, Shark Girl. Nothing will ever compare to that experience. Born from an overwhelming need to create after two difficult years where it felt like all the door were closing, this project became our way back into the driver’s seat. Armed with a story idea, unshakable confidence, a small budget, and an incredible team—including Justin’s writing and directing partner, Rob Zazzali—we postponed our honeymoon to make a low-budget creature feature. Read more>>

Christina Mattos Uyeno

Just this past year I acted and produced a show called “Hawai’i Talk Story” here in Vegas. Like many in Hawai’i, my partner and I had to move off island because of cost of living and opportunities. We chose to move to Vegas because of it’s proximity to community and being able to give back by bringing stories and songs from the islands here was deeply nourishing and inspiring. Read more>>

Amelia Ray

On 3 March 2022, one week after the latest attack on Ukraine began, I had a vision of the European community standing together and shouting, “Enough is enough!” its voice frustrated and exhausted. Little by little, hope began to stand in for frustration, and the exhaustion was replaced by a sense of empowerment. Four days later, I had completed a multilingual song called “Hands in Hearts”. Read more>>

Miz Stefani

While I’ve been lucky enough to work on several meaningful projects within arts and activism, my current project, Women in Memphis Music, is a meaningful project.
When I came to Memphis in 2020, I’d go to venues and see their monthly line-ups and noted there weren’t as many women on the calendar as there should be, especially since I was meeting SO MANY female musicians as I started making my way here. I had an idea to create a showcase and we would book local female talent, and that was the beginning of “Women in Memphis Music.” Read more>>

Francesca Plumly

I’m Francesca Plumly, self-published children’s book author. Having published my first book “Who Lives on Blooper Lane?” at the end of 2024 was truly the most meaningful work I’ve ever produced. I’ve always dreamt of creating something tangible… Something you could touch, clutch to your chest, and proudly display. And with a knack for writing since I was little, authoring my own book was always something I’d strived for. Read more>>

Alison Epp

There are a lot of meaningful projects I have worked on, so it is hard to pick just one. But, my most recent project (that hasn’t fully released yet) has to be taking the number one spot. This has been in my heart for a long time but actively in the works for a few years. I am starting a podcast called “Ur New Bestie”. It will be a space where I can chat more in depth about things I’ve went through and questions I’ve been asked. I will also be bringing guests on and eventually launching a merch line which I am really really excited about. I want this to be a safe space where women can come listen, share and be heard. Read more>>

Dominique Howard

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my album Beauty Within Chaos. I created it as a dedication to mental health awareness, using my platform to shed light on an issue that affects so many especially within the dance community.

I started the project in 2020 and released it in 2021, during one of the most challenging periods of my life. The weight of everything happening in the world, combined with homesickness after moving to a new state, financial struggles, and personal trauma, pushed me into a deep depression. Music became my outlet, a way to process everything I was going through. Read more>>

Kandon Kyser

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my Paths Project, a body of work deeply rooted in themes of journey, direction, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles. The project was initially inspired by a sermon from my pastor, Joe Johnson, who spoke about how life’s paths are rarely straightforward. Instead, they twist, turn, and sometimes lead us to dead ends before we find our way forward. That message resonated with me on a personal level and became the foundation of my creative exploration. Read more>>

Jess Cantrell

I’m currently working on my YA contemporary trilogy, Gray Matter. I’ve finished the first book, and am currently adapting it into a graphic novel format. The story follows Stephen, a college student on his journey to becoming a neurosurgeon, and how change, conviction, and carrying on are such vital and universal human experiences. Read more>>

Will Hawk

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has to be the “Misted Collection.” This collection is deeply inspired by resilience and beauty found during life’s adversities. It features a mesmerizing interplay of vibrant colors and delicate mist, symbolizing the strength and grace that emerge from challenging times. Read more>>

Darrell Leffler

One of the most rewarding and enjoyable projects I have ever done was the children’s television music show, Maestro Darrell’s Music Workshop. The project started over 15 years ago where I produced, directed and starred. We aired over 120 episodes for CreaTV. In 2012, our television show won the CreaTV Excellence Award Director Award. At that time, my two sons, Jordan, eight and Matthew, seven, were often co stars on the show. Today, we are now relaunching Maestro Darrell’s Music Workshop and Jordan is now a co host. Coming back are original characters like Billy Bass Clef, Tina Treble Clef, and Music Note Hunter. Read more>>

Jason Crowley

I’ve been a photographer since I was 17 years old. I’ve always photographed what I know, at first it was skateboarding. Later I shot street photography, portraits and fashion. I eventually landed on documentary work, but with an influence from those other ventures. When I left school in 2015, I began shooting commercially and lost touch with my personal work. It wasn’t until 2019, during the lock down, that I began to make art again. Read more>>

Regina Rios

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is Where Is the Dog That Gave You Your Name?, a short film I made in 2023. This project reflects everything I want to explore in my filmmaking career, stories about México, about the weight of memory, and about how we understand death.

Death has always been a profound and complex subject for me; it’s my biggest fear, yet it’s also deeply ingrained in Mexican culture. Making this film was my way of coming to terms with it, not just the fear of passing away, but also the process of letting go of those who are no longer here. Read more>>

Ryal Music

Building and developing our synth-pop duo has been one of the most meaningful ventures.
We have been in a band writing, recording, performing, releasing for 10 years now and making this music and learning and growing together as artists has been a gift. Read more>>

Hilla Shaira

I am Hilla Shapira, an artist and designer who primarily works with textiles and soft materials. My work explores the relationships between everyday design and bodily rituals. By creating functional, mundane objects or their representations, I question design norms and examine the political dimensions of everyday items. Read more>>

H.s.i. Merillat

My book, The Legend of the Blue Moon Butterfly was written as a response to the grief process of losing my granddaughter who passed away shortly after birth, due to a rare and fatal skeletal dysplasia. We had held the hope that she would be a miracle, listening to her strong heartbeat and watching her grow. Each ultrasound was a wish and a prayer. Read more>>

Emma O’neill

I’ve had the honour to work on many meaningful projects as I do a lot of work in PSA’s. But one of the projects that really hit home for me was a radio campaign for Haven Toronto – a homeless men’s shelter. Donations to the organization had dropped and they were struggling to help the growing number of people who found themselves on the streets. A producer I work with regularly on projects like this reached out and asked if I would lend my voice to the campaign. I said yes immediately. The first spot was powerfully written and easy for me to connect to. It hit the air and their donations immediately increased. Read more>>

Kellyq Bluth

This is a hard question because I cannot pinpoint one project in particular. I would say that my two podcasts and the freelance writing I have done for wellness brands have been the most meaningful because I know I am sharing research and knowledge that most don’t have and are eager to learn. Read more>>

Elena Ciolacu

My most meaningful project has remained, to this day, a university assignment that I created about 13 years ago. It’s called “A Story of Hope for the Bullied” and it is a graphic novel written from a first-person point of view, as a confession or a monologue by the main character directed at the victims of bullying. The story is not an analysis of this phenomenon, nor a finger pointed at the bullies, but rather a hand reaching out to those who suffer, trying to give them hope and encouragement. It’s based on my own experience with bullying and partly on that of my sister. Read more>>

Phia Sucevich

So far in my dance career, the most meaningful project I have worked on was alongside Character Dance Studio and Autumn Jones. The Armenian Music Video Awards was a long-standing project. It was first mentioned to me in September 2024 and then performed at the Dolby Theater in LA. However the process was a new experience for me, I learned so much about hiring dancers, making schedules, and assisting the director of a huge show. While Autumn Jones choreographed the dances performed for our three amazing singers, I worked behind the scenes and fell in love with project organizing and managing. Jones and I assisted Elen Hart and helped her vision come to life. Read more>>

Tamara Mann

When I started The Melange Collective: Bookish Edition, I wasn’t just creating bookish products—I was filling a gap I had experienced myself. As a lifelong book lover, I knew how rare it was to find bookish accessories, like bookmarks, that reflected the beauty and diversity of Black women. I wanted to change that. Read more>>

Shiori Murayama

Performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Usher is one of the most defining projects of my career. I’ve always been inspired by Usher’s music since I was six, and during my early days of dance training, his songs were a constant source of motivation.

The opportunity came in a very unexpected way. Just before an audition, I attended a weekend dance intensive led by renowned choreographers Rio Henderson and Ysabelle Capitulé. While a few dancers had already been invited through their agencies, I was simply there for the class. It was during that class that Rio noticed me and invited me to audition, opening a door I hadn’t even realized was there. Read more>>

Shar Biggers

One of the most meaningful projects of my career was serving as Deputy Creative Director and Head of Design for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. It was significant to me for many reasons—I was the first Black woman to hold this role in a general election, a position traditionally known as “Design Director.” This election mattered so deeply to me that I stepped away from running my brand design studio to take on the role, fully committing to shaping a visual identity that reflected the moment’s urgency and historic significance. But this wasn’t my first time working to help elect the first woman president. In 2016, I was a designer on the Hillary for America campaign, where I remember hearing whispers and speculation that Kamala might be next. Read more>>

Joe Cahill

I’m currently working on my symphony, “Runner’s High.” The symphony is all about my experience running in New York City. I aim to release the symphony and collaborate with the running community. I hope my music can be a soundtrack that motivates people to run, walk, dance, or any sort of movement. I feel when we move we come up with our best ideas.

Let me know if you are a runner or part of a community of runners. I would love to talk about running and music. Read more>>

Wendy English

Psalms Alive (w/ watercolor flowers and scripture) was dedicated to my dear friend, Vicki Wehmeyer, who recently passed away. She was an imaculate flower gardener and a friend to many. She would meet you with the sweetest grace and words to lift up and move you forward. In her 60’s she walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain as a step towards her longing to be close to God. Her life was vibrant with intentionality towards what mattered most…a friendship I will always treasure deeply. Read more>>

Kindred Williams

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is Testimony Deluxe, the evolution of my debut album Testimony. It is a continuation, an expansion, and a glimpse into where my sound and storytelling are headed. Testimony was deeply personal and completed not long after my father passed. When it came time to create the deluxe version, I wanted to honor that journey while embracing new layers of expression. Read more>>

Jhalin Knowles

I recently worked on a huge meaningful project. This project was for Vogue and Morehouse College. I had the honor of photographing 7 students and 2 faculty members of Morehouse. This opportunity meant and still means the world to me for many reasons. The shoot was to honor and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. while releasing them on MLK Day. Being a young black man and shooting something so historic and so black for Vogue was monumental for me. Read more>>

Tyson Cox

I like to give back so I ran a charity show for 5 years to benefit the humans society. Also the live play DND show I run called Monster Monster. The sense of community it has built warms my heart. Read more>>

Diana Hulet

I recently returned from working with another photographer to document animal rescues during the Los Angeles wildfires. For days, I had been waking up in the middle of the night, worrying about people’s pets, wildlife, livestock, and other animals. Finally, I texted my colleague about traveling to LA to photograph and interview the community of rescuers who were on the ground, helping wherever they could. We made a plan and met there the following day. Read more>>

Elena Gentleman

The most meaningful project I have worked on is my first single, “House Tattoo.” I would have never thought I would be at a point where I was writing, recording, and releasing music, but you can never thoroughly plan for the future. This single holds a special place in my heart because it is not only my first single but was also inspired by a dear friend. Read more>>

Minal Yellewar

Sustainability and resilience have been the core principles shaping my work as an architect and urban planner. Among the diverse projects I have engaged with, my thesis research, Green Urban Development: Creating Green Cities Through Sustainable Energy Planning, holds special significance. This project transcended academia—it was a manifestation of my deep-seated commitment to embedding sustainability into urban design, confronting climate challenges, and fostering communities that harmonize with their environment. Read more>>

Brianna Lee Anguiano

“Siempre Hermanas” is a deeply personal project I’ve been nurturing for over a year. Through this series, my goal is to create powerful, evocative images that celebrate femininity, authenticity, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. The inspiration for this project comes from my own sisters and close-knit friendships—women who have guided me through every stumbling block. Whenever I felt lost or overwhelmed, it was their love and strength that lifted me, and I began this journey as a tribute to them. Read more>>

Charlotte Castillo

My most meaningful project of the last year has been the PRESENTE Town Hall series, where Poderistas visited 5 cities across the country to amplify Latina voices in politics and beyond. Along with Podistas co-founder Eva Langoria and our media partner Telemundo – we visited key cities to hear directly from Latinas what issues are most pressing for them, their families, and their communities. The ‘listening tour’ was conducted in a ‘townhall meets talk show’ style to shine a light and amplify our community’s voice and experiences. Our hope was to explore the narratives shaping Latina voters’ priorities in key battleground states. We captured content at each event and ultimately produced a 22min special that aired on Telemundo’s digital platforms, as well as ours. Our goal was to inspire, empower and motivate Latinas to trust their voice and harness their power for positive impact. Read more>>

Zhenya Bobrovnyk

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever worked on was a dance music video that we did in high school. We worked on that project for six months. It was a collaboration between two departments of filmmakers and dancers. My role in this project was one of the biggest and responsible. I was the costume designer with one of my closest friend, we worked on it together. I want to say that I have never been working as a costume designer, but I always want to try it. I never knew how to take measurements, how to properly create a palette of colors, so that each dancer doesn’t repeat themselves, but also so that they’re not too different from each other. Read more>>

Kareen Blake Chin

The most meaningful project I have done so far was the Bob Marley- One Love Film
I started this project in 2021, and it was released in February 2024.
I grew up listening to Bob Marley’s music, so getting the chance to cast a film about his life was deeply personal. It wasn’t just about finding actors—it was about finding people who could truly embody his spirit, speak Patois, sing, and play instruments, all the while honouring his legacy. Seeing the cast come together and transform into these iconic figures was surreal. The camaraderie, the passion, and their love for the story made this experience unforgettable. It felt like more than just a film—it was history coming to life. Read more>>

Becky Boxer

I have had the honor of working on so many amazing projects over my decades long career as a VoiceOver Artist. Each project brought something special to my life and career, and helped shape who I am as a person and artist. However, the project that truly changed my life was SIMS 3. SIMS was first released in 2000 and then upgraded, reimagined and re-released in 2004 (SIMS 2), 2009 (SIMS 3) and 2014 (SIMS 4). Each game features three adult female voices, and in SIMS 3, I was Voice A. In SIMS, characters speak a jibberish language called “Simlish,” and the secret to speaking “Simlish,” is that it is almost entirely improvised! Read more>>

Teagan Faran

I recently released my second studio album, Middle Child, on Navona Records. It was the culmination of many years of work and learning, as well as a major celebration of so many people important to my own sense of identity. I have always loved studio recording and released my first solo project, Little Things, while I was living in Argentina in 2019. I had planned a US release tour in Spring of 2020 which of course was cancelled, so this new project that shares six more years of growth feels like a triumph on many levels. Read More>>

Elizabeth Alvarado

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on is myself: truly embracing my authentic self and pursuing my dreams.

Late in 2023, my brother’s life hung in the balance after a sepsis diagnosis and the urgent need for heart valve replacement surgery. During this agonizing time, I was in a constant state of fight-or-flight, compelled to remain strong as his medical advocate. My nervous system was in survival mode, forcing me to suppress my emotions. Read more>>

Garrett Recker

During my graduating year at Portland State University, I was awarded the Andries Deinum Prize for Visionaries & Provocateurs—an annual arts grant for $10,000. With the award, I assembled a creative team and we created The Born Project.

The Born Project is a multimedia exhibition that celebrates individual identities while highlighting our potential to degender modern fashion. Through photography, film, dance and textiles, it explores the often hidden human experience as it relates to our gender expression. Gender has been constructed in fashion to produce a uniform system. Read more>>