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.

Dylan James “Boogie Boy” Shaw

The most meaningful project I have worked on is the Texas Music Project. TexasMusicProject.org is an amazing organization that has a program called “Music Heals.” The program is for children’s hospitals in Texas, where I was asked to bring hope and healing through my blues music to young patients. I was so happy to do that and spread the blues, which I say is feeling good about feeling bad. My music was shown to all the kids in the hospitals! This made me so happy because I want to give those kids joy too. Read more>>

Patricia Burmicky

In 2020, I launched “The Woman I Will Become,” a project dedicated to inspire young girls through the stories and careers of other women who were once just like them: full of dreams and aspirations. Centered on the notion that a picture is worth a thousand words, I was inspired to depict successful women in various fields, careers, personal and professional interests, and their struggles to reach their goals. Read more>>

Dark Sky

Dark Sky Aerial has been a unique and meaningful project for each of the artistic directors. This project is co-led by five strong women, Elisa Venezia, Abby Chan, Carrie Gaydos, Isabelle Dove-Robinson and Joanie Garcia, who come together to create work. This artistic collective draws upon each other’s depth of intuition, creativity, passion and movement practices to create its artistic works. Read more>>

Shanna Fujii

What do you get when you mix a pandemic, a thriller short film idea, and a slew of remarkably talented Asian chefs, actresses, and small businesses? You get my newest short film—and most meaningful project—Madame Hattori’s Izakaya. Madame Hattori’s Izakaya is a Japanese-inspired psychological thriller about an illustrious top chef, her izakaya, and the twisted evening of her coveted private dinner. Read more>>

Nick Turbo Benson

When I started doing artwork for Run the Jewels, the Atlanta/New York based hip hop group, I finally felt like my career had started. Ironically, I had been working as a professional artist for nearly a decade. Attempting to make a living as a creative of any type is difficult and a common pitfall is to make yourself a chameleon that can bend to the will of whoever is offering you money. Versatility is key but it’s easy to lose one’s voice when a client thinks of you as simply a conduit between their idea and the paper. Read more>>

Timothy LaRoque

I would say the most meaningful project that I’ve worked on so far is my debut EP “Stuck In The Past”. Released earlier this year (April 20), these songs give you a personal glimpse into who and where I am at this point in my life, while showcasing my influences through my own unique sound. Read more>>

Cora Quiroz

The most meaningful project I have worked on so far is my solo exhibition, ‘Deliberate’. Usually solo shows are a huge milestone in an artist’s career, and somehow I have accomplished one at the age of 22. The exhibition is an autobiography series of work that is q tribute to my family, and my journey as an ex- Jehovah Witness. Read more>>

Chris Gardner

At the peak of the Covid lockdowns when everything was shut down in Los Angeles, including all the entertainment, I started a comedy show on my cousin’s huge balcony called “A Show On My Cousin Balcony”. There were a few months where ours was literally the only show, that I know of at least, taking place in the city. Despite fear gripping the nation and people frowning upon the idea of people gathering, the show was packed every month. Read more>>

Lexi

The most meaningful projects I have worked on are causes that hit home personally. The first one I ever did was design a Tshirt for an animal clinic bowl-a-thon raising money for the local shelter. The most recent project I’ve recently completed is designing the bike jersey for the MS society ride in Historic New Bern ,NC. My grandfather died from MS, he was someone I really cherished and loved. Read more>>

Dana Hewling

As a designer and creative director I’ve had the privilege of working on some impactful projects but there are several reasons this particular campaign is special. For one, the end graphics are beautiful. Even though I used stock portraits for each, the attention to detail and styling makes it look like we had the budget for a custom photoshoot. Read more>>

Travis Partington

In 2018 I met Richard Fitts Jr. Richard who was in the final stages of making a documentary, “21 Years a Folded Flag”. This film was a story about his father, SSgt. Richard A Fitts Sr. SSgt. Richard A Fitts Sr was killed in 1967 during a top-secret mission with MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam – Studies and Operations Group). It took 21 years for the Fitts family to get closure. This film is about what happened and how it affected Richard Fitts Jr. Read more>>

Marcela De la paz

I currently work on MISS SABOR LATINA. After being rejected by the Latin media world for skin tone and in the African American world for my accent and not being able to audition for many roles for not fitting their standards. I created Miss sabor Latina. It’s an organization that’s focused on showing the Afro-Latin talent. From my pageant to skits and conferences. We want to show that we are latinas too, that we deserve recognition for our talent and that our skin tone doesn’t define us and we will be able to get on big platforms and show the world. Read more>>

Dorotka T

It was March 2017. I felt very down and heartbroken as I just experienced online bullying while going through major health issues. I wondered what was the point of pursuing my dreams of modeling if I have already endured so much stress and negativity. But then I received a message from my friend Micheal Malvitz asking if I would be interested in a project. It turned out that this would be one of the most important ones I would participate in; Read more>>

Grody Brody

I’m currently working on a personal project to redesign DVD cases for movies that I remember from my childhood, but aren’t award-winning. Oftentimes these movies are lackluster and are released with mediocre packaging. Redesigning the packaging and creating unique illustrations elevates the impact the films had on me. This project has allowed me to spend time self-reflecting on childhood memories that give insight into my broader taste decisions as an artist. Read more>>

Harlen Eherenman

Oh gosh. The most meaningful project I’ve worked on? I’ve done a number of things that I’m proud of, definitely. Every project I get to release with my own twist is special to me. But I’d have to say that the most meaningful project I’ve worked on–if you can call it a project–is giving a presentation at Denver Pop-Culture Con in 2019 on how to build a fantasy world. Read more>>

Arthur Yemchyk

The latest most meaningful project what I’ve worked was The Grammys Awards 64th 2022 performing for J Balvin and his hit “In Da Getto”. It’s always been a goal to working on the projects such as Grammys. It’s a pleasure to meet a lot and of new people, learn something from them. And what else can I say the energy of performing on the huge stage in arena and it’s all live TV, this mix such a great feeling of adrenaline. Read more>>

Ellie Fern

This spring I had the privilege of collaborating with the Phoenix Children’s Hospital for their Power Play in the Park event. Ten kids were paired with different songwriters and fashion designers from ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts to “bring their inner superheroes to life”. Aiden, my little superhero, loves dinosaurs, dragons, lions, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Hulk. He chose the name “Rex” for his superhero persona and I wrote, recorded, and produced his theme song. Read more>>

Kellie Haddock

My newly released album Orchids From Fire is hands down the most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on. I’ve created this project from a place of freedom. When we serve from freedom and contentment it enables us to take risks. And risks are essential to both creativity and success. Orchids From Fire is inspired by the rare fire dependent orchid (which means it can’t bloom WITHOUT a fire – that alone is powerful!). When it does bloom it only blooms for a few weeks once every 3-5 years, delicate pops of purple color against the black ashes. Read more>>

Cathleen Trigg-Jones

iWomanTV is a collective of strong women that create films, news, entertainment, and serial material that is hand-picked by women, for women. The new over-the-top (OTT) media platform has put itself in a unique niche, offering the best and original content directly to viewers via the Internet, that reflects the depth and breadth of the female experience through their unique perspective. More female stories are featured on iWomanTV, and more female voices are heard every day – a dream come true for founder, Cathleen Trigg-Jones. Read more>>

GARIE CHAVEZ

As an artist and musician, the most meaningful project or art I’ve created is the live edge guitar hanger w/ fractal art. The creative design behind each live edge guitar hanger is based on the musicians I admire in my life that made an impact and inspired me to play the guitar. It’s my token of appreciation for creating great music of my generation. Also, it’s always great feeling when you give back to community. Read more>>

Andrew Schwartz & Dan Gonzalez

We consider every year of the Miami Underground Film Festival the most important one ever. From our humble beginnings in the grimy but beloved Churchill’s Pub to our home of three years at the Hard Rock Cafe in Bayside (downtown Miami), we’ve worked to improve every year to make it better than the previous one. We’ve analyzed and fine-tuned the format to put together a superior show… and this year is going to be the best ever for our half-decade anniversary. Read more>>

Nicole Strickland

I’ve always been intrigued with the paranormal since childhood. As I grew older, I made a point to research the paranormal realm during my middle and high school years. Prior to the Internet commencing, I relied heavily on books and articles written on the subject. However, it was an experience during my senior year of undergraduate college that catapulted my interest in investigating the paranormal field as an adult. Read more>>

Martina Noble

Recently, someone asked me to personalize a necklace. Her daughter was adopting a child and she wanted me to incorporate their birth stone into the pendant. I was touched, honored and loved the idea of my work going from the mother to her daughter and eventually the child. Read more>>

Melissa Jean

Writing has always been not only a hobby of mine but it has also been very therapeutic for me since my adolescent years. It has always been my dream to someday become a published author. This year I decided that I will achieve everything that my heart desires. I’ve recently released my first published book as an author entitled: Faith and Overcoming Fear. Read more>>

Erin Weaver

I am beyond grateful to be able to work on a project that is called “I’m Possible”. It is an event created by a group of boutique photographers after so many dance studios and businesses were shut down after covid. Most athletes were forced to have practice virtually or nowhere at all during that time and also missed being with friends. “I’m Possible” focuses on re-building confidence and self-empowerment for tween girls (mostly ages 9-12) in sports like gymnastics and dance. While the event might look different from each photographer the message is still the same. Read more>>

Aisan Shahrdar

I started art at a young age and I always got involved with fundraisers and would donate my paintings for different causes. when i was 18 I started a campaign with a group of young people and we would prepare months in advance with different talents we had, some would work on a play, I would paint on small canvases and little greeting cards, some others would knitt or make small wood crafts and we would announce 3 nights of a bazar where we would all be selling our labors of love to benefit a cancer treatment clinic where it was not getting any government funding what so ever . Read more>>

Paula Villamizar and Angie Cohen

DLG started in 2017 with its first in person workshop teaching teen girls to sew in Cartagena, Colombia. The purpose was to spark creativity through our sewing projects and assist them in making things they could sell, turning them into entrepreneurs and decision makers of their own life, through financial stability. We continued our work with local organizations (Lotus House & Breakthrough Miami) focusing on women. Read more>>