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.
Samantha Briggs
The most meaningful project I have ever worked on was Rima’s Kitchen Cabinets. Rima is a dear friend who I met through my husband’s boss. She has such a wonderful sense of style and a loving personality. Rima had me paint her stair rails a beautiful color we custom mixed and she has leopard print stairs! Her house is full of color and unique decor. We spoke about some other areas in her home we could refresh with pretty paint colors and the kitchen came up. Rima wanted to paint her cabinets pink! I was so excited and honored to create the kitchen of her dreams. Each day I would show up to work she would make me tea and breakfast. She would bring me snacks and juice using pretty dishes and cups. We always had the best conversations and her daughter-in-law Mary would join us. They both made me feel so loved and like I was family. We had such a great time seeing the project through and choosing fun hardware for the pulls and knobs. We finished with a photoshoot; this was the most enjoyable, bold, and rewarding project I’ve ever done. It filled my cup in many ways. I will always be grateful. Read more>>
Ashley Nicole
the most meaningful? That’s a tough one, because all of my projects are meaningful to me in a way. Especially the first short films that I’ve done. But if I had to choose, I would definitely choose ROXY! the film series. Because, in a way the character of Roxy has brought me somewhat out of comfort zone especially in photography. And with my own personal style. I took some of the inspiration for the character not just from Debbie harry but from me as well. But as I said, all of my projects are meaningful to me. But The Roxy film series definitely has a special place in my heart. Read more>>
Armani Maison
Every Project. I always strive to infuse a part of myself into everything I create. Whether it’s through writing or painting, all my work originates from within. And boy am I excited to see it evolve into something greater than I ever thought was possible. Read more>>
Dr Feel
My album tittled Indalo that I recently released, on the 30th of August to be precise. House- Soulful, Afro, Traditional, Dance, Spiritual and beautiful music. Indalo is the 2nd studio album by DJ and Producer, Dr Feel. The music maker is known for his deeply African rooted, yet tech influenced sounds. With a catalogue ranging from an album (Made In Africa,2020), several EP’s and over 400 singles to date, it’s no doubt that Dr Feel is still flowing with creative musical ideas and this follow up album bears testament to this. “INDALO album. INDALO is a Nguni term which translates to creation, its also derived from the Latin, “lndo Eccius which means “Messenger of the Gods and that is the title of Dr Feel’s upcoming 16-track album. Read more>>
Kirby
Honestly, all the projects i’ve worked on have been so meaningful to me. I’m living a dream i’ve had since i was young! Working with brands like Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, and Ralph Lauren as a lgbtqia+ individual from a small town, has been so fulfilling and honoring Read more>>
Bryan Hadley
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my current feature film, Urbs in Horto, because I had to go to really deep places to become this character – a dark 1920s mob boss named Johnny Torrio. It was an honor playing Mr. Torrio but you have to understand all the good and bad he did in his lifetime to give honor to that character and story. I think our entire cast in the film became their characters too. The film is just so rich and this work by all is just so entirely meaningful because of the depths achieved. Read more>>
Kirsten Scott
One of my most meaningful projects was my thesis project, a graphic novel called Apricity. On the surface it’s a romance between a figure skater and a skier. As the story progresses, the main characters open up to one another about their trauma, and try to move forward to a brighter future together. I had tried writing and illustrating this story years prior, but I could never seem to finish it and moved on to other projects. I love making comics, and always dreamed of making a whole graphic novel. But writing and illustrating a whole book is no easy task. As my final year of college approached, I told myself I’d finally tackle the hurdle. I started writing revised script for Apricity and drawing the pages during the summer. I gave myself a minimum of two pages inked a day. It was extremely difficult at first, but I was having so much fun. As I got deeper into the process, I learned that I was getting much quicker at drawing, and hit my deadlines with time to spare. I fell in love with art all over again! Holding the finished book was absolutely surreal. The story of Apricity is very personal to me, and I hope people find comfort through these characters and their experiences. Read more>>
Mark Cooper
The most meaningful project I have worked on would honestly be a tie between “I am Player One” and my recent Nickelodeon inspired work; “The Orange Tape”. The reason being is because both segments were during big milestones in my life and career. In 2015 I was introduced to a niche genre called Nerdcore which has a heavy focus on geek culture referencing video games, cartoons, anime, and pop culture to list a few. As an artist, I always felt that it was important to find alternative ways to express myself through music at the same time conveying a message. So, for “I am Player One”, I created a story about being trapped in a video game called “Nerdcore” where a villain named Major Label plans to trap the nerds of Detroit inside the world. So, Player One uses the Nintendo Power Glove to help him complete the game. As the story continues for about 7 years with 5 additional projects, we approach this newest project: The Orange Tape. Read more>>
Annabelle Schneider
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is centered around creating spaces that leave people with deeply fulfilling, bonding experiences. My approach to design is rooted in storytelling—through art, spatial design, and the integration of technology, scent, sound, and tactile elements. I strive to choreograph narratives that allow people to interact, reflect, and create their own meaning within these spaces. Over the years, I’ve worked on a variety of projects, from hospitality and retail design, where strategy and vision were often driven by brands, to temporary installations for music festivals and performance stages. Each project holds significance for me, as they all brought people together and allowed me to use multi-dimensional, multi-sensory design to create environments where stories unfolded, and moments of connection were forged. Read more>>
Greg Chan
I’ve been a top New York City model agent for the past 28 years bring a Director & Senior agent at the best agencies like IMG Models, Wilhelmina Models & DNA Models and it’s very difficult to have access to me. During the pandemic my longtime girlfriend left me. I was left alone to face the world falling apart trapped in my apartment. When I finally came up for air, I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t feel like I was worthy of anything. I decided to do a social media post on IG that said “I challenge all models all races, colors, genders, sizes, shapes and age to email me. This is my personal email address. I want to hear your struggles, your challenges, your fears, your questions about modeling. Let’s talk.” Read more>>
The Sparks Sisters
The most meaningful project we have worked on is our debut album, Full Circle. Over the past four years, we have created our own original songs for the first time, and the full album of these songs is finally releasing on October 4, 2024! Although we grew up singing and performing together, it wasn’t until we were scouted by 5x Grammy-nominated producer Billy Smiley in 2020 that we began to seriously write and record original compositions. He encouraged us to create our own unique musical identity, so we drew inspiration from our classical training background as well as the singer-songwriter genre to create a sound that is all our own. Our first original song “Flower” was based off of an opera duet from Lakmé known as “The Flower Duet.” From there we released more singles that will also be included on the album, and each one spoke to our experiences as musicians, sisters, and young women. Halfway through the creation of this album, Melody (the older sister) was suddenly diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and hospitalized. This rare condition causes full-body paralysis, and she even had to be intubated due to difficulties with breathing. Read more>>
Ryan Vlahovich
The song I just released on Friday, September 6, titled Summer Nights. I wrote it with my college best friend, Keaton Tardio. He had no musical experience but insisted on writing a song with me during the covid lockdowns. He proved himself to be a brilliant lyricist, coming up with the entire second verse of the song. Summer Nights became the cornerstone of our friendship. We simply couldn’t believe we were capable of writing a song of its calibre. We refined it over a few years, and I moved away to Indiana after college for a job opportunity. In 2023, he said that his New Years Resolution was to finally record the song. I was planning on moving to Austin to pursue music full time starting in 2024, so I decided we should record the song there, at Cedar Creek Recording. We met up in Austin in July of 2023. We had Tommy Taylor on drums (Austin music legend, drummed on the original Christopher Cross album, drummed for Eric Johnson) and producing; Mark Andes (bassist of Heart, Jo Jo Gunne, Firefall, Canned Heat etc) on bass; Mark Hallman (former producer for Carole King) on Mellotron, and mixing and mastering; myself on piano, vocals, and guitars. Read more>>
Suzann Kaltbaum
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on was creating artwork for a room at the Ronald McDonald House, which was donated by Martin Brower Company. It wasn’t just any project—it felt personal. The Ronald McDonald House gives families a place to stay close to their kids during medical treatments, so I wanted to make sure the space felt comforting. Martin-Brower asked me to create something special, and I immediately thought of using butterflies and hearts as the central theme. Butterflies, represent transformation and hope, and hearts symbolize love and togetherness—two things these families need the most during such a tough time. I wanted the artwork to reflect that energy. I created 3 pieces using bright, uplifting colors, with butterflies in flight and hearts woven through the designs. The idea was to create something that felt light and hopeful, a reminder that even in difficult moments, there’s always love and the possibility of change. Read more>>
Eleanor Aldrich
I see my whole artistic practice as part of the same larger project; seeking something deeper than language through painting. The practice of painting itself is meaningful: it structures my day, occupies my mind and provides something to work towards. I find meaning in doing something that is intellectual, intuitive, surprising, and outside of capitalism for the most part. Sometimes I make an unsalvageable mess, which is humbling. Sometimes I am surprised by what I make in a good way, which is rewarding. Continually returning to the studio gives me the hope that I am more that the product of marketing- and I flourish under the hope that I can bring something new, if incredibly niche, to the table. Though the subject matter of my paintings carries meaning (like how the Nancy Drew paintings are about mystery, the female body as object/subject, and female agency) I feel that the deeper subject in all my work is illusion versus reality. I explore this in my painting by having sculptural paint that has an undeniable physical reality to it in conjunction with flatter, illustrational, or more abstract elements. The question of what is real and what is an image is woven into the history of painting as well as our everyday experiences. Read more>>
Kiya Stahle
Some of the most profoundly meaningful projects I’ve been a part of involve capturing the essence of clients’ loved ones who have passed away or are nearing the end of their journey. These sessions hold a deeply special place in my heart. One particularly memorable experience was with a client who had lost her husband a year earlier and was finally ready to take family photos with her two young daughters. Hearing her recount the story of how she and her husband met, sharing his character, and listening to her five-year-old daughter’s precious memories of her father was an incredibly moving experience. The growth and strength this client demonstrated, and the love she poured into her daughters, were truly inspiring. Read more>>
Hag Productions
Since our back-porch inception, we haven’t stopped creating—producing over five short films, filming a web series, and serving as associate producers on an indie feature film. However, one of the projects that holds the most meaning for us is our debut feature film, Against Us, which is currently in development. It is our perfect alchemy, symbolizing our evolution from a simple idea on a porch to a dynamic production company. It represents our growth, our story, our experience, and our ambitions woven together to tell our story. It is our gold—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Against Us is a Southern Gothic story that blends psychological horror with a female-driven narrative. It explores grief, revenge, and obsession with youth in a fantastical cult setting where it unveils how the vulnerable are preyed upon for power. Read more>>
Chef!
For the better part of the past year, I had been working on a collection of music that I knew would be special to be as soon as I started. The end result? “MUNCHIES!”, a 10 track mixtape with a diverse array of sounds and emotion. I sat at my desk, in my room, every single day, forcing myself to write and express myself. It can be torture, staring into the void and reaching in, not knowing if you have what it takes to extract something beautiful. September 14th, 2024, the day I could finally show everyone the journey. Read more>>
Emma Neveux
About four years ago, I co-founded an international artist collective called The Kumo Collective. Our mission is to create a creative hub that celebrates artistic expression in all its forms under one umbrella. As an emerging global art curator, we showcase music, visual art, and fashion/design. We’ve established ourselves across Europe, Asia, and America, hosting events, pop-ups, interviews, merch drops, and more – all while staying true to our core principles as a media platform supporting emerging artists. This project is both a passion and a professional endeavor for me. It allows me to champion up-and-coming artists who often struggle to be heard in today’s overwhelming media landscape. I love uncovering fresh, unexpected talent and staying ahead of the curve of the creative industry by blending various artistic mediums. I believe that what makes us unique is our holistic approach. We treat each art form in its own right, while also exploring how they intersect with others. By connecting artists from different cultures and interests, we aim to create one-of-a-kind, hybrid live experiences in global cities like Paris, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Brussels. Read more>>
Monty Hobbs
Divine Renovation Season I with Erik Estrada was the production that changed me. The production was a labor of love on every level. We faced so many obstacles including working out of my home garage as a production office, relying on my local community for donations of not only products and services but of their time as well, to even filming during a hurricane! Season I was a proof of concept that is performing at a level that we can only call “divine”. One year and counting has flown by since Season 1 first aired and we are streaming on all the major platforms, building a robust following on social media, partnering with exceptional brands that share our core values, like 101 Mobility, and most recently winning the Silver Telly Award for best branded content. Read more>>
Post Mortem
The most meaningful project to me is my upcoming studio album, ‘199.5’. The album still has no release date, but the first single is on my YouTube channel and the album will drop before 2024 comes to a close. The title refers to the fictional radio station that the album is themed around, as well as my birth year of 1995. This was actually the first project I’ve released where I’m in my own studio. Being in my own studio, the level of comfortability and confidence I felt on the microphone increased to new levels. I truly believe that the passion I have for music and the hip-hop genre itself shined through on a scale that I haven’t reached before. It also felt great to be able to involve my friends and past collaborators on the album. There is a real chemistry on the project that can only be replicated by real experience working together. Read more>>
Alyssa Badami
The most meaningful projects I work on are the ones where my clients come back and tell me how the photos made their memories come to life. It’s one thing to capture a moment, but it’s another to know that those moments, those small details and emotions, are forever preserved in a way that genuinely moves someone. Hearing from clients who say that the photos brought them right back to how they felt on their wedding day or at their child’s first birthday—that’s the heart of why I do this. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing the images I’ve taken help people relive their happiest days, whether it’s a wedding, a milestone, or a simple moment of joy with loved ones. It’s more than just a job to me—it’s being entrusted with someone’s most treasured memories, and being able to deliver that emotional connection is what makes it all worthwhile. Read more>>
André & Vito Gogola
The most meaningful project we’ve worked on is our latest short film “115”, which is a horror film about dating apps. It’s been very meaningful to us because this has been our biggest shoot as of date; we’ve never worked with a crew this big before. We also worked with external producers, a sister duo by the name of Ida & Katrine Dolmer, which also was a very new experience. Adding to that, this is the first time we’ve worked with more complex visual effects, which was also a challenge and a great learning experience. This is also the first horror film we’ve made, and we have found it so enjoyable that we actually want our next project–our debut feature–to be a horror film too. Generally speaking, this film has a special place in our hearts for the reason that we managed to succeed with what we set out to do. We usually work with the mindset that the last thing we’ve done is the best thing we’ve done (so far), and given the success we’ve had at festivals and how well-received it’s been, we’re finally at a point where we can confidently say we succeeded. It was a very long, tedious and challenging project at times, which is why it feels meaningful to actually having reached our goal. Read more>>
Chris Jehnert
I think one of my most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is my First EP! It was the first project I created. I’ve had such a pleasure bringing other peoples characters and words to life, but there was something very personal, It was like letting my journal entries be read to an audience and so it feels so personal to me, Also the undertaking of an album takes so much planning, time, money, and patience, so when we finished the EP, It meant a lot to me. Read more>>
Joanne Louis-paul
I took the leap into entrepreneurism and freelancing in the spring of 2021. I had no clear plan, I just knew I wanted the freedom to pursue things that spoke to my heart. The last three-and-a-half years have been an interesting journey of trial and error, highs and lows. I found that I had to try lots of different things to learn what I did and did not want to invest my time and creativity into. Things are still unfolding and taking shape, however I would say my most meaningful project so far as been my involvement in Hudson Valley Sustainable Fashion Week. While working as a community manager for a virtual business incubator, I became friends with an ambitious upcycle fashion designer, Kaitlyn Murray. I knew nothing of sustainable fashion before meeting her, but appreciated her passion and drive. In the fall of 2022, right on the heels of New York Fashion Week, Kaitlyn mentioned her dream to create a sustainable counterpart. I immediately saw the potential in her vision and jumped on board to help launch it the following year. Read more>>
Broken Wires
We are Broken Wires, an award-winning young rock band from Worcestershire, England, known for our catchy lyrics, groovy drumbeats, funky bass lines and punchy guitar riffs. Featured on the BBC and having performed across England, Wales, Germany and the United States, we are excited to be releasing our debut album Author of Your World in October 2024. Late one night, back in May 2019, we took to the stage at a popular music venue for an impromptu performance as part of the headline act’s encore. We (Henry and Frankie Fradgley) were just 10 and 12 and we were instantly hooked. We began writing our own music then performing it online to help raise funds for Punk4TheHomeless during Covid. Read more>>
Justin Bower
My project I started a decade or more ago, with a question: in what way is life different from other artists in the past? My answer was the destabilizing effect the rapid escalation of technology has on the individual subject. This lead me to question how to interpret this on canvas, and as I came upon an ancient Hindu painting of a God with multiple sense organs I realized how to start. The eye of a viewer wants to “fix” the subject as a stable image, when you start to multiply eyes, noses and mouths, the image destabilizes the viewer, creating a metonym for the viewer and the subject of the painting. I created an open system of flesh and abstraction incongruent to each other yet creating this unstable figure or face. This was both a personal journey and a theoretical one studied through paint and portraiture. Read more>>
Adelaide Evans
I threw myself a birthday party where I casted my friends in a living room production of Drunk Wicked, which led to a year of musical madness – a birthday wish come true! LA is full of theater kids who decided to pursue film; as one of them, I was starting to miss the big Broadway childhood dream I thought I had to let go of to pursue a degree in TV Production: Writing & Producing and minor in Voiceover. I wanted to learn it all to prepare myself for my dream role: Showrunner. The plan was to create my own musical comedy series. Performing the songs that taught me to sing for the talented friends I’d made through Good Mythical Morning, karaoke, stand up & singer/songwriter open mics, and musical improv, I found a project that combined all of my favorite people and passions! Read more>>
Nathaniel Mccurley
The most meaningful project I have ever been a part of would be my band, Magenta Wave. It is a part of my soul, and I see it as a lifelong project. Taylor (our lead guitarist) opened the door for me to fall in love with music in high school, and the plan to start a band was born, I had little conception of the path that I would take that has led me to where I am now. As I sit, it is impressive to reflect upon the fact that Magenta Wave is now a little over four years old. My band is on a mission to make a career out of the very activity that brings us the most joy. Music is the means that authentically captures who we are as people. We absolutely love it. Passion like this is cultivated from the depths of emotional bliss. With our sights set high, it would be an honor, and a reward to hopefully soon share our music with the world in a manner that allows us to explore what this project truly has in store. Read more>>
Amy Jaquish
One of the most meaningful projects I have worked on, is a story I did on Calgary’s very own Taylor Swift. Her name is Seraphina and I was so excited to be able to tell her story. She quickly came to fame by performing in her university’s cafeteria as Taylor Swift. This project is meaningful to me because I was fully hands-on with the story. From editing, filming, and creating the questions it was me on my own. Seraphina’s story was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to be one of the first to tell it. Read more>>
Clare Watt
I’m in the process of curating two exciting group shows, one online and the other in-person. Beginning Thursday, September 19th, Accessible Object will debut an online presentation of works by Mik Bakker, Georgia Clemson, Madeline Coven, Lydia Donohue, Jenna Graziano, Max Gehlofen, Tom Norris, Sasan Norouzi, Misato Pang, Liv Ryan, Clare Watt, and Thomas Wheller. This presentation serves as a precursor to the upcoming 2024 group exhibition at Silo Gallery’s space in Upstate New York. This exhibition celebrates the diverse utilization of classical methods and materials such as wood working, marble carving, pottery and quilting, reinterpreting them within a contemporary artistic context. This exhibition not only honors the tactile skills these artists uphold but also emphasizes their role in sustainable art practices. By employing underutilized materials and methods, they challenge the prevailing norms of art consumption and production, urging viewers to reconsider the resources available to us in a rapidly digitizing world. This is a project I’m really proud of, and I’m excited to showcase all the talented artists involved. Read more>>
Greg Goyo Vargas
I enjoy shooting a project with a series in mind. Starting in 2015, I spent five years shooting a series titled Shoes and Souls. The location was in Downtown Los Angeles. I shot the people sitting at a bus bench, located in front of the historic Broadway Arcade Building near 5th and Broadway. Oddly enough, the “bus stop” was not an active bus stop. I am certain a bus once stopped there, but when the bus line was discontinued or rerouted the bench remained on the sidewalk. What intrigued and fascinated me was how people would continue to stop at the bench, sit, rest, and sometimes talk. A person could be alone or joined by others creating a small group. Some would talk to each other and some remained silent. When I would walk around downtown Los Angeles, that bench became my starting point and my first shot of the day. I knew immediately when I took the first shot at the bench I would be returning to shoot more. The series began. What I like the most about doing the series is the framing of the shot. Most would think I was shooting directly at the bench and the people. Read more>>