CreativeMornings

Release Day: Immy Hunter on Building Community and Diving in

CreativeMornings — Fri, 15 May 2026 17:10:00 -0400

Our creative projects have a funny way of lingering. An idea keeps rolling around in our head that we never find time to act on. That half-finished project is stuck in a notebook or a folder on our computer. We tell ourselves that we’ll get to someday, when there’s more time or we feel ready. Maybe what we really need is accountability.

Release Day on May 29th is our collective deadline to finally share that special thing we’ve been working on.

This story is part of a series celebrating people who participated in Release Day 2025. We hope their stories inspire you to join us this year.

Immy Hunter is a nature loving, freelance graphic designer and freediving instructor from North Devon, UK. As a passionate side quester, she founded Flow State Freediving to share freediving as a practice of slowing down, reconnecting with the body and exploring the ocean in a holistic, mindful way.

For Release Day 2025, she launched her freediving instagram account.

^{Screenshot from Immy’s freediving instagram.}

When Immy Hunter discovered freediving, it quickly became more than just a hobby.

She wanted to share her new adventure and what she was learning. But posting publicly was harder than she thought.

(Please note that this interview has been edited for length and flow.)

Interviewer: Tell us about the project you released.

Immy: For Release Day, I launched my free diving Instagram page. I had actually created the page before, but I hadn’t posted anything on it. I’d been free diving for about a year and a half and had become totally obsessed with it. I wanted a space to share my journey, but I didn’t want to overwhelm my personal Instagram with free diving content.

So, I created the page but I hadn’t really had the guts to properly launch it. When Release Day came along, it felt like a chance for me to treat this as like an official project.

“It was like an investment into something that’s going to grow in the future potentially.”

Interviewer: So, what is freediving?

Immy: Freediving is diving underwater on a single held breath. No scuba tank.

There are different ways to practice it. One is diving down a line attached to a floating buoy. That style is very internal. It’s about focusing on your body and breath, almost like meditation.

Then there’s more exploratory diving, where you swim around and observe marine life. What I love about freediving is that it allows you to experience the ocean in a very calm, non-invasive way.

^{Screenshot from Immy’s freediving instagram.}

Interviewer: What made Release Day the moment to finally launch?

Immy: The deadline was a huge part of it.

As a graphic designer, I’m used to working with deadlines for client work. There’s the structure and the timeline, like do this, then this, then this, because you have a start and an end.

I think like with a lot of creative projects, if you don’t ever say I’m starting on this day and it’s going to be finished by this day, then it never happens. Release Day gave me a month. That made the project feel manageable.

^{Photo of Immy and her partner.}

Interviewer: What was your biggest takeaway?

Immy: I think you should start things before you feel ready. The whole atmosphere around Release Day was very low pressure. The idea was just to release something. It didn’t have to be perfect. That mindset really resonated with me.

Interviewer: What did your process look like during that month?

Immy: I’m not the most structured person, I work when I feel energized. Bit I did set aside time and gave myself small goals each week. One week I focused on the visual identity. Another week I worked on content ideas.

Because the timeline was short, it stopped me from overthinking everything.

Interviewer: What did you do on Release Day to actually release your project?

Immy: We uploaded our projects and wrote a short description about them. That was actually really meaningful, it made the project feel official.

Then we had a group call where everyone shared what they’d made. People talked about their process and what they hoped might happen next.

It was really rewarding to finally present something that had previously only existed in my head.

Interviewer: What has happened since Release Day?

Immy: When I first launched the page, I had around 100 followers; mostly friends.

Over time it grew slowly, and then my partner and I started working on the page together. We began treating it more like a real project, posting more consistently.

Now we have nearly 7,000 followers and a growing community of people interested in freediving. We’ve also both become certified freediving instructors.

“It gave me a bit of confidence. If I hadn’t done Release Day then maybe I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Interviewer: What would you tell someone thinking about participating?

Immy: Just do it. Releasing something, even if it’s imperfect, is always better than never releasing anything at all.

If it doesn’t work the way you hoped, you’ve still learned something. But if you never start, it’s easy to get stuck in decision paralysis.

“Start something before you’re ready.”

What are you going to release on May 29th?

Learn more about Release Day and join us

Release Day is a Creative Quests and CreativeMornings collaboration, powered by Adobe.

Fun Stuff To Click On

CreativeMornings — Thu, 14 May 2026 15:46:00 -0400

Welcome to our joyful, little corner of the internet where we share our favorite links that we discover each week.

Curious what your hourly rate should be? Take 2 minutes and find out. §

Stop chasing external validation. Do this instead.

The future of design is collaboration.

More mind-altering photos from Artemis.

Invest in your curiosity.

Your team probably needs to sing a sea shanty.

Navigating body positive art in a negative climate. †

You can start your own community.

How photographers are adopting AI with intention. †

Inflatable art.

17 ways to save your creativity if your job is killing it.

§ Curated by CreativeMornings HQ and brought to you by our partners.
† Thank you to Sally Jane Brown and Jon Feinstein for sharing these links.
Have a fun link? Share it with us.

Want even more fun stuff to click on? Subscribe to our Weekly Highlights newsletter and we’ll send cool links right to your inbox.

Release Day: Morgan Duta on Finding the Bright Spots and Committing

CreativeMornings — Mon, 11 May 2026 16:20:00 -0400

Release Day on May 29th is our collective deadline to finally share that special thing we’ve been working on.

This story is part of a series celebrating people who participated in Release Day 2025. We hope their stories inspire you to join us this year.

Morgan Duta is a designer, researcher, and lecturer who loves to uncover insights, and bring ideas to life. Recently with Creative Quests, she helped create and publish ‘The Quester’s Guide to Exploring Your World.’ Currently she’s working with Just Looking Press on a book about pigeons.

For Release Day 2025, she released an online zine that showcased a personal project that she’s been working on behind the scenes for years.

^{Screenshot of the cover of Morgan’s zine.}

For nearly a decade, Morgan ended each day by writing down the best moment of the day on a small piece of paper.

What began as a personal ritual slowly became something larger: an archive of joy.

Release Day gave her the push she needed to transform that private archive into a public display of gratitude.

(Please note that this interview has been edited for length and flow.)

Interviewer: Tell us about the project you released.

Morgan: The project actually started about nine years ago. I called it Bright Spots. At the end of every day, I would write down the best part of my day on a small piece of paper.

It became a habit I kept up for years. Eventually I realized I had more than eight years of personal data about my own life.

As a designer and a researcher, that’s a bit of a treasure trove. But it’s also something very meaningful; it’s a record of the best moments.

When Release Day came around and the idea was that everyone would share a personal project, I realized this was my moment to turn all that data into something.

^{Sorting the archive of bright spots.}

Interviewer: What themes emerged as you looked back at all those moments?

Morgan: One big theme was creative community, which feels very fitting for CreativeMornings.

Some of my happiest moments were when I had created something and friends showed up to support me. Or when someone unexpectedly bragged about something I had made.

“I noticed that having people around me that also supported me in my creativity, really impacted me in a in a beautiful way.”

Another theme was trying new things—those moments where curiosity leads you somewhere unexpected.

And another theme was simply creating things. As an industrial designer, I spend a lot of time building prototypes and working with my hands. Seeing something come to life brings me a lot of joy.

^{A collection of bright spots about making things.}

Interviewer: Had you always planned to turn this archive into something?

Morgan: Not exactly. I’d been thinking about it for a long time. A student once heard about bright spots and insisted that I had to do something with it. But nothing ever came of it.

When I heard about Release Day, though, I realized it was exactly the push I needed. I know myself, if there’s a deadline, something will happen. Without one, it’s easy to keep thinking about something forever.

Interviewer: What other executions did you consider?

Morgan: There were so many directions the project could go. You could build a timeline of how life changes over eight years. You could make a website that filters the data by themes—food, friends, seasons. I even thought about creating something like a museum exhibit.

But all of those ideas felt overwhelming. Eventually I realized a zine format would work well because it’s small and approachable.

Interviewer: What was your experience on the actual day of Release Day?

Morgan: I had stayed up late the night before to finish the zine, so I remember feeling exhausted earlier in the day. But then we had this online meeting where people who contributed to release day gathered together to share their creations. And it was quite a personal thing that I’m putting out there, so I was a bit nervous.

“I knew that they were also putting something on the line by releasing their own projects. There were shared amounts of vulnerability. So that was really comforting as well.”

It very quickly turned into a celebration. After that call I had so much energy.

Interviewer: What would you tell someone considering participating in Release Day?

Morgan: Sign up. And don’t overthink it.

You don’t need to know exactly what you’re going to create. Trust the process and trust that other people are going through the same thing. Some people released huge projects. Others shared something small, like a painted postcard. Both are equally valid.

Interviewer: Did the experience change how you approach your creative work?

Morgan: It inspired me to create more small publications. The zine format feels approachable. It’s just a few pages, but suddenly you have something tangible. If I had tried to call it a book, I would have felt overwhelmed.

It also definitely made me more open about sharing things I’m working on.

For a long time, I thought work was only worth sharing once it was finished. But inviting people into the process changed everything. Friends offered ideas and encouragement along the way.

And when Release Day finally arrived, those same people were celebrating with me.

What are you going to release on May 29th?

Learn more about Release Day and join us

Release Day is a Creative Quests and CreativeMornings collaboration, powered by Adobe.

Fun Stuff To Click On

CreativeMornings — Sun, 10 May 2026 16:53:00 -0400

Welcome to our joyful, little corner of the internet where we share our favorite links that we discover each week.

Map out your next project, step by step. §

Artemis went 240,000 miles for the perfect shot. You just need to back up 3 feet. Become a better photographer in just 5 minutes with these tips. §

Spell your name with NASA’s aerial photos.

Ignore the wall between crafting and fine art.

How to pick your next project.

Don’t chase these design trends.

Try an at-home writer’s retreat. †

Rethinking recycling.

10 newsletters for freelancers and creative entrepreneurs.

Instead of building a following, try nurturing a scene.

Watch moose migrate in Sweden. †

Don’t complain about AI. Make better stuff.

Mental health vs. creative work.

§ Curated by CreativeMornings HQ and brought to you by our partners.
† Thank you to Nicole Zhu and Stephen Nock for sharing these links.
Have a fun link? Share it with us.

Want even more fun stuff to click on? Subscribe to our Weekly Highlights newsletter and we’ll send cool links right to your inbox.

Release Day: Alina Cristea on Complexity and Finally Hitting Publish

CreativeMornings — Sat, 09 May 2026 12:05:00 -0400

Why does making something for yourself always seem to fall to the bottom of the To Do list? There’s always another task to finish, another priority that feels more urgent, another reason to put it off.

Behind that procrastination is something harder to face; the vulnerability of putting our whole selves out there. So, we tell ourselves that we’ll share it when things slow down. We trick ourselves into thinking that the problem is not having enough time, but really it’s not having a deadline.

Release Day on May 29th is our collective deadline to finally share that special thing we’ve been working on.

This story is part of a series celebrating people who participated in Release Day 2025. We hope their stories inspire you to join us this year.

Alina Cristea is an artist and researcher working with photography, film and text, currently based in Brussels and Bucharest. Her work explores urban space, narrativity, and how stories are constructed, fragmented, shared, and retold in both personal and collective contexts.

For Release Day 2025, she released a portfolio site that showcases all of her endeavors.

^{Screenshot of Alina’s portfolio site.}

For years, Alina Cristea had been meaning to publish a website that truly reflected her work.

As a photographer, writer, and academic researcher, her creative output lived in different places but she never had an online home that reflected the entirety of who she is.

At the time, Alina was writing her PhD dissertation; hardly the perfect timing to launch a site. But the Release Day deadline pushed her to stop overthinking and start publishing.

(Please note that this interview has been edited for length and flow.)

Interviewer: Tell us about the project you released.

Alina: I released my website, which was long overdue. For many years I struggled to actually publish a public portfolio. I had different online portfolios, but they were scattered because I do many different things. I’m a photographer, I write, and I also work in academia. I’ve written books and produced research as part of my PhD, and it was always difficult to figure out how to bring those different identities together.

When I saw the Release Day open call, I realized this was the moment to finally do it.

“I’d been thinking about it for 10 years because I do different things and it was always a struggle how to bring everything together and tell all the different stories of me.”

Interviewer: How did having that deadline help you move forward?

Alina: I actually did far less thinking than I normally do. It became more about taking action.

I saw the open call when it launched and made a mental note, but I didn’t really start working on the website until about a week before Release Day. That deadline helped me stop overthinking and just make something happen.

“When I saw Release Day, it felt like a now or never.”

Interviewer: How did you balance everything?

Alina: Honestly, I mostly squeezed it in wherever I could. My dissertation was my main focus for the year, so the website was something I worked on in small moments when I had time.

It might sound strange to say that about a website, but after postponing it for so long, I knew I had to finally release it.

^{A project from Alina’s portfolio site.}

Interviewer: What did it feel like when the site went live?

Alina: I was nervous, to be honest.

But I also reminded myself that no one was really waiting for the website, it was mostly pressure in my own head.

My mindset became, I just want to make it exist first and make it good later. I saw a post that really resonated with me. It showed two circles. The first circle was incomplete, with the caption: “Just make it exist first.” The second circle was perfect, with the caption: “Make it good later.”

That idea stuck with me.

Interviewer: What was your favorite part of participating in Release Day?

Alina: The community call at the end was my favorite part. People from different time zones joined and shared what they had released. Everyone was cheering for each other. It felt incredibly supportive.

Interviewer: Did the experience change how you think about sharing your work?

Alina: Yes. It made me more comfortable sharing complexity. I used to worry about how to present all the different parts of my work together. I realize that I can highlight different aspects and they all add up.

^{Alina’s portfolio site features two sides of her work; research and photography.}

Interviewer: What would you tell someone thinking about participating?

Alina: Mark the date in your calendar. Then choose a project, especially something you’ve been postponing for a long time.

Release Day is a great opportunity to finally take that leap.

What are you going to release on May 29th?

Learn more about Release Day and join us

Release Day is a Creative Quests and CreativeMornings collaboration, powered by Adobe.

LEVEL UP: Workflow in Firefly Boards: Ideation to Creation

CreativeMornings — Thu, 07 May 2026 10:04:00 -0400

In this session, we’ll walk through a workflow from ideation to final output using Adobe Firefly Boards. Learn how to build ideas, add motion to your artwork, and use sound to bring your visuals to life.

In this Virtual FieldTrip on workflows in Firefly Boards with visual artist and content creator, Jack Faulkner, we’ll explore the workflow from ideation to final output using Adobe Firefly Boards.

Watch the recording for practical tips, creative inspiration, and techniques you can apply straight away.

This FieldTrip is a part of Level Up, a series of workshops and resources designed to help you grow, gain confidence, and take meaningful next steps in your creative career. This series is made possible by CreativeMornings’ global partnership with Adobe .

Want more helpful tips to level up your creative career? See all of our upcoming LEVEL UP Virtual FieldTrips.

Release Day: Clarence Kitt on Safety and Letting go

CreativeMornings — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:05:00 -0400

Our creative work often gets trapped by hesitation. We enjoy working on a project, but it never feels quite good enough to show it to anyone. We tweak, second-guess, and imagine all the ways it might be judged or misunderstood. Self-doubt and fear stop us from realizing the full potential of our talent.

Release Day on May 29th is our collective deadline to finally share that special thing we’ve been working on.

This story is part of a series celebrating people who participated in Release Day 2025. We hope their stories inspire you to join us this year.

Clarence Kitt is service designer, fashion photographer, and data artist. He crafts participatory experiences that invite people to see and feel ideas in new ways.

For Release Day 2025, he created a visual reflection on his journey in fashion photography that he released on his photography site.

^{Screenshot of the landing page on Clarence’s site.}

After stepping away from fashion photography for nearly a decade, Clarence wasn’t sure if he would ever return.

Release Day became the moment he reclaimed his complete creative identity without compromise. His project explored storytelling, vulnerability, and owning his unique point of view informed by his cultural background.

(Please note that this interview has been edited for length and flow.)

Interviewer: Tell us about the project you released.

Clarence: It was a reintroduction of myself back into an industry that I decided to leave almost 10 years ago. I had told myself that I didn’t belong and that it was something that I failed at. I think there was a lot of shame and narratives that I set up for myself. But I realized over time that I still love fashion and I want to do something around it and create work again.

^{The opening spread of Clarence’s visual reflection.}

Interviewer: What led you to participate in Release Day?

Clarence: Before Release Day, I joined Creative Quests because I was experiencing creative fatigue and burnout.

I’m usually someone who gets a lot of joy and energy from creating, but last year I went through months where I couldn’t sketch anything. Ideas just weren’t coming naturally anymore.

It appealed to me because it reminded me of something simple: the joy of creating together. It felt like being back in an art class where everyone is making things side by side.

When Release Day was introduced, the idea clicked instantly. The idea that we could all release something imperfectly, candidly into the world felt exactly like what I needed.

^{For Clarence, sharing his story brought a sense of freedom.}

Interviewer: Did releasing your work alongside other people make it easier?

Clarence: Absolutely. Everyone was showing up with the intention of releasing something. That created a sense of lightness.

I also loved the name “Release Day.” It didn’t feel like “Portfolio Day” or “Showcase Day,” which can feel very performative. “Release” felt more like just letting something exist in the world.

Knowing there were others participating made it exciting. I couldn’t wait to see what everyone else would release.

Interviewer: Did having a deadline change how you approached the project?

Clarence: It was huge. I have perfectionistic tendencies. So, you start comparing your current work to your past work. But the deadline reminded me that it didn’t have to be perfect.

“It feels like as you get older, your standards for yourself get higher because you’re measuring yourself by your prior self. So, I think having a deadline was so important to me. Just to know that whatever I’ve got at that moment is enough.”

And just because something is released doesn’t mean you can’t revisit it later. Release Day became a moment to take a breath and let the work exist.

Interviewer: Did Release Day change how you think about sharing your work?

Clarence: Completely. Before Release Day, I had a difficult relationship with sharing my work publicly. It felt heavy; like each piece represented all of me.

Over the last year, that’s changed. Now sharing feels much lighter. It’s more like here’s what I made. I see myself like a bookstore tender. Like I just put something on a shelf.

^{Another Spread from Clarence’s story.}

Interviewer: What was your biggest takeaway from the experience?

Clarence: I realized that creativity, for me, comes from safety. When I was burned out, I thought creativity was something I had to force—like a muscle I needed to grind back into shape.

But what actually brought it back was feeling safe. Being around people who are open, curious, and supportive. Having a space where you can share ideas without judgment.

Release Day created that environment. And once that safety was there, ideas started flowing again.

“I can just do the damn thing. Just having an ease about setting up more photo shoots, meeting new people without this self-limitation anymore. It really represented a moment of challenging my own thoughts.”

Interviewer: What would you tell someone thinking about joining Release Day?

Clarence: You’ve got to experience it. It’s such a beautiful, shared experience to see people interpret release day in their own ways and so many different creative pieces all shared at the same time. It feels like a holiday, an exhibit, a moment, a ritual all in one.

“It felt like an album drop times 20.”

What are you going to release on May 29th?

Learn more about Release Day and join us

Release Day is a Creative Quests and CreativeMornings collaboration, powered by Adobe.

May's Theme is CREATE

CreativeMornings — Fri, 01 May 2026 20:15:00 -0400

Our theme for MAY is CREATE. It was chosen in collaboration with our global partner Adobe and illustrated by Ana Grigorovici.

This marks the first time we have ever worked with a global partner to select a monthly theme. Because at CreativeMornings, we believe everyone is creative—and Adobe couldn’t agree more. Together, we’re bringing you resources and tools to help bring your ideas to life.

For our theme CREATE, we’re throwing a month-long celebration of YOUR passion projects!

Let’s come together and support one another! We understand the challenges of creating something you love. From fitting it into your busy life to fighting off imposter syndrome; the struggle is real. And one of the biggest hurdles is a lack of accountability.

What if we gave our personal creative projects a collective deadline?

Release Day on May 29th is when we all finally share that special thing we’ve been working on. It’s a motivating moment to declare, “here it is!” No matter how imperfect or polished it may be.

We’ve teamed up with Creative Quests on an entire month of practical tips and accountability sessions leading up to Release Day. All culminating in an online gallery showcasing your creations! Check out everything we’ve got planned for you!

Let’s share your creativity with the world!

Make a commitment to yourself and pledge to share your personal project on Release Day. We’re here to support you! We can’t wait to see what you create!

Meet our CREATE illustrator: Ana Grigorovici

CreativeMornings — Fri, 01 May 2026 18:00:00 -0400

Each month, CreativeMornings has a different theme for the talks given at our local chapter events around the world. It is our tradition to work with an artist in our community to create an illustration for each monthly theme.

Our theme for MAY is CREATE. It was chosen in collaboration with our global partner Adobe and illustrated by Ana Grigorovici.

Ana is a London-based brand designer and the founder of Design Bench Studio. Her practice is rooted in collaboration, culture, and social impact. Ana’s work sits at the intersection of strategy and storytelling, helping ideas take shape through thoughtful design for communities, organisations and independent businesses.

She is particularly interested in how creativity moves: how ideas form, evolve, and are shared with others. Whether working with charities, founders, or creative initiatives, Ana approaches design as a living process. Something forever iterative, never fixed in one practice, and imbued with energy from other disciplines. Her work as a graphic designer means she often translates abstract concepts into visual systems, blending expressive forms with insights from research. Ana designs books, products, websites and visual systems, using a wide toolkit of skills to each project. She loves blending illustration, graphic design and experiences while working collaboratively with other creatives.

Ana shared the following reflection on her illustration for this month’s theme:

“The CREATE illustration explores the rhythm and continuity of making. It highlights how creativity isn’t a single moment, but something that unfolds over time.

The starting point was a simple idea: the sunrise as a metaphor for creation. Just like light arriving gradually, creative ideas emerge, build, and eventually become something we can share. From there, the concept expanded into a full cycle, capturing the feeling that creativity happens across all hours of the day.

This is reflected in the circular, dial-like composition. The artefact functions almost like a clock or sundial, connecting to the idea of a 24-hour creative cycle. The beauty of the six letters in the word CREATE perfectly fitting into 24 segments was a lovely coincidence, so I leaned into that mathematical match.

The soft, glowing sunscape sits at the centre of this system, representing the origin point of ideas. Around it, the dials introduce movement and interaction, suggesting that creativity is something we can tune into, adjust, and return to.

There’s also a deliberate contrast between simplicity and depth. While the visual is reduced to a pure, elemental form, it carries a broader narrative: that from dusk til dawn we can experience creativity in a continuous flow. Creation doesn’t stop. It loops, evolves, and renews itself again and again.”

Listen to how to pronounce Ana’s name.

You can see more of Ana’s work on her site.

Selected Works

May Playlist: CREATE

CreativeMornings — Fri, 01 May 2026 15:06:00 -0400

Our theme for MAY is CREATE. It was chosen in collaboration with our global partner Adobe and illustrated by Ana Grigorovici.

Making and listening to music is perhaps the oldest and most universal form of creative expression.

Listen to songs about creativity and the act of creating in our playlist for May’s theme CREATE curated by our community around the world.

You can add a song related to ember that lights you up to this playlist too!

Go to the playlist using this link on YouTube Music.

Click “join” on the pop up that appears.
Search for the song that you want to add.
Click the three dots next to the song title.

Select “Save to playlist” from the menu that appears.

Select our CREATE playlist in the popup that appears.

Release Day: Sam Furness on Moving From Procrastination to Celebration

CreativeMornings — Fri, 01 May 2026 08:30:00 -0400

What if sharing your creative work didn’t feel like a chore, but a celebration? That feeling is why Sam Furness created Release Day.

Born from his own struggles with procrastination, Release Day on May 29th is a collective deadline for launching your personal project and a ritual of accountability and support.

This story is part of a series celebrating people who participated in Release Day 2025. We hope their stories inspire you to join us this year.

Sam Furness is a cultural producer and the founder of Creative Quest, a global community and playground for people fueled by curiosity. In 2025, he launched the first Release Day.

(Please note that this interview has been edited for length and flow.)

Interviewer: What is Release Day?

Sam: In simple terms, it’s a 24-hour celebration where creative people collectively release their work. It’s a shared deadline for individual projects.

But the bigger ambition is to establish a new day in the creative calendar like World Book Day or Record Store Day. It’s a shared ritual of sharing the things that we’ve been working on and celebrating our creative lives.

Interviewer: How did the idea for Release Day come about?

Sam: It came in fragments. Part of it was realizing I was procrastinating on my own projects. I wanted a way of putting creative projects out in the world that feels less lonely.

Then I remembered working in the music industry. The day an album was released was always special. People would say “happy release day,” and it felt like a shared moment.

I missed that.

So, I started wondering: what would it look like if we created that feeling for all creative work?

^{Fragments of inspiration that lead to Release Day.}

Interviewer: Why do so many of us struggle to share our work?

Sam: There are so many reasons. Fear of what people will think, perfectionism, procrastination. A lot of it comes down to wondering if what we’ve made is “good enough.”

And often with personal creative projects, we don’t give them deadlines, because we associate deadlines with work. And we don’t want our personal projects to feel like an obligation.

What we’re trying to do with Release Day is reframe the deadline, not as something looming and stressful, but as something exciting. Like a festival you’re looking forward to.

Interviewer: You mentioned procrastination and perfectionism. Do those fears show up in your own work too?

Sam: All the time. I don’t believe anyone who says they don’t feel some kind of fear around sharing our work.

Every single thing that I’ve put out into the world that has felt fulfilling or has been successful is because I didn’t wait for the thing to be perfect before going for it.

It’s about publicly experimenting. Playing with an idea and seeing what happens.

It’s like being a runner. I did a marathon a few years ago. And you don’t just go straight to the marathon. You have to train, right? And actually, part of what makes you a better long-distance runner is getting better at running short distances faster.

And I think the same applies for working on creative projects. ‘I’m going to give myself a week to deliver this thing’ and I’m gonna learn some stuff along the way.

Interviewer: The funny thing about training for a marathon, you can’t do it just by thinking about running.

Sam: You have to run! In creative terms; getting to that book manuscript, or the art show, or the new website, or whatever it is that you’re working towards - it gets easier if you release things along the journey.

Dismantle the enormity of feeling like you have to run the entire thing right away.

Interviewer: You also run Creative Quests. What is a creative quest?

Sam: It’s a global community for people fueled by curiosity. We host learning programmes, live creative experiences and last year we released our first book. In our flagship Quest programme we set a theme for one calendar month and challenge people to immerse their curiosity in a shared theme. We host workshops, invite guest speakers, and set creative missions along the way.

^{Each Creative Quest explores a different theme.}

The world looks incredibly different when you channel your curiosity in a certain direction.

And when you have other people exploring with you, it multiplies your creativity.

Release Day became a natural extension. Questers take their explorations and the output becomes a release.

Interviewer: What makes creating in a community so powerful?

Sam: If we’re all working towards the same deadline, you’re actually growing an audience for your work, because suddenly Brian’s invested, Tina’s invested, all these people participating are invested in my project because they’re putting projects out too. And I’m invested in their projects too.

It’s like skateboarding.

At a skate park, everyone’s working on their own trick, but you’re cheering each other on, learning from each other. Seeing someone else nail their trick raises the bar for everyone.

Interviewer: Do you think it helps for people get past the self-consciousness of talking about their work?

Sam: I think it absolutely does. It’s a way of starting a conversation around being part of something bigger than yourself.

Interviewer: The default setting for a lot of creatives these days is just making an Instagram post. What are some other ways people can think about releasing a creative project?

Sam: Start with why you’re releasing. Think about what you want. Is it growing your profile as a creator or artist? Or maybe it’s because you just need to let this idea go. Or maybe it’s about building community where you live or online.

A release isn’t just the mechanical process. A release is a feeling. I did it! I did the thing that I wanted to do.

If you finish a painting, don’t just post a picture of it. Throw yourself a reception in your home. Invite your neighbours!

Depending on your goal, there’s all kinds of things you can do. You can put posters up around your town, you can make a zine, or put on a performance at a park.

One time, I took a giant laminated world map and sat on the steps by the sea in my town and asked people to tell me a story about places they’re been. We had amazing conversations and I met new friends.

^{An IRL release that fostered new connections.}

Interviewer: What are you most excited about Release Day this year?

Sam: Well, obviously the collaboration with CreativeMornings and Adobe.

Last year was a small experiment.

This year, we have all the programming in the lead-up to Release Day. Co-working sessions to help you focus and workshops with Adobe experts to help you develop your skills to actually bring your idea to life.

It culminates in Release Day but we’re traveling on a journey together to get there. It’s the road to Release Day!

We’re honouring each other’s their ideas and the act of putting them out in the world. Because the world needs what you’re making.

Interviewer: Speaking of bringing things into the world, you have a new baby. How has becoming a father changed how you think about your creative output or how you approach your creative practice?

Sam: Time is a very different resource now. My creative practice has always been very exploratory. Following my curiosity and seeing where it leads me.

There’s less opportunity right now while we have such a small child because I want to be around, support my partner. So, it’s making me re-evaluate, how do I still live a curiosity-fueled life?

Because there’s a lot of negative narrative that your own life stops when you become a parent.

But if questing has taught me anything, it’s hold your assumptions lightly.

What kind of creative life do I want my daughter to see? I want her to see me making things, being playful, taking risks. Not just sitting on a laptop and looking at my phone.

One day we’re going to explore together. That’s a big motivator.

^{This new Dad is still exploring.}

Interviewer: What are you releasing on Release Day this year?

Sam: I’m hoping to put out two things.

One is a song for my daughter that I’ve been writing for a while.

And I’ve been questing for 10 years, so I want to make a zine about 10 lessons from 10 years of living a curiosity-fueled, creative life.

Interviewer: I can’t wait to see that.

Sam: Seeing what everyone else releases in one of my favorite parts!

What are you going to release on May 29th?

Learn more about Release Day and join us

Release Day is a Creative Quests and CreativeMornings collaboration, powered by Adobe.

LEVEL UP: AI Tools for Video Creation

CreativeMornings — Fri, 01 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

AI is reshaping how videos get made, so let’s explore where it actually fits in your workflow.

In this Virtual FieldTrip on easy photo editing with Filmmaker, Joey Daoud, we’ll explore practical ways to use AI in every step of the filmmaking process.

Watch the recording for a mix of live demos and practical tips.

Want more helpful tips to level up your creative career? See all of our upcoming LEVEL UP Virtual FieldTrips.

Fun Stuff To Click On

Kyle Baptista — Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Welcome to our joyful, little corner of the internet where we share our favorite links that we discover each week.

How to become irreplaceable in a world of infinite content.

Create your ideal space to create.

10 lessons on creating from 10 legends.

How body doubling can help your creative process. †

Earn enough to create what you truly want to.

Create something analog.

Create something digital. §

If your job feels like a dead end, create value.

This cat wants to create with you. †

We can’t wait for Austin Kleon’s new book on how to create like a kid again. (Watch his CreativeMornings talk.)

§ Curated by CreativeMornings HQ and brought to you by our partners.
† Thank you to Nodira Khoussainova and Anyā Likhitha for sharing these links.
Have a fun link? Share it with us.

Want even more fun stuff to click on? Subscribe to our Weekly Highlights newsletter and we’ll send cool links right to your inbox.

Sketch Notes on EMBER

CreativeMornings — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:12:00 -0400

Each month, CreativeMornings chapters around the world host talks on a theme – and members of our local communities take sketchnotes (visual notes created with a mix of handwriting, drawings, hand-lettering, and other doodles.)

Our theme for April was EMBER. It was chosen by our Poulsbo chapter in Washington and illustrated by Sarah Gordon.

Krystal Lauk and Joanna Ma captured Everett Katigbak’s talk from our San Francisco chapter.

Sebastian Wilkinson captured Hali Lee’s talk from our New York chapter.

Jes LaVecchia captured Anita Moss, Katy Yanda, and Kristin Swoszowski-Tran’s talk from our Santa Fe chapter.

Lama Tassabihji captured Laura Howe’s talk from our Lausanne chapter.

^{Photos by Phuong Toan Tran.}

Caroline Ferrero and Aly Miller captured Gina Cornejo’s talk from our Milwaukee chapter.

Coté Soerens captured Jacoby Cochran’s talk from our Chicago chapter.

^{Photos by Elliot Powell.}

Sketch notes at Chandler Johnson’s talk from our Kansas City chapter.

^{Photo by Jeff Evrard.}

If you create your own sketch notes at a CreativeMornings event, share a photo of them with the hashtag #CMsketchnotes and tag us, so we can include them in our next roundup.

Chapter Highlights: From Breathwork to a Swimming Pool

CreativeMornings — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:03:00 -0400

Every CreativeMornings chapter is organized by a team of local volunteers who pour their hearts into creating fun and interesting events that foster meaningful connections. Check out these recent highlights from around the world.

Our Hudson Valley chapter in New York did breathwork together at their first event in February.

^{Photo by Rana Faure.}

Our Basel chapter practiced dance and movement at their March event.

^{Photo by Galabina Ivanova.}

Our Ann Arbor has a big piece of paper for people to stick their name tags on when they leave.

Our Portsmouth chapter posted childhood photos of their volunteers.

Our Düsseldorf chapter had a wake up rave.

Beautiful breakfast spread in Paris.

^{Photo by Lacy Lee.}

Our Boulder chapter held a bonus evening event as part of a local art fair.

^{Photo by Kevin Steele.}

Cute branded pouch by our Turin chapter.

Our Orlando chapter received a $1000 grant from the Awesome Foundation.

Our Fayetteville chapter did an improv workshop.

How does volunteering at a CreativeMornings’ chapter make you feel? Love this post by Lausanne chapter volunteer, Renata Roth.

Cardiff chapter’s speaker showcased weaving and basketry techniques at their March event.

^{Photo by Carolina Soyko.}

Our Omaha chapter’s speaker made made pottery during his April talk.

^{Photos by Sarah.}

Our Portland chapter had attendees put pins in a map to mark where their community lives for March’s theme LOCAL.

Our Winnipeg chapter wrote “recipes” for what it takes to be local.

^{Photo by Gabrielle Touchette.}

Our Santa Fe chapter did a quiz to see who is the most local.

Our Antalya chapter explored a garden and enjoyed a communal meal brought by members of their community for LOCAL.

A love letter to CreativeMornings from São Paulo.

Our Riyadh chapter went running together.

Our Dallas chapter did a journaling event.

Our Lisbon chapter had an illustrator customize coffee cups.

People wrote what lights them up on flame shaped pieces of paper at our Phoenix chapter for April’s theme EMBER.

Our Santa Fe chapter used the burnt ends of sticks to write messages for April’s theme EMBER.

Attendees put a color-coded sticker on their name tag to rate their energy level at our Valencia chapter.

^{Photo by Carmina Marco.}

Our Tegucigalpa chapter held their March event next to a swimming pool.

Want in on the fun? Find a CreativeMornings chapter near you.

LEVEL UP: How to Make Your Existing Photos Look Better!

CreativeMornings — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:29:00 -0400

You already took the photo — now let’s make it shine!

In this Virtual FieldTrip on easy photo editing with Photographer/Content Creator, Nicole Shabada, you’ll learn how to use Lightroom to enhance existing images with simple edits.

Watch the recording to see how to elevate colour, light, and mood without overcomplicating the process.

Want more helpful tips to level up your creative career? See all of our upcoming LEVEL UP Virtual FieldTrips.

Fun Stuff To Click On

CreativeMornings — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:05:00 -0400

Welcome to our joyful, little corner of the internet where we share our favorite links that we discover each week.

Need content ideas? Check out these fun seasonal templates. §

Living a creative life is good medicine.

Ask an artists rep agency any question. †

Start over on your own terms.

Art can change the world.

Get to know your neighbors by bartering.

If the system doesn’t work for you, build your own.

Women are rewriting creative leadership. †

Some thoughts on managing ADHD.

Is life better without social media?

§ Curated by CreativeMornings HQ and brought to you by our partners.
† Thank you to Katie Ayling and Laura Araujo for sharing these links.
Have a fun link? Share it with us.

Want even more fun stuff to click on? Subscribe to our Weekly Highlights newsletter and we’ll send cool links right to your inbox.

LEVEL UP: Tools for Social Media Video Creators

CreativeMornings — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:11:00 -0400

You can’t control whether a video goes viral. But you can control the quality.

In this Virtual FieldTrip on building your portfolio with Brand Strategist, Phil Pallen, you’ll discover the tools, software, and framework your need to stop overthinking and start creating.

Watch the recording for a walk through of an achievable setup, workflow, and starter gear list.

Want more helpful tips to level up your creative career? See all of our upcoming LEVEL UP Virtual FieldTrips.

Fun Stuff To Click On

CreativeMornings — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:34:00 -0400

Welcome to our joyful, little corner of the internet where we share our favorite links that we discover each week.

Take control of your time instead of your business controlling you. §

Where did the idea for Release Day come from?

Why do you feel disconnected? https://youtu.be/bWpR-3oDtME

Design inspiration for miles: your ticket to ride.

Instead of a big goal, try a tiny experiment. †

How do I even start creating my own work?

Become an imperfectionist.

Overcome the excuses why creatives don’t share their work.

Train your brain to release dopamine on demand.

Little actions have ripple effects. These little zines are making a splash. †

3 reasons you should show your work.

§ Curated by CreativeMornings HQ and brought to you by our partners.
† Thank you to Harma-Mae Smit and Adam Sparks for sharing these links.
Have a fun link? Share it with us.

Want even more fun stuff to click on? Subscribe to our Weekly Highlights newsletter and we’ll send cool links right to your inbox.

LEVEL UP ACCOUNTABILITY HOUR: Your Portfolio

CreativeMornings — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:56:00 -0400

A strong portfolio doesn’t just show the work. It tells the story behind it.

In this Virtual FieldTrip on building your portfolio with Designer, Nick Longo, you’ll learn a simple visual storytelling framework for building compelling case studies for your portfolio.

Watch the recording and learn how to structure your project, showcase your thinking, and present your work with clarity and impact.

Want more helpful tips to level up your creative career? See all of our upcoming LEVEL UP Virtual FieldTrips.