Not all creative jobs have freedom.

I spent over 15 years as a magazine art director for some of the most popular enthusiast magazines. People would often tell me how cool my job was because of the things that I got to spend my time with: Rad cars, trucks, and motorcycles, beautiful models, Photo shoots in scenic places.

But the problem with designing magazines is the borders. Or should I say boundaries?

I got to make my own hours (within reason), I could wear whatever I wanted, exposed tattoos were almost expected, but when it came to creativity, we were shackled to a system built around advertising.

A colleague of mine once put it as, “We only design the pages advertising couldn’t sell.”

Whenever I tried to do something truly interesting with the layouts, I was told to back off. Inventive visuals and typography? Forget it. If it’s not legible, it doesn’t need to be in the book.

There was no real room or time for creativity. All my layouts were templates for efficiency and sameness. After a few years, I started making my own personal art and design projects because I felt my creative spark atrophying.

In 2013, I told myself I would leave the job before the end of the year and start my own agency. Fate had my back because in May if that year, I was laid off and handed a stout severance check.

The runway was clear. I could not make whatever I wanted… but not really I had several freelance magazine gigs over the following years, and I hated every single one. If I thought I had rules before, they were nothing compared to the ones put on me by clients who thought they knew better.

In 2023, I did my last freelance design project, and though it’s been much tougher to make ends meet, the freedom to do whatever is want is far superior to any job I’ve ever had.

I’ve gotten to enjoy my family and friends more, especially being a major presence and support system for my son. In order to make my own rules, I’ve made big sacrifices, and there have been tough moments, but I wouldn’t change them for the world.

True independence isn’t for everyone, but this is what I’m here to talk about.

Who’s with me?