By: Deana Melchior
There is no creativity without vulnerability. It’s fascinating how my journey began with a simple desire to enhance my craft. While I’ve undeniably grown as a designer, the true evolution has been in embracing vulnerability. Expressing my emotions has always been a challenge; the fear of exposing my true self often led me to hide behind a facade. Yet, each word and post shared on my social media holds immense significance and represents a personal milestone. Forcing myself to post a design, regardless of my feelings about it, has built my confidence and, more importantly, taught me not to flee from what scares me.
Graphic Design Helped Me Embrace Vulnerability.
Putting ourselves out there, whether in society or our jobs, can be gut-wrenching. It brings sleepless nights, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and, most dreadfully, the vulnerability to others’ judgments. Without vulnerability, we cannot truly grow. Openness in creation and our creative process is essential; otherwise, we confine ourselves to a metaphorical box, risking staying there forever.
Before pursuing a degree in design, I knew I wanted to create art for a living but feared that an art degree wouldn’t lead to a stable job. Overcoming this fear took two years, and design school brought its own set of challenges. I was told repeatedly that I didn’t have what it takes—that I wasn’t good enough or creative enough and should find another passion. This feedback was devastating, especially since I had been creating art since I was four. Despite this, I pushed through, though I carried that fear into my internship and job. I dreaded receiving the same harsh criticism and believed that showing my art would invite shame and rejection. As a result, I kept my artwork and designs to myself. I grew sick of this self-imposed isolation. I knew I had the capability; I just didn’t know how to break free.
I decided to take action. Waiting until I felt ready meant waiting forever. It was time for change. I started posting a few Instagram designs each week, accompanied by short sayings or quotes reflecting my feelings. The emotions that poured out were astonishing, revealing depths I hadn’t known existed. I spent hours after work frustrated with my creations, but I posted them anyway, even the ones I disliked. Over time, the process became less stressful. Creating a design went from taking two hours to one hour to less than fifteen minutes. The act of creating became more important than the final product. Eventually, this practice transformed into a safe space—a place where I could create without judgment or fear because, ultimately, I was creating for myself.
There truly is no creativity without vulnerability. Even in fields where we create to solve problems, the source is always personal. It’s about relinquishing control and the pursuit of perfection. Creativity involves venturing into the unknown, embracing uncertainty, and taking risks without knowing the outcome. Creative work, whether we like it or not, is subject to evaluation and critique. Embracing vulnerability allows us to view feedback as a growth opportunity rather than contempt. It also helps overcome creative blocks by confronting our fears of failure and judgment, enabling more experimentation and play. In a creative environment, if something doesn’t work, someone will tell you. Learning that the success or failure of your work is not a reflection of your worth is crucial.
Through this process, I became less afraid of being vulnerable in other aspects of my life. I observed others’ stress when sharing their work on social media and understood their struggle. I told them, “It gets easier; you just have to keep going.” This experience showed me how much I was changing, becoming someone who was free and comfortable with being different and creative. I also noticed through this process that I became more creative and free in my career, creating some of my strongest and most conceptually sound designs—ones I truly didn’t know I was capable of. It’s incredible how one small change can ripple through every area of life.
The struggle is ongoing, and I will continue to work on it throughout my design journey. I never realized how creating a design could lead to self-discovery. My best work emerges when I embrace vulnerability in every part of myself. Letting go, not overthinking, and simply creating brings true happiness, free from the burden of others’ expectations. Pursue your passions for your own fulfillment, not for external validation or approval. I have learned that when I focus on what truly inspires and motivates me, I create something authentic and meaningful. I let my journey be guided by my own desires and values and find joy in the process of simply doing what I love—creating. I’m incredibly proud of my journey, and I believe my younger self, with her sketchbook, would be too.
If you’re going to do it, do it for you.
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