When you work remotely

Being in the creative field can often feel like a solitary pursuit. By nature, designers, in particular, tend to work for long periods in isolation, heads down, with little communication with those outside their own network.

If you are a freelancer or small studio in a rural area, or a student just starting out, unless you’re within the scope of a big city, the sense of remoteness can quickly creep in.

For many, the answer has come in the form of online communities with talks and interviews. Whereas online connections once seemed like a secondary option, they’ve become a vital part of our success – born out of necessity. Digital spaces have made the design world feel smaller, warmer, and more accessible than ever.

Community without borders

The online space doesn’t know distance. It’s as possible to chat to people thousands of miles away as it is to someone down the road from where you work. This opens up an immense opportunity, allowing us to share ideas, thoughts, and techniques with people worldwide with minimal effort. Think how amazing that is; the reassurance that someone thousands of miles away might be in the same boat as you, or that another creative shares your passion for specific quirks or techniques.

Many designers find that they don’t have the luxury of a local community; yet, online, we can seek each other out, collaborate, and learn, allowing us to be less of a scattered set of individuals and build our own networks with people we can truly relate to.

Sharing stories

Something I have found great strength in is discovering online talks and interviews with established designers and studios that might have been inaccessible in the past. Hearing from (and, in many cases, building personal connections with) designers I’ve admired does more than provide inspiration. It helps to humanise them and brings them closer to the rest of us. Seeing their processes, struggles, doubts, and imperfections first-hand reminds us that creativity is never a smooth line.

What I’ve learned through podcasts, webinars, and live broadcasts has been eye-opening, and I believe it has improved my own work and business. And that’s something that wasn’t an option several years ago, because we would have had to travel to see them.

Hearing from designers who are where you strive to be through their personal stories is incredibly powerful. They remind us that design isn’t about perfection, but about persistence. It allows us to see them as real humans, just like us, who face the same challenges, and see first-hand how they overcome them – and how we can, too.

Online connections bring us together

Seeking out online talks and utilising creative spaces aren’t just stopgaps or temporary solutions until we find physical connections – they’ve become meaningful communities in their own right. Now, we can reach out across time zones, cultures, and disciplines to create a new, more inclusive world for ourselves.

A community is no longer tied to geography. We can make real connections with real people through digital means – and that makes them no less valuable. Even if it’s through a screen, they might be the very people that we need to progress. Not everyone can find that in their local community.

My personal community

I live in a relatively small market town, which can feel very isolating. Over the last couple of years, I’ve worked hard to bring other creatives into my space, and it has definitely helped me and improved the way I work. It has offered inspiration, connection, and a real sense of community.

Perhaps you’re feeling like that right now. Maybe you’re a new graduate still finding yourself, or you are in an area that’s cut off from all those big agencies in the city. If you are, make an effort to find these online communities. Send a message to a designer you admire. They’re human too, and most of them are willing to give their advice.

Do you already have a supportive community? Which online resources have you found useful for making connections with other creatives? Share your stories—you never know who they might help.