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Artifact Episode 3373: "The Struggle of Design and Finding Balance"
March 29, 2025 | 10:24 p.m.
Lately, I've been wrestling with my graphic design work. It feels like something’s off, and no matter how much effort I put in, the results just aren’t matching up to what I envision. Maybe you know the feeling—when you pour your heart into something, but it doesn’t quite land the way you hoped.
I guess it’s time to reflect on why that’s happening. But first, let me give you a little background: I’m a content creator, and my niche is graphic design. I create designs using Photoshop and photography, posting them daily on platforms like YouTube and Instagram. At the moment, I’m sitting at about 1,400 subscribers—not huge, but I keep showing up. The designs I create aren’t just for show; I aim to infuse meaning into each one. But lately, that’s felt more challenging than ever.
The Design Dilemma
Yesterday’s design, for instance, just didn’t feel right. I tried something a bit experimental: a large hand, like a puppet master’s, pulling strings attached to a person. The concept was simple—a visual metaphor for how many people feel stuck in a 9-to-5 routine, controlled by a system or someone else. The puppet represents the idea of being bound by external forces, unable to break free. When you look at the image, the meaning’s there, but the execution? Not so much.
The idea behind the design was to represent the weekly routine—Monday to Friday, the puppet’s stuck; Saturday and Sunday, it breaks free, feeling energized and alive, like a lion roaring in the jungle. But when I looked at the final product, something didn’t sit right. It just didn’t look good visually.
Why It Fell Short
I realized that the scale in the design was off. I had too much space dedicated to the scale and the arm connecting to the pulley, which crowded the image. It needed more balance. Also, the concept of the puppet transforming into a lion didn’t come across the way I imagined it in my head. The design was rushed—thanks to a time crunch—and it showed. That’s when I realized: the problem wasn’t just about the visuals; it was the whole creative process under pressure.
The Pressure of Time
Here’s the thing: I’ve committed myself to uploading two designs a day. And that means rushing through the creative process. Each day, I start by figuring out which design to create, take photos, and then sit down at my desk by 11 a.m. to get to work. Ideally, I want to have the design finished before lunch. I give myself about two hours to create, but sometimes that’s just not enough time to get all the details right. Missing details—like shadows or floor textures—add up, and the overall design loses that "wow" factor.
Yesterday, I felt like I had to finish something quickly, so I rushed through it. That pressure made me cut corners. And when the final product didn’t meet my expectations, I was frustrated. I know I need to give myself more time to improve my designs, but when the clock is ticking, it’s tough to slow down.
A Day of Reflection
Today was different. I didn’t work on any designs because I had to take a step back. I spent most of the day with my mom at a religious place called Amrula. It was a good break, but by the time I came home, I was still feeling the weight of yesterday’s rushed design.
Instead of forcing myself to create, I decided to write instead. But not just any writing—I’ve been working on turning my Artifact episodes into a book. Yes, I know, I’ve been uploading these episodes on YouTube and sharing my thoughts with the world, but I realized I can turn them into something bigger. The cool part? YouTube’s automatic transcription system is amazing. It turns my speech into text, and the AI even captures the nuances of different languages. Then, I copy the transcript, use ChatGPT to tidy it up, and voilà—a full book format. After some editing, I’ve got nearly 200 pages of Artifact episodes ready for publication.
This project wasn’t just about sharing my thoughts; it’s become part of my personal growth. In 2025, I decided to make a habit of reading more, so instead of reading other books, I’m reading my own Artifact episodes. It’s funny how something I started as a way to talk about my life is turning into something that helps me grow and even earn a bit on the side. I’m now listing my books on Amazon, and who knows? Some readers might even connect with what I’ve shared.
The Takeaway
At the end of the day, it’s all about balance. The rush to create and meet deadlines is one thing, but it’s important to give myself room to breathe, reflect, and come back to the drawing board. I’ve learned that forcing creativity doesn’t work. And even when things don’t turn out perfectly, there’s always a lesson to be learned.
So, moving forward, I’m going to focus more on the process and less on the pressure to produce. Creativity isn’t just about the finished product—it’s about the journey.