We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Ivey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Keeping my creativity vibrant is more than a job for me as a user experience web designer. It’s a way of life. I nurture every facet of my creative self to fuel my work. Here’s how I keep that creative flame alive:
360° Creativity Nourishment: My secret sauce for creativity revolves around exploring the world beyond my screen and often letting my inner child guide my path. It involves learning new skills, experimenting with various art forms, savoring unique foods, sometimes seeking solitude, and other times making an effort to connect with new people.
The Intuition Connection: Creativity and intuition are intertwined for me. Often, solutions and ideas emerge seemingly out of thin air. It’s a magical feeling. I’ve come to understand that my intuition is the result of years of experience and constant learning. Trusting my instincts has often led to the most innovative design solutions.
Rest and Relaxation: When a creative roadblock appears, I know it’s time to recharge, and I never hesitate to indulge in a nap, embark on Netflix adventures, or activate the “do not disturb” option on my phone. Taking a break whenever I feel drained is honestly one of the most critical elements in staying creatively fueled. My creative flows often demand intense focus when I’m bringing ideas to life. Rest is sacred, and I’ve relearned that it’s perfectly okay to pause.
Mentorship: And then there’s mentoring. Whenever my creativity starts to dwindle, I find that helping others with their design and strategy issues really helps to fill my cup, which often leads to reignited creativity. It’s like sharing a piece of my creative spark and getting a burst of inspiration in return.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’ve been a professional web designer for six years! But in 2022, I made a bold move and pivoted my business to cater primarily to spiritual entrepreneurs, including coaches, product makers, service providers, and educators. The name of my boutique design agency is Stardust & Pixel, and I’m absolutely thrilled about the relaunch of this new business model! Connecting with like-minded business owners and using my skills to help them grow is what truly lights me up. Our motto at Stardust & Pixel is simple but powerful: “Rise and Help Rise.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I’ll keep this short and to the point.
1. You can’t help everyone.
2. Stay open minded /non-judgemental and treat everything and everyone individually.
3. Stay curious.
4. Never. Give. Up.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Our ideal client embodies the essence of collaboration. We are drawn to clients who share a growth mindset. We thrive when working with individuals or businesses that value meaningful partnerships founded on trust, mutual respect, and shared success. We especially enjoy working with clients who not only love and trust our creative process but also encourage it. Our ultimate goal is to elevate ourselves to better serve and, in turn, elevate our clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stardustandpixel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahofstardustandpixel/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-ivey/
