Backwards
TapTapKaboom discusses his creative journey, including transitioning from product design to teaching and creating art, and now back to client work. He emphasises the importance of aligning with one’s purpose.
Hey! When I tell the story of my creative journey, I explain how I gradually ditched being a product designer. I tell of how I stopped the UI/UX work so I could teach more. And then of how I became an author. Then how I stopped teaching and became an artist. But now I’m doing client work—again. And teaching—again. It may look like I’ve gone backwards. But I’m excited about doing client work, teaching and creating together.
Creative journeys aren’t linear. They’re creative. They’re squiggly. If you cross the same line again, or walk a segment of the path again, that’s totally cool. You’re a different person when you do.
I’m different this time round. I’ve come to realise that I thrive when I help people dream and take their next steps on their creative journeys. That’s why I teach, create, and do client work.
So, even though I’ve gone “backwards” and am walking a path I’ve walked before, I’m walking to a different rhythm—maybe even wearing different shoes. This time, I’m doing it while being aligned with my purpose.
I used to do UI/UX work for big companies. Which I only really did to add to my resume to get more work. And because they paid a lot. I didn’t believe in what they did. It sucked me dry. I lost my love for UI, UX, and for “helping people” with my skills. I did a lot of awesome stuff for banks and deodorant brands.
When I lost connection with real people it took its toll. When I took on work for the wrong reason it hurt me. In hindsight, this was perhaps a bit of burnout.
I used to tell people I quit product design work because it never actually helped anyone. Sometimes what I designed never even got developed. But it wasn’t what I was doing that was the problem. It was who I was working for—and why.
Even with art, the reason I do it changes what I create. At the end of last year I saw making art as my primary income. Which can be dangerous if you need to make art to pay the bills and put food on the table. So, I transitioned to seeing art as a part-time thing. I wrote about it on my website. Creating art, without the pressure of making money, allows for more creative freedom. Which I’m currently experiencing.
We change. And so does the world around us. We can’t expect ourselves to do the same thing over and over again. We’ll explode.
What parts of your own journey have you walked more than once?
So, what have I been working on?
The TapTapKaboom library. This is integral to my upcoming LIMINA NFT collection, which I have a grant to complete.
To celebrate Halloween, and the “death of NFTS”, I created 4 mixed-media pieces that explore death, dreams, and doodles. These pieces can be minted for around $20 until Nov 2. You’ll need to connect your crypto wallet to mint.
A Smol Joes collab piece, and an Absurditive collab piece. Both pieces and the ones above are part of an evolution of my style. It’s a mix of my intuitive doodle style and my intentional doodle style. And I’m loving it.
A friend made a location and VR based art platform. It’s called Locatia. You can mint one of my pieces and see it in VR, and then move it to anywhere in the world on a map. Each one costs about $5. Check it out. You’ll need to connect your crypto wallet to mint. This one has no cut-off date.
I’ve set up a teeny online store. I’m still working out shipping. Making physical art and sending it to people is fun. I’ll be adding more products and things here over time.
I wrote about taking small steps. And about being a part-time artist.
I’d love you to read, buy, share, and ask questions!
Keep on creating and walking your creative journey.
❤️ Big loves
Rich from TapTapKaboom