Reflecting on 2024: Highs, Lows, and Lessons Learned

As I reflect on 2024, I’m taking some time to reflect on the highs, lows, and lessons that shaped my year. It's been a journey of growth, resilience, and learning, and I’m excited to share it with you.

My word for 2024 was GROWTH. I went into the year with big plans—hoping to grow my business, maybe even hire someone, and definitely expand my income streams. But what I didn’t realize was that growth would show up in entirely different ways.

2024 turned out to be a year of personal and professional growth in unexpected areas. I stepped into the role of an educator, put myself out there, and tried new things. There were moments of discouragement, especially during a slow year for freelance work, but that slower pace gave me the space to explore, learn, and plant seeds for dreams I’ve always had—like teaching and sharing my journey with other artists.

In the end, growth did happen, even if it wasn’t the kind you can immediately see. I’m excited to nurture those seeds and can’t wait to see the garden they’ll bloom into in the years to come.

The Highs

Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities and milestones I’ve experienced this year:

• Workshops, Speaking & Coaching

  This year, I had the privilege of teaching four workshops—three corporate and one free—which deepened my passion for teaching and connecting with fellow creatives. In addition, I offered free one-on-one coaching calls to four women, and it was incredibly rewarding to share my insights and support their journeys. A particularly special highlight was speaking to my alma mater, KUCD (Kutztown University Communication Design), an experience that felt like a full-circle moment in my journey as a designer. I also was a guest host on 5 podcasts, something I’ve never done before but had a great time sharing my expertise all while meeting some amazingly talented women.

• Networking & Growth

  I attended ICON in Minneapolis Minnesota, an incredible illustration conference that left me buzzing with inspiration, new ideas and new friends! One of the highlights was finally meeting my client, Made For Retail, in person after working with them for two years and providing corporate workshops to their team—it was such a rewarding experience to connect face-to-face.

  I also joined a mastermind group and went on a retreat, where I spent time with an amazing group of like-minded businesswomen who I’m now lucky to call my friends. We’ve stayed connected ever since, and having that supportive community in my corner as we head into 2025 has been such a gift!

• Expanding Opportunities

  At the end of the year I was accepted to Greenvelope, a digital stationery platform. As part of growing my income streams, I am excited to explore this collaboration more as a rewarding new avenue for showcasing my art.

• Building for the Future

  I started working on my 8-week program, Mood Board to Market, and I’m so excited about it! I know it’s going to inspire and empower surface designers in so many ways. On top of that, I’ve been blogging and posting on LinkedIn every week—it’s been such a great way to connect with my audience and share what I’ve learned along the way.

• Optimizing Systems & Rebranding

  Behind the scenes, I made some big changes to make my business run smoother and give myself more space for creativity. I switched my email platform from Mailchimp to Flodesk (and I’m loving it!), started using Honeybook to simplify my proposals and contracts, and got organized with Asana to track hours, milestones, and timelines. On top of all that, I gave my brand a fresh new look and redesigned my website to reflect my focus as a Surface & Product Designer—it feels so good to step into this new chapter!

The Lows

Of course, no year is without its challenges. These lows pushed me to grow and re-evaluate my priorities:

• Professional Breakup

  Parting ways with my licensing agent was a tough decision, but ultimately, it was the right one to better align with my goals. When I first signed on, I was so excited—I thought having an agent would be the key to building a successful career in surface design. I was thrilled at the idea of having someone in my corner to advocate for me and help me land my dream clients. But as time went on, it became clear that it wasn’t the right fit and didn’t meet my expectations. While it didn’t work out as I had hoped, it was an important learning experience that’s helped me better understand what I need in a partnership moving forward.

  
  

• Financial Setbacks

  This year, I earned less than I did last year, which really pushed me to rethink how I approach my business and income streams moving forward. In 2023, I hit my first multi-six-figure year, and I was so excited to build on that in 2024. But things didn’t go as planned. Even so, I still see this year as a success in so many ways.

  That setback definitely made me question a lot of my decisions, and I’ll admit, I fell into the comparison trap for a bit. But it also reminded me of what really matters—creating art and helping others do the same. That’s where my heart is, and I know everything else will follow.

• Artistic Gaps

  This year, I didn’t create as much art as I’d hoped. I had planned to spend more time painting with my gouache and working on pieces for licensing, since the more you create, the more opportunities there are to sell. But in the second half of the year, I decided to focus on sharing my expertise with other artists, and it’s been such a rewarding experience. No matter what, creating more art will always be at the top of my to-do list, because I absolutely love it!
  
  

• Unfinished Plans

  Although I didn’t create the Skillshare class I had planned for this year, I still made sure to show up in a big way by teaching four live workshops. Each one was such a fulfilling experience, allowing me to connect with fellow artists and share my knowledge in real-time. It was incredibly rewarding to see participants engage, learn, and grow throughout each session. Even though my original plan shifted, I’m grateful for the opportunity to make an impact in a different way and to continue inspiring others in the surface and product design community!

2025 Ins & Outs

As I move into 2025, I’m setting new intentions to guide my year. Here’s what’s in and out for me:

In:

• More Authenticity

• Rediscovering what I love, even if it isn’t trendy

• Tactile Art

• Moving every day

Out:

• Coffee every day

• Comparison

• Toxic money mindset

• Gatekeeping

The Lessons

If this year has taught me anything, it’s to celebrate the wins, no matter how big or small, and to give myself grace when things don’t go as planned. Here are some of my biggest takeaways:

• Progress Over Perfection
  Not every goal was checked off my list this year, but the steps I’ve taken—especially in building my Moodboard to Market program and expanding my reach—are setting the stage for long-term success.

• Community is Everything
  The support I’ve found in mastermind groups, clients, and peers has been invaluable. Surrounding myself with people who understand and uplift me has been a game-changer.

• Keep Showing Up
  Even when things felt challenging, I kept moving forward—through teaching, speaking, and sharing my story. Consistency matters, and it’s what keeps the momentum going.

As I look ahead to 2025, I’m inspired to lean into what worked, learn from what didn’t, and continue to show up for myself, my business, and the creative community.

How was your 2024? I’d love to hear about your highs, lows, and lessons. Let’s keep inspiring and supporting each other as we move into a new year!