As a UX Researcher at Picsart, my world revolves around understanding our users and shaping our products to meet their needs. But my journey with the platform is also deeply personal. Joining the team came at a time when I was grappling with my mental health, and truthfully, the people around me became my sanctuary, even more than the product itself. Today, I am not only a part of this incredible team but have grown to adore the product that has played a pivotal role in my healing.
Rediscovering My Passion
My background in Industrial Design initially fueled my passion for creating tangible products. However, as my career evolved towards the digital realm, I felt a part of my creative spirit dimming. It wasn’t until Picsart launched Spaces last year that I felt the spark come alive again. I dove headfirst into our AI tools, creating and sharing designs from chairs to shoes. I was searching for others who shared my enthusiasm for these digital creations, but it was a challenge until I had the opportunity to manage my own Space, AI Product Design. Despite initial doubts from my team, this venture turned out to be the hit of the summer, rekindling my passion and giving me a sense of belonging.
Creativity as My Mental Health Ally
The moment I took ownership of my Space, I felt a profound shift. There’s something incredibly therapeutic about having something of your own to nurture and grow. This was a new domain where I had complete control, and it became an essential outlet for me. Beyond the administrative aspects, the most uplifting part has been witnessing the growth of our members, which is now at over 21,000 by the way! When they share their progress and express their gratitude, it fills a void in my heart that I hadn’t realized existed.
My daily life has transformed significantly since becoming deeply involved in my creative Space. My interaction with social media has shifted from passive scrolling to actively managing an Instagram account that highlights the best of our community’s work. This purposeful engagement has made my online time more meaningful and fulfilling.
Mental health is a continuous journey, and for someone like me, it’s a swinging pendulum. But having a constant in my life, like my Space, provides a grounding effect. The designs and interactions within our community often bring unexpected joy into my days, illuminating moments with smiles and laughter that are truly priceless.
Integrating Creativity with Family Life
My creativity has woven into my family life beautifully. My three-year-old daughter and I share this creative venture. She has her own account, @minicreatorriley, and is an eager participant, often dictating the creative prompts and choosing what we post together. This shared activity has not only strengthened our bond but has also sparked her own creative skills.
Through picsart and our time creating together we have discovered Riley has her own style and topics she likes to create around. Her favorite Space is Darkart and Surreal art, and she likes to create spooky things! I love this because I get to see Riley discovering her own interests, which are different to mine. The admin there even invited her to come up with two challenges in that Space.
I’ve also generated images with my 5 year old nephew, and given prints of images I’ve generated to my wife and dad as gifts.
Never in a million years would I have considered myself an artist, but I love to expose others to generative AI to pass on what I’ve discovered. Whether it’s making art with family members or giving it as gifts. It’s personal, and it’s a moment that brings you closer.
This journey has been one of immense personal growth. I’ve learned that creativity isn’t just about producing something; it’s about finding the right channels to express your ideas. I used to struggle with sketching, which held me back in my design career. Now, with AI, I can create using words—a medium that suits me far better.
Advice for Fellow Parents
To other working parents who doubt their creativity, I want to say: you are creative. You might just need to discover the right medium to express it. Explore, experiment, and engage with like minded communities. I can say that within Picsart Spaces, it’s a rich environment where inspiration flows and support is abundant.
As for the future, I plan to continue growing my Space. While I am exploring possibilities for turning this passion into a potential side hustle, what truly matters to me is the joy and fulfillment it brings. The connections and the creativity fuel my days, and honestly, they mean more to me than any monetary gain could.
This is not just a story about rediscovering creativity; it’s a testament to how creativity can be life changing—transforming not just one’s own life but also enriching the lives of those around them.
If you’re interested in joining Picsart Spaces, find yours or create your own here.
Empowering the Creator in Everyone
Picsart is the world’s largest digital creation platform. Its AI-powered tools give creators of all levels the ability to design, edit, draw and share photo and video content anywhere. It’s used by consumers, marketers and content creators for both personal and professional design, and is available to businesses via API partnerships and integrations. Picsart has collaborated with major artists and brands like Discord, PopSockets, Shopify, Taylor Swift and more. Download the app or visit picsart.com.
