Professional Ethics: Don’t Stop Learning

Most of the time, when we think of the act of continuous learning, we see it through the lens of personal development and growth. Still, there is the side that we sometimes don’t readily consider: how creatives are more or less obliged to keep refining their craft and improving themselves in order to provide their clients with the best possible. Sure enough, newbies who have to fight and struggle for attention from prospective clients are often on the right side of this principle because their improvement is tied to a higher chance of getting good gigs. However, more advanced creatives who have made a name and reputation in their field of choice are more likely to err in this respect. And it makes sense that they would, having spent years building a brand and name, and the required trust and credibility that has clients coming back repeatedly. It is easy to get comfortable and think that you have hit a peak. But as we can see, especially in an age where new technologies emerge ever so often, that can be a costly frame of mind.

Before we get into the ways you can stay learning as a creative, let’s take a quick look at why, outside the evident personal benefits, your ability to keep learning and improving is something you owe your clients, existing and prospective. When a client enlists your services on a project, they are not only paying for the specific deliverable, but every other thing that contributes to the delivery of their desired result. This includes: your skills, judgment, technical know-how, and knowledge of the context in which that project functions. If you fall behind in any way, you are pretty much shortchanging the client even if your work can still be considered good.

As you grow on your creative journey, don’t forget to stay on the cutting edge. It helps you stay relevant, and in many ways it gives you good leverage—you have the wealth of experience behind you while staying abreast of current realities and technologies.

Staying in a position to continuously learn and improve doesn’t have to mean formal training with certifications and structured programs, even though those are great. There are other avenues to stay learning:

Take time to understand the cultural context that your creative work operates in, as well as the audience you often create for. Audiences change, and people shape culture; it would be a downer to keep creating as if the audience and culture from 10 or 5 years ago are still relevant today.

Business literacy. Aside from being an excellent creative, there are other elements that shape and affect your creative practice. Take time to routinely understand what has changed in your industry; what are clients expecting now, what slowly became the industry norm when you were not looking, and are there new pricing or compensation models in use? These help you stay sustainable as a creative business.

While it can be tricky and nearly impossible to pick up on every new tech in your industry and master it, it would be helpful to be broadly aware of them. Stay updated on the tools, techniques, and technical standards that are setting the pace in your area of discipline.

Outside of your command of the tools and emerging tech, hone your craft. Tools and the latest software are great, but they only support your craft. Mindfully make time to deepen your grasp of your craft. Have side projects that help you refine your craft just a little more.

Considering how busy life and living as a creative can get, one of the best ways to stay learning is to see it less as an event (eg, a course to take or workshop to attend), and incorporate it more as a practice.

Make it a habit to learn something new about your discipline and areas of interest regularly. Add it to your work rhythm: 30 minutes to an hour spent learning something new. Be open to feedback from creatives more advanced than you. Observe the work and process of other creatives, especially those outside your geographical context; you can learn something new.