How do you build a creative career when the industry wasn’t made for you?
Chapters
“The industry wasn’t built for me.” That’s how designer Meghan Murgatroyd felt starting out. Neurodivergent, low-income, a mature student and parent of two, she didn’t see her story reflected in the career advice she found. But instead of giving up, she carved out a path that worked for her – embracing difference as a strength. Here, Meghan shares the mindset shift that changed everything, and why traditional advice doesn’t always fit every creative journey.
It might seem strange to offer advice about an “ah-ha” moment that shaped my creative career when I’m only just starting out. I’m a recent Graphic Communication and Creative Computing grad exploring internships and junior roles, but still a long way from creative director status or my first D&AD Pencil. But, like many people scouring the internet for career advice and success stories, I had to navigate a labyrinth of setbacks before I even decided to try.
Why I didn’t think I belonged in the industry
I come from a low-income household. I have the kind of busy brain that fits under several ‘neurodivergent’ labels. I’m a mature student with two kids who left school after GCSEs with nothing but a Diet Coke and a dream. For most of my adult life, those parts of me felt like barriers – especially in the creative industry. The shame of having a brain that can dream up six and a half fully fleshed campaigns before breakfast – but turns into scrambled eggs at the sound of a phone call – held me back for a decade.
The career advice that made things harder
I kept hearing that I needed to “niche down” and to pick one visual style or specialism. But that made me feel even more out of place.
My curiosity made me feel flaky. My sensory issues made me feel like I couldn’t work in a busy city. My energetic communication style made me worry I’d never get through a job interview. I genuinely couldn’t see how I would fit.
“Traditional career advice often doesn’t fit neurodivergent, busy-brained, late-blooming, low-income creatives.”
Turning 'weaknesses' into strengths
Everything started to change when I stopped seeing these neurodivergent traits as weaknesses, and started treating them as my creative strengths.
The first piece of advice that really flipped the script for me came during a portfolio review (shout out to Creative Lives in Progress!). I was busy apologising for the range in my work, explaining that I couldn’t pick a single focus. I loved experimenting, and didn’t want to stop drooling over type in order to up my lino carving game, or drop my creative coding experiments for the sake of fine-tuning my After Effects speedgraph.
The reviewer, a brilliant creative woman, looked at my work and said: “Why would you need to pick? You’re like a whole creative team.” That moment changed everything. And just like that, my brain exploded.
Why standard career advice doesn’t work for everyone
That one comment helped me reframe all the things I thought were “wrong” with me.
It sits at the heart of something I think a lot of neurodivergent, busy-brained, late-blooming, low-income creatives struggle with: traditional career advice doesn’t always fit.
For me, the “pick a lane” approach wasn’t just unhelpful – it was paralysing. But this woman’s experience helped her see my differences as assets. That’s why representation – and hearing from people who understand your experience – matters so much.
How to build a career around your differences
There is space for the parts of you that feel like they don’t belong. In fact, I gave myself the challenge: list every trait I thought was holding me back and figure out how to build a career around them. Instead of trying to hide the traits that made me different, I started using them to shape my creative path.
Here’s what I learned:
- Struggle to stick to one discipline?
Look for roles or studios that value versatility. Lean into roles that suit a creative director mindset, like branding, multidisciplinary teams or art direction. - Have a weirdly specific hobby?
Build a personal passion project around it. (Hyper-focusing on early Medieval depictions of animals? Go for it!) - Struggle with sensory overload?
Ask employers about adaptations – they exist, and good ones will make them. - Find cities overwhelming?
Ask employers about remote or hybrid options. Prioritise places that respect access needs. - Keep making strange little side projects?
Keep going. Use Google as an example - they give employees time for personal creative work because it boosts innovation. - Can’t afford to move to London or take unpaid roles?
Be honest and say so. Great creative agencies exist far beyond Zone 1 and it’s okay to be selective. Even if it feels like everyone else already landed a cool internship while couch-surfing at Banksy’s house, your timeline is valid.
“The world needs people who think differently, and your differences might just be your biggest creative asset.”
Final advice for anyone feeling like an outsider
Of course, it’s not as easy as slapping on a badge that says “I’m quirky!” and waiting for the creative industry to roll out a red carpet. You still need to show up with passion and shout about your work with your whole chest. But that only becomes possible when you start embracing your whole self.
The world needs people who think differently. And your differences might just be your biggest creative asset.