Trust your creative instincts

I know so many of you are deep in production mode or prepping for your last markets, so I wanted to share something simple and grounding from a recent conversation with designer Kimberly Doyle.

We chatted with the Stay Gold Collective about her journey, from the Gemgotchi going viral to building a strong audience around her 90s and gemstone-inspired designs, and the biggest theme that kept coming up was this: When you trust your own vision, you create work that connects.

Here are a few things that stuck with me:

• Create from what you love.Kimberly’s most successful pieces came from following her own nostalgia, not chasing trends. People can feel when something is genuine.

• Community grows when you let people in.Her scavenger hunts, fun drops, unique giveaways, and behind-the-scenes honesty make her audience feel like they’re part of the story.

• The creative path is never linear.She was very open about the doubts and pivots along the way. It was a reminder that uncertainty doesn’t mean you’re off track.

• Your business model can evolve.Shifting to a drop model gave her more freedom and aligned better with how she likes to work.

She wrapped up the interview with this advice:

“You're going to have tough days and good days. Just remember your goal… Keep going. Eventually, someone will see you. You have to believe in yourself, and it’ll happen.”

As we close out the year, I hope this lands wherever you need it. Keep trusting your creative instincts. Keep making in a way that feels like you.