Barney Abramson

Barney Abramson Creative consulting Barney Abramson is an award-winning designer with over 20 years of experience working with in-house creative teams.

Through his mentoring efforts, Barney aims to inspire the next generation of designers.

05/10/2026

Breath, reset, and create.

Kansas City showed up. 🙌🏾💛A room full of creative professionals willing to pause, reflect, and have honest conversations...
04/27/2026

Kansas City showed up. 🙌🏾💛

A room full of creative professionals willing to pause, reflect, and have honest conversations about burnout, boundaries, and what it actually takes to sustain a creative career.

The dialogue continued long after the session ended.

That always means the most to us.

Thank you for creating a space where this work could happen.

And thank you to every person who brought their full self into the room on a Saturday morning.

This is why we built đź’›

Kansas City Design Week is here!A full week of events, conversations, and connection across the creative community.If yo...
04/23/2026

Kansas City Design Week is here!

A full week of events, conversations, and connection across the creative community.

If you’re planning to attend, we’re hosting a Thriving Creatively workshop this Saturday April 25th.

We’ll be talking about burnout, boundaries, and how to actually sustain a creative career without running yourself into the ground.

There are still a few seats left.

Tickets: https://www.kcdesignweek.org/events/thriving-creatively-workshop

If that sounds like something you need right now, come through.

04/14/2026

is almost here.

We’re bringing Thriving Creatively to KC.

This isn’t a typical workshop.

We’ll be talking about how to recognize burnout before it hits, how to set boundaries in creative environments, and how to sustain your creativity long term.

Real conversations.
Practical tools you can actually use.

April 25 | 8:30–10:30am
Center for Architecture & Design

If you’re in Kansas City, come through.

creativecommunity

04/08/2026

Kansas City Design Week is almost here.

A full week of creativity, connection, and real conversations with people who care deeply about this work.

We’re bringing Thriving Creatively to KC.

We’ll be there April 25 | 8:30–10:30am
Center for Architecture & Design

If you’re in Kansas City, come through.

This is why we do this work. After our session with AIGA NY, Stacey shared this:“Attendees left with a valuable toolbox ...
03/24/2026

This is why we do this work.

After our session with AIGA NY, Stacey shared this:

“Attendees left with a valuable toolbox to take care of themselves mentally… 10/10 working with Thriving Creatively.”

That’s the goal every time.

Not just inspiration.
Not just a good talk.
Real tools designers can actually use when the pressure hits.

We’re bringing this same conversation to AIGA Chicago this week.

If you’ve been feeling stretched, stuck, or just trying to keep up with everything this industry demands… this is for you.

Come join us in Chicago.

🗓️ March 28
⏱️ 10am
đź“Ť Marwen
🎟️ https://buff.ly/tUjuOxn

Applying to jobs isn’t working like it used to.You can send out 50 applications.Tailor your resume.Write thoughtful cove...
03/19/2026

Applying to jobs isn’t working like it used to.

You can send out 50 applications.
Tailor your resume.
Write thoughtful cover letters.

…and still hear nothing back.

I’ve been hearing this a lot lately from creatives.

And it’s not because they’re not talented.
It’s because the game has changed.

Hiring isn’t just about qualifications anymore.

It’s about visibility.
Clarity.
Trust.

If people can’t quickly:
đź‘€ see what you do
🧠 understand your value
đźšš believe you can deliver

…you get passed over.

Not because you’re not good.
Because you’re not obvious.

That’s the shift.

And it’s why I’ve been helping creatives focus on a different approach:
Be Seen → people notice you
Be Clear → people understand you
Be Trusted → people believe you
Be Chosen → people reach out

Because in this market, being qualified isn’t enough.

You have to be undeniable.

I’m opening a few mentoring spots to help creatives navigate this.
If you’ve been feeling stuck in the job search, comment UNDENIABLE or send me a DM.

The biggest mistake in a creative job search is relying only on applications.Here’s what most designers do when they nee...
03/17/2026

The biggest mistake in a creative job search is relying only on applications.

Here’s what most designers do when they need a new job:

Open job board.
Search for roles.
Apply.
Apply again.
Maybe tweak the resume.
Wait.

Days pass.
Weeks pass.
Nothing happens.

So they start wondering:

“Is my portfolio bad?”
“Am I too old for this industry?”
“Is AI replacing us?”

But here’s the uncomfortable truth.

Many creative roles are already being discussed before they’re posted.

A hiring manager asks their network.
An agency partner makes an introduction.
Someone says, “I know a great designer.”

That’s the hidden job market. ‼️

In fact, some studies suggest only about 12% of hires come directly from job board applications.

Yet most creatives spend 90% of their job search there.

Over the years I’ve mentored hundreds of creatives through these moments in their careers, from feeling invisible in the job search to building real momentum again.

If you’re navigating your next chapter, I’m opening a few 1:1 mentoring spots to help creatives think more strategically about positioning and networking.

Sometimes one conversation can change everything.

I read an interesting article today about self-doubt and leadership.The takeaway surprised me. The best leaders don’t e...
03/13/2026

I read an interesting article today about self-doubt and leadership.
The takeaway surprised me.

The best leaders don’t eliminate self-doubt.
They learn how to work with it. 🤔

A little doubt forces you to question assumptions, listen more closely, and grow.

But too much doubt?
That’s where people get stuck.
And I see this a lot with creative professionals.

Talented designers who start questioning everything:

• “Am I too old for this industry?”
• “Is AI going to replace me?”
• “Do I even want to do this anymore?”
• “Everyone on LinkedIn looks like they’re crushing it except me.”
• “Why does the industry move faster every year?”
• “Sometimes I wonder if I just got lucky getting this far.”
• “I keep second-guessing every decision I make.”

Self-doubt isn’t the enemy.
Being stuck in it alone is.

Over the years I’ve mentored hundreds of creatives through these exact moments in their careers, from feeling stuck, burnt out, and unsure of what’s next to feeling clear, confident, and moving again.

If you’re wrestling with that right now, I’m opening a few 1:1 mentoring spots to help creatives find clarity on their next chapter.

Sometimes one conversation can unlock a lot.

For a lot of us, creativity isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are. 🧑🏾‍🎨 💛 But alongside the joy of creating comes press...
03/10/2026

For a lot of us, creativity isn’t just what we do.
It’s who we are. 🧑🏾‍🎨 💛

But alongside the joy of creating comes pressure, overthinking, and the kind of burnout nobody warns you about early enough.

That’s why I’m excited to bring thrivingcreatively_ to Chicago with aigachicago for a conversation about resilience, mental health, and building a creative career that can actually last.

If you’re in Chicago, come join us.

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Rochester, NY
146XX (14604=DOWNTOWN)

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