Why creative careers are built sideways, not upwards

The myth of the straight-line career path still dominates advice to young creatives. In reality, most creative journeys move laterally across disciplines, industries, and unexpected opportunities.

I’ve been thinking a lot about career paths this week while preparing a workshop for the National Saturday Club this weekend, where I’ll be introducing young people to the different roles that exist inside a magazine. When you start explaining how publications actually work – editors, stylists, photographers, writers, designers, producers – it quickly becomes clear that most of these jobs don’t follow a simple trajectory.

That’s partly because creative careers rarely do. The version of success we’re often taught still looks reassuringly linear. You start at the bottom, work your way up, and eventually arrive at the top of your chosen field. It’s a structure borrowed from more traditional industries where promotions are tied to clear hierarchies and job titles.

But creative work tends to unfold differently. Careers often move sideways, not just upwards, expanding across disciplines, collaborators, and opportunities that weren’t part of the original plan.