When I began my seven-week solo passion project, my main goal was clear: to take a seemingly mundane or surface-level subject and dig deep to uncover its hidden complexities.

While I put in the effort, the journey was far from smooth. Plenty went wrong, and I likely underestimated more challenges than I anticipated. I’m writing this blog post to share insights from my creative journey and reflect on how I can tackle future projects more effectively. Let’s get into it.

What Worked

• The topic

First off, thank goodness. Second, I would’ve never guessed that the online world of matchbooks ran so deep, granted, you must commit to the search. The many layers of the subject revealed themselves as my research progressed, and that’s how I was able to categorize my subtopics: history, design, nostalgia, and resurgence.

• The organization strategies

My greatest takeaways from this project didn’t just come from the research, but also from the systems I put in place to keep myself on track. These included a Trello project plan, content calendar, and social media platform mockups, all of which helped me to envision a more complete idea of my creative process.

• The brand

Early on, I established a clear vision for my content. I used the brand kit I created on Canva to define a color palette, fonts, and a template to guide my designs. This ensured cohesion throughout my campaign.

Where I Struggled

• The creative blocks

While the sources weren’t usually difficult to find, combining them to create thoughtful posts proved to be challenging at times. Some articles contradicted others, and this made it hard to move forward without having to do recon on authors and sources. My creativity couldn’t flow as freely during these times.

• The uncontrollables

Even when I had all my ducks in a row, there were uncontrollable factors that hindered my progress. Instagram, in particular, posed challenges with its glitches, forcing me to exercise lots of patience when issues arose that I couldn’t immediately do anything about.  

• My expectations

Going into this project, I aimed to be perfectly punctual with my week-to-week tasks. However, there were times when not even my project plan and a double shot latte could keep me focused. I learned it’s okay to adjust your expectations when they become unreasonable while still holding yourself to a high standard.

Going Forward

I had no idea how many lessons could be squeezed out of such a short time frame. The intensity of this project felt much like a pressure cooker, forcing wisdom to emerge from the experience. 

Among the lessons I’ll carry forward is the importance of personal and work-related organization. For me, I can’t have one without the other. My most successful creations emerged when I could fully focus on my creativity, free from the distractions of clutter. Planning included anything from scheduling my daily routine to establishing a cohesive brand image before jumping into design.

Another lesson is to accept that my expectations won’t always unfold as planned, and to embrace the changes that come. When my assumptions are too rigid, it’s harder to adapt when uncontrollable factors arise. Instead of getting caught up in trying to fix everything, I’ve learned to welcome these disruptions and let them guide my creative journey.

I plan to apply these two key takeaways to future projects, allowing myself to be fully present in my work. 

The Final Products

My social media campaign concludes with twelve carefully crafted posts, many new followers and connections, and an unforgettable experience. You can explore the Moment in Matchbook Instagram and Pinterest pages below. I encourage you to look around and immerse yourself in the multifaceted world of matchbooks, and if you like what you see, don’t forget to follow! 

For now, I’ll continue educating myself on this topic and monitoring my content’s performance. Thank you for being part of this journey – this is just the beginning of what’s to come in my content creation endeavors.