The Conscious Creative: Practical Ethics for Purposeful Work

The conscious creative practical ethics for purposeful work a book with a white background and black text the author is Kelly Small the image is a venn diagram comprised of a blue and orange circle with waves in the centre

An actionable guide to mindfulness and practical ethics for any creative professional who wants to make a living without selling their soul.

It can be difficult to live according to our values in a complicated world. At a time when capitalism seems most unforgiving but the need for paying work remains high, it is important to learn how we can be more mindful and intentional about our impact -- personal, social, economic, and environmental.

As designer and creative director Kelly Small had to do to navigate a crisis of ethics and burnout in their career in advertising, we can admit our complicity in problematic systems and take on the responsibility of letting our own conscience guide our decisions.

Start with one or many of these 100+ rigorously researched, ultra-practical action steps:

  • Co-create and collaborate

  • Get obsessed with accessibility

  • Demand diverse teams

  • Commit to self-care

  • Make ethics a competitive edge

  • Be mindful of privilege

  • Create for empowerment, not exploitation

With a humorous and irreverent tone, Small reveals how when we release unnecessary judgement and become action-oriented, we can clarify the complicated business of achieving an ethical practice in the creative industries. Discover the power of incremental, positive changes in our daily work-lives and the fulfillment of purposeful work.

What people are saying.

  • “What Kelly Small brings to the table is a healthy dose of both inspiration and practicality . . . Kelly Small’s personal story is an inspiration in itself, shared throughout the book with candour and courage. If you’re a creative searching for cleaner, healthier, and socially just ways to practice, you’ll not find a better place to start looking. And the timing couldn’t be better.” List Item

    — APPLIED ARTS

  • “A vast toolbox of fantastic ideas that I will use in my work and share with others. I know that The Conscious Creative will change how I create.”

    — BIF NAKED, recording artist, activist, and author of I, BificusDescription goes here

  • “The Conscious Creative should be required reading for anyone working today. This is the content and world I’m here for.”

    — DAVE BROWN, Design Director, Square

  • “Kelly Small offers hope to creatives who want to craft a sustainable, inclusive, and just practice within the capitalist framework of commercial design. If you are searching for a moral compass, this little book of big actions may be just the tool you are looking for.”

    — ELLEN LUPTON, designer, curator, and author of Design Is Storytelling

  • “A playbook for creative thinkers who want to act professionally and ethically, because it shouldn’t be an either-or choice.”

    —FARIS YAKOB, founder of Genius Steals and author of Paid Attention

  • “A must-read for all creatives or anyone interested in the #marketingwithpurpose movement.”

    — GEOFFREY COLON, Head of Brand Studio, Microsoft Advertising

  • “Thoughtful, practical, and irreverent, Kelly Small provides a blueprint for creatives to approach their work ethically and an irrefutable case for fusing one’s personal values and professional endeavours. A must-have for emerging and student designers, artists, and makers.”

    — DR. GILLIAN SIDDALL, president and vice-chancellor, Emily Carr University of Art + Design

  • “Working in the diversity space for ten years, I am thrilled to see a true playbook for belonging be available to all. Practical, ethical, and actionable steps are exactly what is needed for this moment in history.”

    — KATHERINE M. GORDON, founder of the 3% Movement, Advertising Age’s Visionary of the Year, and author of The Future Belongs to Belonging: How Inclusive Cultures Unlock World-Changing Creativity

  • “This vital book makes a clear and compelling argument about why creatives need to make a non-negotiable commitment to ethics, and it’s filled with numerous accessible strategies for how to put those ethics into action.”

    — KAT VELLOS, designer, facilitator, and author of We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships

  • “Funny, engaging, and smart, this book is such an important read, certainly for creatives but also those who are curious about how to be more mindful in their personal and social impacts.”

    — LAUREN ASH, comedian, advocate, and actress

  • “Reading The Conscious Creative is like waking up to one of those alarms that starts off with a gentle nudge but gets louder and louder until it can no longer be ignored. It is the well-researched, persuasively written call-to-action we needed, appearing at the exact time we needed it.”

    — LISA BASKETT, Experience Design Strategy Director and creator of Far from the Valley, a podcast about equity, ethics, and inclusion in tech

  • “As a filmmaker, I set an intention in every story. But working creatively with integrity and morality can sometimes feel impossible within a capitalistic, deadline-driven industry. This guide from ethical unicorn Kelly Small reminds me that principled conception leads to more meaningful creation.”

    — LUCIUS DECHAUSAY, filmmaker and producer

  • “I was blown away by Kelly Small’s take on how we all can create more purposeful marketing work by being aware of ourselves and our work.”

    — MICHAEL ABATA, Cultural & Consumer Senior Futurist, Target

  • "If you want to have good intentions not just in theory but in practice, this book is the clear-eyed guide you need. Here's how to do work that's ethical and purposeful, no matter what capitalism throws at you."

    — MICHAEL BUNGAY STANIER, author of The Coaching Habit

  • “Kelly Small approaches practical ethics from personal, economic, social, and environmental perspectives, which is how creatives can begin to align their work with their purpose. The Conscious Creative provides actionable steps for those of who work to better humanity and the world.”

    — REGINÉ GILBERT, author of Inclusive Design for a Digital World: Designing with Accessibility in Mind