Collaborative Creation - Shaping the Future of Work Together

In 2020, when the pandemic struck, I was employed at the Romanian Institute of Culture in Rome. While the job was enjoyable and allowed me to organize events featuring talented individuals from the arts and culture, I realized that the role wasn’t challenging me enough.

I began searching for mentors who could guide me in shaping a career path that would bring me joy and align more closely with my creative strengths. I was fortunate to find such mentors in Pat and Jurgen. They helped me identify my core strengths and develop a unique approach to supporting others in gaining confidence during lifelong career transitions.

One result of this journey was the creation of the Future Jobs Design Program, a method I piloted at PiSchool with the invaluable support of Isabel. It was an incredible experience to conduct the workshop in such an innovative environment!

I gained a lot from this experience. At the end of the workshops, participants shared that their greatest takeaway was the ability to connect with one another and realize they are not alone in this transition.

Many creatives fear changes involving technology, as its technical aspects can seem opaque. They encounter technology not only in their creative processes but also through gig work platforms that use algorithms to assess their work and recommend their services to clients. This often leads to feelings of overwhelm, frustration, and a pressing need to adapt. This need led me to design the Future Jobs program: a tool to help creative individuals navigate lifelong career transitions by continuously aligning their potential, talent, and personal values with new and sustainable forms of work.

In 2022 I started a PhD at the University of Economic Studies in Bucharest, with the intention to take my idea further and develop a better understanding on how career transitions of creative people can be addressed in the new economy.

I started looking into how AI is influencing creative processes and which are the main skills one should acquire in order to develop resilience and thrive.

I have temporarily paused the Future Jobs Design workshop to deepen my understanding and refine the process. In the meantime, you can explore the method’s presentation on the website www.futurejobs.design.

If you’re a creative who has come across this page, I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on how career planning and upskilling should be approached. Feel free to message me directly or share your ideas via email at dalia@futurejobs.design.

This fall, on October 11th, I will be leading a panel on the Future of Creative Labor at the Global Fashion Conference in Bucharest. This discussion will go beyond the fashion industry, offering a broader perspective on how the world of creative work is evolving and exploring potential futures for it.

If you have any questions or concerns about this topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s connect and collaborate on building this project together!