Espresso machines hum in competition with your ideas, deadlines loom, and client meetings dictate your days—and often your nights. Social relationships increasingly take a backseat to client demands, which grow ever faster, ever more diverse, and seemingly endless. Sound familiar?

Frank Berzbach, a psychology and media education professor, intimately understands the highs and lows of a designer’s life. From the struggles of freelancers to the challenges of working from home, from the pitfalls of teamwork to the complexities of nonverbal communication, Berzbach has observed it all up close.

This book is an extension of his seminars at ecosign Academy for Design in Cologne, crafted to help designers navigate the realities of their profession without losing themselves. It offers practical advice and psychological insights to make sense of the chaos of creative work and to turn a dream job into something sustainable rather than a potential nightmare.

Perfect for creative professionals of all levels, Surviving the Creative Life equips readers with tools to balance work, creativity, and well-being, ensuring that the passion for design thrives amidst the pressures of the industry.