Readymag's Unlearned publication collects career reflections from 13 designers and artists

Digital design tool Readymag launched the editorial project Unlearned in 2026, featuring 13 written perspectives from established creatives about navigating post-graduation careers. Contributors include Erik Kessels, Harriet Richardson, Raissa Pardini, Zipeng Zhu, Cherry-Ann Morgan, Christina Worner, Freddie Öst, Jarrett Fuller, Liza Enebeis, Mario Carrillo, Sarah Boris, Shantell Martin, and Stefan Sagmeister. The project addresses the gap between design school expectations and professional reality, with personal stories about overcoming doubts and career detours. Liza Enebeis describes her challenging transition from the Royal College of Art to working at Pentagram, initially finding the professional environment overwhelming before eventually acclimating. Harriet Richardson shares how she discovered her true passion wasn't design but having a medium for self-expression, leading to her current work in performance art, writing, and comedy. Freddie Öst recounts unlearning his rebellious attitude against the commercial design world and realizing that love, not protest, might be the true path forward. The collection emphasizes that creative careers are nebulous and that practitioners need patience to navigate uncertainties. Readymag, founded in 2012, created this sponsored content to support young creatives by sharing candid reflections from industry leaders about what they had to unlearn after formal education.