The Design Book Club #5 & #6: Steal Like an Artist & Show Your Work by Austin Kleon

As spring wakes up the city and we stretch out of winter mode, our Design Book Club turned its attention inward — to creativity, mindset, and the art of making ideas happen. 🌱✨

For our fifth and sixth sessions, we dove into Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work, two bold and energizing reads by writer and visual storyteller Austin Kleon.

Though short and easy to read, both books offer lasting insights — especially for designers looking to build not just better portfolios, but stronger creative habits, confidence, and visibility in their work. They’re the kind of books that light a fire under you — reminding you why you create in the first place, and why you should keep doing it loudly.

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📘 Book #5: Steal Like an Artist

This isn’t a book about theft. It’s a manifesto on how to embrace influence, remix it, and find your own voice as a creative. Kleon argues that nothing is truly original — and that’s liberating. Instead of chasing perfection or waiting for a big idea, the best thing a creative can do is start making things using what already inspires them.

This book is perfect for anyone just starting out in design, feeling creatively stuck, or searching for a more playful and forgiving approach to making. Whether you're building interfaces or painting on canvas, this book reminds you that the creative path is rarely linear — and that’s a good thing.

💡 Top Lessons Learned

🔁 Nothing is truly original.
Every creative work is built on what came before. The sooner you accept that ideas are cumulative, not created in isolation, the freer you'll feel to explore, remix, and evolve your inspirations.

🎨 Side projects matter.
What you do outside of your "main" work — the passion projects, the hobbies — can often lead to your most authentic and fulfilling creative breakthroughs. Treat them as seriously as you do your day job.

✋ Use your hands.
Design isn’t only digital. Drawing, cutting, pasting — engaging your hands unlocks a different kind of thinking that screens can’t replicate. Analog methods help you slow down and reconnect with the core of creativity.

👁 Create what you want to see.
Don’t wait for others to validate your taste. Make the kind of work you wish existed. When you design for your ideal audience (yourself), you attract others who resonate with your perspective.

📆 Routine fuels creativity.
Creativity loves structure. Contrary to the “creative chaos” myth, establishing routines and constraints gives you mental space to be bold where it matters. Consistency enables long-term originality.

🧠 Top Quotes

“Steal from many, not from one.” —  A reminder that influence is healthiest when it’s diverse, not derivative.

“Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started.” — Creativity shapes identity — not the other way around.

“The best way to get approval is not to need it.” — Independence and self-trust are creative superpowers.

“Be nice. The world is a small town.” — Generosity and kindness ripple far beyond the present moment.

“You’re only going to be as good as the people you surround yourself with.” — Community matters — stay close to those who push you to grow.

📕 Book #6: Show Your Work

Show Your Work is the follow-up to Steal Like an Artist — and it picks up right where the first book leaves off. Once you’ve started creating, what comes next? You share the process. This book is all about visibility, vulnerability, and community. Not in a “look at me” way — but in a “here’s what I’m learning, want to come along?” way.

For designers, this is a must-read. It reminds us that being great at what you do isn’t enough — people need to know you exist. It’s about building trust, showing your messy middle, and realizing that documenting your journey can be just as valuable as the finished piece.

💡 Top Lessons Learned

📢 Share something small every day.
You don’t need a masterpiece — a process sketch, a behind-the-scenes thought, or a note-to-self is enough to stay visible and build momentum.

👩‍🏫 Teach what you know.
Sharing isn’t about showing off — it’s about lifting others. Teaching helps others and deepens your own expertise.

📸 Document your process.
People love seeing the work behind the work. By opening up your methods, you invite people into your creative world and build trust.

🌐 Be findable.
It’s not enough to be good — you have to be visible. Maintain a digital footprint where your work can live, grow, and be discovered.

⏳ Stick around.
Overnight success is a myth. Consistency, patience, and persistence make the biggest difference. Trust is built slowly — so keep showing up.

🧠 Top Quotes

“You don’t have to be a genius. You just have to be smart about sharing.” — It’s not about brilliance — it’s about connection.

“Think process, not product.” —  The journey is often more valuable than the destination.

“The minute you learn something, turn around and teach it to others.” — Teaching multiplies impact.

“Make stuff you love and talk about stuff you love, and you’ll attract people who love that kind of stuff.” — Authenticity attracts alignment.

“Forget about being an expert or a professional, and wear your amateurism like a badge of honor.” — Stay curious, stay open — mastery is a mindset, not a title.

Final Thoughts

Reading both of these books together felt like a full-circle moment: Steal Like an Artist gives you the tools to start, and Show Your Work gives you the courage to share.

They’re especially timely for designers in fast-paced environments — where it’s easy to focus only on deliverables and forget the personal journey behind every design. These reads encourage you to step back, breathe, and nurture the creative habits that fuel long-term growth.

As a group, we had some great discussions on how much visibility really matters in the design world, how impostor syndrome affects us, and why it's so important to keep learning out loud.

At our latest Design Book Club meetup, where we dove into Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work, the energy in the room was incredible. We shared personal reflections, swapped creative advice, and discussed how these books resonate with our daily work as designers. The conversation flowed naturally — from mindset shifts to practical takeaways — and it was inspiring to see how openly everyone contributed. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us; your ideas, enthusiasm, and presence are what make this community so special.

The next book on our list is…

Up next in the Design Book Club, we’re reading Just Enough Research by Erika Hall — a smart, concise, and refreshingly honest guide to understanding how research can empower better design. This book breaks down the essentials of user research in a no-nonsense way, showing how even a small amount of the right research can dramatically improve design decisions.

Whether you’re working in a startup, an agency, or a product team, Erika cuts through the noise and offers practical advice for real-world scenarios — from stakeholder interviews to usability testing. It’s an easy, engaging read (and not too long!), which makes it perfect for busy designers who still want to sharpen their skills.

📆 Our next meetup will take place in June, and it will be the last session before our summer break. We’ll pause the meetups, but not the reading, and be back in September with fresh reads and new energy. So grab your copy, dig in, and join us for one more lively discussion before summer officially kicks in. We can’t wait to see you there!

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