There’s no shortage of advice on how creatives should work.
Morning routines. Productivity hacks. “Perfect” workflows.
But most of it feels disconnected from reality.
That’s why the RECESS Creative Playbook different.
Built by Jody Orsborn Medina, the Playbook isn’t about telling creatives what to do; it’s about showing how people are actually working right now.
Messy, evolving, and far from perfect.
The Story Behind RECESS
RECESS didn’t start as a formal platform or a structured idea. It grew out of Jody’s own experience working in the creative industry during a time when everything had shifted.
During the pandemic, while working as an Executive Creative Director with a team spread across different countries, she noticed something was missing. The day-to-day work was still happening, but the sense of connection and shared inspiration wasn’t. So she started hosting informal sessions where her team could come together and share what was inspiring them outside of work.
Those moments became a highlight, a way to reconnect and bring energy back into the creative process, she explains.
Later on, when she transitioned into freelance work, that absence became even more noticeable. Without the structure of an agency, there were fewer opportunities to exchange ideas or be exposed to what others were creating. That gap is what RECESS grew from.
“I missed having a group of people to exchange ideas with and to be inspired by,” she says.
What started internally became something much bigger, a space designed to bring creatives together, keep inspiration flowing, and create a sense of shared experience, no matter where people were working from.
From a Google Form to a Global Resource
The Playbook didn’t start as a big project. It started with a simple question.
Jody sent out a Google Form asking creatives where they find inspiration, what tools they use, and how they stay unstuck.
Instead, what came back wasn’t polished advice, it was real insight.
“It felt like something that shouldn’t just sit in my inbox,” she says.
So she turned it into an 80-page, open-source PDF. Free to download. Open to anyone.
Because in an industry where access is often tied to money; conferences, internships, networks, the Playbook does the opposite. It gives people a way in.
What the Playbook Actually Reveals
What’s most interesting isn’t just the content; it’s how consistent it is.
Across more than 20 countries, creatives are dealing with the same things:
- Constant distraction
- Pressure to keep up
- Not enough time to actually think
At the same time, there’s a clear tension shaping how people work right now.
On one side, speed. Tools like AI help creatives move faster.
On the other, a deliberate effort to slow down.
People are stepping away from screens, building offline rituals, even asking someone to hide their phone just to focus.
“It’s not nostalgia. It’s regulation.”
That shift says a lot about what creatives actually need; not more efficiency, but more clarity.
AI, Systems, and Working With Intention
The Playbook also makes one thing clear: creatives aren’t rejecting AI, but they’re not blindly relying on it either.
Most are using it with intention; for research, early ideas, or admin, while protecting their voice and perspective.
“It’s not about replacing the creative work, it’s about supporting it,” she says.
No one is handing over the creative process.
At the same time, there’s a move away from waiting for inspiration altogether.
Instead, creatives are building systems that make it easier to focus:
- Do Not Disturb schedules
- app blockers
- physical notebooks
- offline practices like sketching or ceramics
Because, as Jody explains, “it’s less about how much you produce and more about how well you think.”
Why the Playbook Matters Right Now
The RECESS Creative Playbook works because it doesn’t try to define a “right” way to work.
It reflects something much more honest.
“The reality is we’re all figuring it out in real time,” Jody says.
And in an industry where people constantly feel behind, that perspective matters.
The Playbook doesn’t give you a formula to follow.
It gives you options, different ways of thinking, working, and creating; so you can build something that actually fits your life.
Where to Start
The best part? It’s completely free.
You can explore the latest RECESS Creative Playbook and download it here.
So whether you’re a student, freelancer, or just trying to figure out your process, it’s a reminder that there’s no single way to do creative work.
And that maybe; no one really has it all figured out.
You may also enjoy: Read more founder stories on HerSuccess
