5 Unpopular Careers in the Creative Industry

Before I started writing professionally, I’d sulk about the number of writers in the creative industry and how hard it’ll be to start out in the same space. The truth is the creative space is large, but there’s still so much room for new talents. A lot of upcoming talents are often worried about the over-saturation of these roles and the possibility that their work will be undervalued. If this is you, then focus on your craft, and the world will recognize you.

The global creative industry accounts for about $2,250 billion, creating 29.5 million jobs globally, making it one of the major financiers of local economies, especially developing ones. This means there is more than enough room for every creative, upcoming, and established to fit into the creative industry. However, if you’d like to stand out and work in a part of the industry that is unpopular and relatively under-exploited, here are 5 options you can explore. 

Art Director

Think of art directors as major idealists and dreamers. Art directors are in charge of the overall design, aesthetic and visual imagery of a project. It’s a very lucrative role because their expertise is needed in all parts of the industry, from movies to music videos, print and online magazines, etc. So if you have a good eye for detail and aesthetics, and can visualize and steer a project creatively to completion, then you should consider a career as a creative director.

3D Animators/ Multimedia artists 

If you have a knack for art and illustration, then you can start a career as a 3D animator. Multimedia artists and animators tell stories through characters they design, for commercials, games, movies, etc. For them, the power of imagination is one of their core strengths, as well as implementation. With the recent popularity of NFTs, the opportunities are almost endless. You can also consider creating, selling, and managing NFT projects as well.

Creative directors

Creative directors are the masterminds behind brainstorming the creative vision of an organization, brand, or project. They also set a plan on how to achieve the objectives of the brand. As visionaries, creative directors must be forward thinkers, idealistic and at the same be in tune with reality. If you’re interested in managing and overseeing projects and driving a process to completion, then it is probably your dream job. 

Artists and Repertoire (A&R)

This particular role isn’t exactly unpopular. In the past, A&R wasn’t recognized as a role in itself, just a subset of another role. E.g An artist’s manager can double as there A&R. However, talents and stakeholders in the creative industry are realizing the significance of their role. An A&R’s role is to scout and seek new talents and oversee the creative/artistic process of artists, songwriters, etc. So if you have an eye for talent, and an ear for splendid music, then you’re probably on the road to being the next biggest A&R (Go for it!). 

Content strategist

Content strategists are as important as content creators themselves. The art of planning, overseeing the execution, and delivery of content requires a great deal of creativity, storytelling, and an eye for detail. So if you’re great at planning and bringing a creative vision to reality, then you should consider content strategy. Although some content creators double as strategists, the role is still quite distinct from content creation. 

The creative industry remains one of the most lucrative, prominent, and promising industries in Africa. So go on; find your path, create and change the world!

Jacqueline Alabi

Jacqueline Alabi is a Nigerian content writer and storyteller, passionate about amplifying stories about the African creative industry. Outside work, Jacqueline's favorite pastime is watching rom-coms and pretending to be the main character in them. A true Gen-Z babe, she believes that soft work will always be greater than hard work, so she balances both.

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