Veteran creative director Stuart Jackson has unveiled a compelling new personal art project that marks a significant departure from his commercial work. The series, titled "I Am A," features minimalist typographic artworks designed to provoke reflection and challenge viewers' perceptions of identity and self-definition.

Jackson, who serves as executive creative director of Daughter Studio, created the project as a way to reconnect with his creative roots beyond client constraints. Each piece in the series begins with the simple phrase "I am a..." followed by a single word, role, feeling, or provocation. The intentionally open-ended format allows for multiple interpretations, with some pieces carrying emotional weight while others incorporate humor, contradiction, or deadpan delivery.

"The I Am A series started as a simple exercise, a way to reconnect with the raw, unfiltered energy that made me fall in love with creativity in the first place," Jackson explained. "After years of crafting messages for brands, I realized I hadn't said enough recently for myself." The project subtly addresses the complex, layered, and changeable nature of human identity through its minimalist aesthetic approach.

Despite its pared-back visual style, Jackson emphasizes that the work is far from superficial. "The work gives me the opportunity to stretch myself creatively, something that's really important," he noted. He describes the series as "a blank page with a big opportunity," highlighting how the creative freedom has enhanced his professional practice as well.

The personal project represents a stark contrast to Jackson's day-to-day responsibilities at Daughter Studio, the creative agency he co-founded in 2020. At the agency, he collaborates with high-profile clients including Aston Martin, Greenpeace, and Shelter on projects that demand rigorous discipline, craftsmanship, and teamwork. "It's very different in tone and purpose," Jackson said. "At Daughter, we work on such a wide variety of work but you're always working within parameters."

Jackson believes that working without client briefs or restrictions has sharpened his creative voice and improved his commercial work. "When you strip everything back and create without a brief or a client, you start to hear your own voice more clearly," he explained. "That clarity has helped me push bolder ideas in client work. It's helped me challenge conventions and find new ways of storytelling."

The current typographic works represent just the beginning of Jackson's artistic exploration. He plans to expand the "I Am A" concept into other mediums, including canvas paintings and sculptural pieces. However, he maintains a fluid approach to the project's development. "This is just the foundation," he said. "I want to take the series onto canvas and into sculpture, but there's no fixed path. I work in quite a fluid way, and that's how I like it. Something can pop into my head, and I'll just do it. I'm not one for overthinking. I prefer to act on instinct."

The initial public response to the series has been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers connecting with the work both on social media platforms and through in-person encounters. "It seems to have connected with people," Jackson noted, expressing satisfaction with the authentic reactions the pieces have generated.

Reflecting on his motivation for pursuing personal creative work, Jackson acknowledged a shift in how he measures creative success. "I think there's a point where you stop measuring success by client wins and start craving something more honest," he said. "I love agency life, but the world feels noisy and stagnant right now. I want to try and cut through that, to say something real, even if it's just to myself."

While Jackson continues to maintain his commitment to the creative industry and his agency work, the "I Am A" series signals his desire to explore new creative territories. Photography has already become an important creative outlet for him, and he's increasingly drawn to architecture and furniture design. "They're two passions that have always bubbled under the surface," he revealed.

Jackson draws inspiration from risk-takers and rule-breakers across various creative disciplines. "People who take risks. Artists who don't follow the rules. Poets. Activists. Architects. Designers. I'm inspired by those brave enough to go in a different direction, to say something real and get their ideas out into the world," he said.

For other creatives considering similar personal projects, Jackson offers straightforward advice that reflects his own approach. "Just start. Don't wait for the perfect version. Let the first version be raw and unfinished," he recommends. "And most importantly, make something for yourself and not for your portfolio or your peers. Just you. That's where your truest voice lives, and the world could probably do with hearing it."