How to Take Creative Risks and Win w/ Craig Black | Ep 386

On this episode of The Futur Podcast, Chris Do talks with Scottish visual artist Craig Black about what it takes to reinvent yourself, embrace fear, and build a thriving creative career around your own unique style. Craig’s journey spans professional football, typography, and ultimately his signature “Acrylic Fusion” technique—a paint-pouring process that’s landed him collaborations with UEFA, FIFA, and Porsche. But behind the global recognition is a story about personal risk, self-initiated projects, and betting everything on his art. Together, Chris and Craig unpack: How to pivot when your first career path fails Why personal projects can lead to global clients The strategy behind launching at the right cultural moment Building a family-first lifestyle studio without compromise Using fear as a compass for growth This episode is a masterclass in reinvention for creatives, designers, and entrepreneurs who feel stuck and want to break through with their own voice. Register for AdobeMax using the code FUTUR25 for $400 off a full pass. See you there! https://max.adobe.com/?cgen=7RZ35VGK&mv=other Timestamps (00:00) - Intro (00:19) - How Acrylic Fusion was invented (01:44) - Porsche Taycan project: car as a canvas (03:49) - Process hacks: breathwork vs failed tools (08:43) - Leaving football to pursue creativity (14:44) - The teacher who saved Craig’s career (20:49) - Designing Rangers FC’s jersey typography (24:12) - Quitting typography to pursue fine art (31:22) - Fusion Footballs launch at Euro 2020 (36:53) - Taking risks with little financial safety (39:20) - Three essentials for creative breakthroughs (44:32) - Running a family-first lifestyle studio (47:38) - Final lesson: fear leads to growth Check out today’s guest, Craig Black: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_craigblack/⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigblackdesign/⁠ Website: ⁠https://craig.black⁠ Shop: ⁠https://craigblack.shop⁠ Fusion Footballs: ⁠https://craig.black/projects/fusion-footballs⁠ Check out The Futur: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thefutur.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thefutur.com/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thefutur.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/thefuturishere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out Chris Do: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/thechrisdo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zaap: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Clubhouse:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Behance: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.behance.net/chrisdo⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices