The State of the Creative Industry 2026
Creative Boom · Tom May · blog · teams, design
What it is — A survey of 882 creatives worldwide on money, burnout, and AI, finding widespread AI adoption but little enthusiasm for it.
Key points
- 69% report burnout in the past year (77% among mid-career creatives), while nearly half of self-employed creatives earn under £30,000.
- 86% use AI tools professionally, but only 10% think AI is having a positive effect on the industry — adoption driven by necessity, not belief.
- What people say would actually improve their working lives is networking and community (57.5%) and mentorship (53%) — new tools trail at 31%.
💬 The room said — Resonated — the burnout and money findings tracked with people's own experience, with a hopeful note that shared pressure might end up pulling the industry closer together.
Shared by Adam Tomat in #general.