The Power of Side Projects: How Mari’s Cool Corner Shaped My Career

Mari’s Cool Corner started as a simple freelancing idea. I wanted to use my design and tech skills outside the classroom, so I began creating websites, visuals, and branding for whoever needed them. Over time, that “whoever” turned into nonprofits, small businesses, public figures, museums, and even the local coffee shop where I spent too much time working.

At first, I thought side projects were just extra practice. What I did not expect was how much they would shape the way I think and work today.

The Power of Side Projects: How Mari’s Cool Corner Shaped My Career by Mariana Lema

Why Side Projects Matter

Side projects are often undervalued, but they are where you learn the art of flexibility. They are small enough to experiment but real enough to matter. They push you to solve problems with limited resources and to grow into roles you did not expect.

Mari’s Cool Corner shaped me not because it was perfect, but because it was messy. I had to adapt, improvise, and deliver. That is exactly what innovation demands.

Every Project, a New Language

Designing for a nonprofit is not the same as creating for a boutique brand. A museum cares about heritage and education, while a coffee shop wants to feel cozy and local. Each client had a different voice, a different audience, and a different measure of success.

I had to learn to adapt quickly. That meant not only switching design styles but also shifting strategies. One week I was focused on engagement metrics, the next I was thinking about user experience, and later I was telling stories that inspired donations.

The SCT Skills in Action

Looking back, I realize Mari’s Cool Corner became my training ground as a Strategic Creative Technologist. Every project demanded more than one skill set. Creativity alone was not enough without strategy. Strategy required technology to reach audiences. And technology relied on storytelling for real engagement.

The work forced me to constantly ask: how can creativity, technology, and strategy come together to solve this problem? Sometimes it was about simplifying a website so an older audience could navigate it. Sometimes it was about creating a visual identity that felt fresh but stayed true to the values of a community organization. Every time, it was about blending disciplines until the final result felt whole.

A Corner That Changed My Path

What began as a freelance experiment became a cornerstone of how I see my career. Mari’s Cool Corner showed me that side projects are not just “extra.” They are powerful tools to build skills, test ideas, and discover the value of living at the intersection of creativity, technology, and strategy.

The real secret?

Your side projects are often the best mirror of your future self.

So maybe it is time to ask: what small corner of your own could shape everything that comes next?