Out 12 November 2025 (Europe)
13 April 2026 (International)
The Creative
Wellbeing Handbook
A beautiful and practical guide to sustaining creativity in a challenging world. Based on the Creative Ecosystem model.
Hi, I’m Emmi. A designer, speaker and advocate for creative wellbeing. I wrote this book for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or simply in need of a spark. Over the years, I’ve learned that staying creatively energised isn’t about doing more, it’s about tuning in to what we really need. I hope this handbook becomes a supportive companion on your journey, as it has been for me while writing it.
Looking for creative fuel?
If you're a designer, writer, artist, or anyone trying to stay inspired while juggling life’s demands then this book is for you.
The Creative Wellbeing Handbook offers practical tools to help you reconnect with your creative energy, without needing more discipline, time or hustle.
This isn’t another self-help manual. It’s a gentle companion full of visual inspiration, lived wisdom from over 100 creatives, and Emmi Salonen’s personal story of burnout and renewal.
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A creative career is full of possibility – but it can also be exhausting. Today’s creatives are under pressure to be always on, inspired and ready to deliver at a pace that often leaves them feeling stuck or burnt out.
The Creative Wellbeing Handbook is a practical guide to help you rediscover joy in your creative work and in your life. Whether you’re a student, designer, artist, writer or other creative thinker, this book offers everyday tools to help you feel motivated and clear-headed.
At the heart of the book is the Creative Ecosystem, an adaptable model built around five areas: Connection, Wonder, Pause, Movement and Joy. Through stories, exercises and research-backed ideas, you’ll learn how to sustain your creativity by caring for yourself. You don’t need more time or discipline – just a way to refuel with the resources you already have.
“The book doesn’t push me, it holds me.”
— Dominika, Graphic Designer (Austria/Portugal)
What you’ll find inside
60+ gentle exercises and prompts to help reset creative energy
Emmi’s story of burnout, recovery and renewal
The Creative Ecosystem model: 5 flexible pillars to support your wellbeing
Reflections and tips from 100+ creatives across 26 countries
A calming, design-forward reading experience with space to reflect and breathe
Research-backed insights
Emmi’s reflections on a topic
Quotes by creatives
Exercises and activities
Emmi’s story
‘Inspiration Expedition’ travel notes
Creative leader interviews
Creative process and work photos
Reviewed by Sevra Davis,
Director of Architecture, Design and Fashion
British Council (UK)
“Emmi’s journey from burnout to flourishing resonates throughout the book, and her practical guidance – shared for the benefit of creative professionals and anyone who wants to nurture their creativity – is both a privilege and incredibly useful. I also loved the stories from creatives worldwide and how they share their vulnerability. Emmi invites us to cultivate our creativity with fun, sensible and straightforward exercises; most importantly, she recognises and honours the ecosystem of interconnected inputs that, when nourished, result in awe-inspiring human creativity.”
Preorder your copy and receive a creative gift
Preorder before 1 November and receive an exclusive 40-minute soundscape, New Morning, New Page, recorded by Emmi in the very forest where the book was written — a restorative backdrop of birdsong for your next creative session.
The book features insights from over 100 creatives in 26 countries, including
conversations with voices from:
Women of Type, Google, Mucho, karlssonwilker inc., Vault49, The Now Work, Nice and Serious, Injiri, The Frameworks, DMJX and Luminary, alongside independent artists such as Stefan Sagmeister, Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian, Zipeng Zhu, Emily Forgot, Jean Jullien, Nicola Hamilton, Guillermo Flores Pacheco, Shelaine Prince, Ji Lee, Kevin Finn, Elizabeth Olwen, Shoji Yamasaki, Kangan Aurora, Kibir La Amlak, June Mineyama-Smithson, Sam Furness, Jenny Bowers, Daniel Eatock, Elsa Salonen, Radim Malinic, Catalina Estrada Uribe, Stefan G. Bucher and Julie Solvstrom.
Emmi Salonen is a graphic designer, creative director and educator known for her ethos of Positive Creativity – the belief that design can connect people, foster wellbeing and support sustainable choices.
After experiencing burnout, Emmi developed the Creative Ecosystem model to help herself, and others, stay inspired without running on empty. She now speaks internationally on creative wellbeing and teaches design with a focus on sustainability, balance and joy.
Her work spans over two decades, from founding Studio Emmi in 2005 to collaborating with organisations like Tate Britain, Somerset House, and the AI for Human Flourishing think tank at Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science. She is a certified Happiness Facilitator, an RSA Fellow and has a course on Domestika.
Photo: The Design Conference, Brisbane, Australia
The strategies in this book helped Emmi recover from burnout - and they can help you build a more joyful, sustainable creative life too.
Europe publication date:
12 November 2025
Global publication date:
13 April 2026
For stock and bulk sales:
Media kit:
“This is a positive and supportive book that highlights the need to actively tend to my creativity. It is full of engaging exercises and real-life insights from a wide range of innovative professionals. It’s perfect for newcomers and experienced creatives alike.”
— Mirja Valkeasuo, Creative Director (Germany/Finland)
Host a book club
Start a Creative Wellbeing circle with our free guide and Emmi’s support. You’ll get access to a kit including discussion prompts, soundscapes, downloadable slides and a celebratory session with Emmi once you've finished reading.
“Emmi has created a toolkit and a treasure chest. Throughout, she interweaves her own story with case studies, practical exercises, inspirational jewels and visual surprises. It’s a generous and relatable guide, from one creative to many others.”
— Diane Davies, Design & Content Consultant (UK)
Events
Catch Emmi on the road. If you’d like to host a book stop near you, email bookings here.
Loughborough University 16.10.
Loughborough, UK
Design Declares 7.11.
London, UK
Brno Bold 18.11.
Brno, Cheznya
Hafi Books 20.11.
Vienna, Austria
Live online 24.11.
Domestika Live
St Bride Library 22.1.
London, UK
Reader hub
A cosy corner for readers with downloads and reflections to support your journey.
Where to find the book
Pre-orders make a real difference.
Hey, did you know pre-orders help boost the book’s visibility ahead of launch, which means more people discover it? And it’s one of the best ways you can support me as an author-designer right now. If you're happy to pre-order, I’m incredibly grateful –and have a song for you below!
Preorder your copy and receive a creative gift
Preorder before 1 November and receive an exclusive 40-minute soundscape, New Morning, New Page, recorded by Emmi in the very forest where the book was written — a restorative backdrop of birdsong for your next creative session.
“This workbook brought back the hope-giving reality that sustaining creativity doesn’t have to be a guilt-driven, 20 steps, 5 week course.”