Alex Bec
Co-Founder · Ceo
In their own words
Start getting on their radars
My hunch is that this level of economic uncertainty is now the new normal and it’s important we all give ourselves a break.
Business knowledge can – and should – also be creative.
It’s dangerous to see the ‘business’ and ‘creative’ work as separate silos.
Why not create something yourself that will entice the people you’re trying to meet or connect with?
Make sure you seek out some freelancers working in the same field as you, and ask them the tough questions.
Email your favourite designer, ask for the chance to sit next to them on a project, at a conference, to show them you work, or other ways to pick up little tips here and there.
Can you get your foot in the door at some studios as a freelancer?
Bigger studios [are] most likely to have the means to sponsor someone like you
If in doubt, I’d always urge you to trust your instinct.
Articles & interviews
- “Try reaching out to some founders”
Alex Bec, co-founder of It’s Nice That, offers advice on how to discover lesser-known creative companies and entry-level opportunities in the design industry. He recommends using Creative Lives in Progress’ Opportunities Board and directory, attending free events, and proactively following and contacting studios and founders to build connections.
- “It reminds me how bad I am at making predictions”
Alex Bec, co-founder of It’s Nice That, reflects on the past year in his end-of-year Creative Career Conundrums column for If You Could Jobs. He discusses recurring themes of economic uncertainty and career change among creatives, and shares hopes for a more balanced and self-compassionate 2026. The piece also highlights ongoing job opportunities within the creative industry.
- "Merging Business and Creative Sectors Boosts Success"
In this edition of Creative Career Conundrums, Alex Bec, co-founder of It’s Nice That, responds to a reader’s question about balancing creativity and business understanding. He argues that creatives should develop empathy for business priorities and that business and creative work should not exist in separate silos. The column emphasizes the growing importance of in-house creative teams and the integration of design thinking into business strategy.
- "Don't Mention Day Job to Connect with Creative Peers, Advises Expert"
This edition of the Creative Career Conundrums column, written by Alex Bec, co-founder of It’s Nice That, offers advice to a reader struggling to connect with creative peers. Bec encourages leading with creative passions rather than unrelated day jobs, seeking honest feedback, and creating opportunities to meet like-minded people through shared interests or self-initiated projects.
- "Exploring Career Fulfillment and Family Life Balance"
This week’s Creative Career Conundrums column from If You Could Jobs features advice from Alex Bec, cofounder of It’s Nice That, addressing the challenges of balancing parenthood, creative ambition, and leadership roles. Bec encourages readers to explore flexible options within their current roles before considering freelance work, emphasizing open communication and realistic expectations about creative careers.
- "Strengthening Design Skills Without a Top School Education"
In this week’s Creative Career Conundrums column from If You Could Jobs, Alex Bec offers advice to a designer who feels behind due to a limited design education. He reassures readers that foundational skills can be rebuilt through persistence, curiosity, and practice, emphasizing that there is no quick route to mastery. The piece encourages resilience, self-directed learning, and community engagement as key to creative growth.
- "Bigger Studios Likely to Sponsor International Designers"
In this edition of Creative Career Conundrums, Alex Bec, cofounder of It’s Nice That, offers advice to an international design graduate struggling to find sponsorship in the UK. He suggests targeting larger studios with established sponsorship systems and considering freelance work as a way to build relationships that could lead to full-time opportunities. The article also highlights the current challenges in the UK creative job market and points readers to resources and job listings on If You Could Jobs and Creative Lives in Progress.
- "Protecting Your Intellectual Property During Job Interviews"
In this edition of Creative Career Conundrums, Alex Bec, cofounder of It’s Nice That, offers advice on how creatives can protect their intellectual property during interview tasks. He emphasizes the importance of retaining ownership of unpaid work, requesting reimbursement for travel when appropriate, and trusting one’s instincts when something feels off in the hiring process.
- "Maintaining Your Creative Career Outside London"
In this edition of If You Could Jobs’ Creative Career Conundrums, Alex Bec offers advice to a senior designer planning to leave London. He reassures readers that creative careers can thrive outside the capital, emphasizing the importance of networking early and exploring regional studios and remote opportunities. The article also shares resources and job listings for creatives across the UK.
- Navigating Workplace Dynamics: Advice for Suggesting Change
This edition of the Creative Career Conundrums advice column, written by Alex Bec, CEO of It’s Nice That, addresses how to handle poor leadership and blocked communication in a creative agency. Bec advises maintaining integrity, reframing feedback constructively, and keeping dialogue open while also considering other career opportunities. The piece encourages tactful communication and professional growth within challenging workplace dynamics.
- Creative Lives in Progress Relaunches for Emerging Talent
Creative Lives in Progress has relaunched its platform in collaboration with Vienna-based studio Wild, introducing a redesigned, more accessible and centralised space for emerging creatives. The update enhances usability, adds new features like user accounts and a company directory, and reflects the platform’s mission to support diverse creative talent. The project continues CLIP’s growth under the Residence network and expands its reach to the US later this year.
- "Tips for Leading a Creative Team Through Tough Times"
In this edition of Creative Career Conundrums, Alex Bec, CEO of It’s Nice That, offers advice to a creative professional struggling with the pressures of leading a small studio through difficult economic times. He encourages transparency with the team, sharing responsibility, and maintaining perspective and personal wellbeing. The piece emphasizes openness, balance, and self-care for creative leaders facing stress.
- "Longer Wish List Sharpens Job Search Focus"
In this week’s Creative Career Conundrums column, Alex Bec, CEO of It’s Nice That, offers advice to a design director seeking new challenges after years in small agencies and startups. Bec encourages the reader to focus on company scale and to refine their job wish list to better target opportunities in larger organizations. The piece also highlights current creative job openings from If You Could Jobs.
- "Alex Bec Reflects on Year of Creative Career Advice and Hopes for 2025"
In this edition of the Creative Career Conundrums column, Alex Bec reflects on a challenging year for creative jobseekers and shares hopes for a more optimistic 2025. He calls for greater inclusivity, diversity, and investment in emerging talent across the creative industries. The piece also highlights current job opportunities through If You Could Jobs, the creative job board from It’s Nice That.
- "Guiding Clients to Better Design Outcomes"
In this installment of the Creative Career Conundrums advice column from If You Could Jobs, Alex Bec, CEO of It’s Nice That, offers guidance on how designers can align with clients who have differing tastes. He emphasizes the importance of defining shared criteria for 'what good is' to avoid subjective disagreements and achieve better creative outcomes.
- Define success criteria for your design projects
This installment of the 'Creative Career Conundrums' column features advice from Alex Bec, CEO of It’s Nice That, on how junior designers can navigate creative disagreements at work. Bec encourages designers to establish clear success criteria to make feedback more objective and to attempt resolution before considering a job change.
- "It's Nice That HQ Seeks New Talent for Creative and Project Manager Roles"
The article announces that It's Nice That is hiring for its new commercial design arm, New Studio London. Written by co-founder Alex Bec, it invites applicants for two roles — a middleweight creative and a project manager — to join the growing team. The piece highlights the studio’s ethos of creative possibility and collaboration.