How do you share your work process without exposing private material?
Confirm what you are entitled to share, then demonstrate one method or decision using material you control. Replace sensitive examples with clearly labeled originals rather than assuming that hiding a name is enough.
Inventory the content and contributors
- List the information visible in the material.
- Separate your work, joint work and information supplied by others.
- Keep uncertain items private. To explain a layout decision, recreate an example with invented event details instead of displaying a client's draft.
Keep the replacement useful
Explain that it is a recreated example, identify the decision and acknowledge different constraints in actual work. Before publication, inspect file names, background windows, comments and image details, not just the central text. If the material cannot be shared comfortably, describe your own learning instead. Transparency does not require publishing everything.
A worksheet you can use
Method to explain: __. Material ownership: __. Permitted scope: __. Replacement example: __. Pre-publication check: __. Kept private: __.
Is a recreated example dishonest?
Not when it is explicitly labeled and not passed off as a real client result. It can still demonstrate your reasoning honestly.
Evidence and scope
This is not a legal determination about confidentiality, privacy or copyright. Follow relevant agreements and obtain appropriate advice when uncertain.
The author’s introduction discusses sharing creative process. Not a full-book reading. Austin Kleon — Show Your Work!: author’s public introduction
Sources and further reading
Austin Kleon — Show Your Work!: author’s public introduction
This collection in Chinese and English · Life possibilities library