Her Story
About Hillary
Hillary Comstock is a freelance creative and art director with a career focused on the creative side of online DTC e-commerce and retail. She graduated college in 2011 with a design studies degree in design history and later pursued a certificate program in her early 30s to hone specific skills. Comstock began her professional journey at a modeling agency in casting, which connected her with DTC and e-commerce clients, before moving into production and eventually creative and art direction roles. In her most recent in-house position with Mavi Jeans, a Turkish company, she helped establish brand creative and marketing for the North American market, supporting the launch of retail stores. She attributes her success to being selective and solutions-oriented, with a strength in pivoting quickly, remaining calm under pressure, and managing client expectations amid changing variables. Comstock values patience and proactivity in her work and team members, and she advises creatives to avoid attachment to initial ideas, recognizing that the best work often emerges after multiple revisions.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Hillary
01What do you attribute your success to?
I am very selective and solutions-oriented. In a creative industry there are so many variables that can go wrong and it's easy to get burnt out or frustrated. My strength is being able to pivot on a dime, remain calm, find solutions, and manage client expectations when things change.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Your best work is never your first. In the creative industry, your first draft is like spaghetti at the wall. Expect feedback, don't get too attached to the first draft, and know that by the time you finish it's really your third or fourth version that lands in a better place.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be willing to pivot and don't get too attached to your ideas. Creatives put emotion into their work but you have to know the balance between work you're creating for clients and work for yourself. Don't get emotional about every idea not working out and keep your emotions invested in the right parts.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
AI is the obvious challenge and opportunity. People have ethical points of view on how to incorporate it genuinely into creative marketing. It is the future and we have to embrace it as a tool without replacing artists or compromising ethics, similar to how Adobe enabled quicker digital work.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Patience and proactivity. With a creative career you have natural excitement but I've learned patience is important because everyone wants instant gratification. I value proactive team members who take initiative rather than waiting for the go-ahead.
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