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I'm Burnt Out!

Baking and design

I think opening up your own bakery would be great. My wife and I flirted with the idea but didn't have the capital and laws in Texas(when we still lived there) prevented people from selling food out of their own home. You could also use your design talents to make really awesome cakes and/or decorations. You could even get some kind of special printer that prints edible paper with food coloring and design cakes around what you produce. Good luck with what you decide.

Another idea might be to do some design stuff for charities or for people in general that might not be able to pay as much as a usual client. That way, you might regain some of your passion for the work and not go insane. The you could save, retire, and open a bakery then.

Or another option, bake stuff at home and then bring it to work to smash into the faces of the clients that annoy you. It's simple, fun, and the victim might just get a tasty bit in their mouths and want to hire you for that. And again, good luck!
 
Sorry to piggyback.. But I'm burnt out as well.

I've been at the same company for over 4 years and in dire need of a change, and I'm really thinking now I to get out of design all together.

I went for an interview today, though I must admit I'm a little out of practice so I was a little surprise when the Tech Officer pulled out a Nerf gun and shot me with (yes those little disc things hurt). After today I really feel like throwing in the industry and work at a coffee shop (though I really hate jobs with dealing with lots of people).
 
ezekielrage_99 said:
Sorry to piggyback.. But I'm burnt out as well.

I've been at the same company for over 4 years and in dire need of a change, and I'm really thinking now I to get out of design all together.

I went for an interview today, though I must admit I'm a little out of practice so I was a little surprise when the Tech Officer pulled out a Nerf gun and shot me with (yes those little disc things hurt). After today I really feel like throwing in the industry and work at a coffee shop (though I really hate jobs with dealing with lots of people).
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Why the nerd gun? Some kind of new interview techniques? Odd.:eek:
 
I think everyone should have two or three careers in its life. Be patient and see the long term aspect. You can make any move you want as long as it's well planned. My only recommendation would be to build on your assets to add value to your profile. That means if you change area, your design skills should still be something useful for you. (see the Stanford speech of S. Jobs about 'connecting the dots').
 
Macman45 said:
Why the nerd gun? Some kind of new interview techniques? Odd.:eek:
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That's what I thought... Didn't really know what to make of it, I think he was trying to make out it's such an "awesome and fun" place to work though I consider that it's fun till someone looses an eye.
 
ezekielrage_99 said:
That's what I thought... Didn't really know what to make of it, I think he was trying to make out it's such an "awesome and fun" place to work though I consider that it's fun till someone looses an eye.
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Awesome, fun and wacky! Who needs decent wages and a pension when you can have a nerf gun and table football.

Mind you the nerf gun might come in handy when a client next says to you... "I'd just do this job myself if only I had the software on my machine... "

I expect you've all seen this but just in case you haven't - designer v client. (Warning - some rude words)
 
ezekielrage_99 said:
That's what I thought... Didn't really know what to make of it, I think he was trying to make out it's such an "awesome and fun" place to work though I consider that it's fun till someone looses an eye.
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It probably was partly to show that the place is fun. But, primarily the interviewee was testing your ability to think quickly on the spot. For example, if you pretended like you were wounded and started falling out of the chair (acting out death), I imagine they would be impressed.
 
jeremy h said:
Awesome, fun and wacky! Who needs decent wages and a pension when you can have a nerf gun and table football.

Mind you the nerf gun might come in handy when a client next says to you... "I'd just do this job myself if only I had the software on my machine... "

I expect you've all seen this but just in case you haven't - designer v client. (Warning - some rude words)
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Apple Key said:
It probably was partly to show that the place is fun. But, primarily the interviewee was testing your ability to think quickly on the spot. For example, if you pretended like you were wounded and started falling out of the chair (acting out death), I imagine they would be impressed.
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We'll I didn't appreciate getting hit by the plastic disc thingys, but I'm a funny guy as well... What he did is classified as assault so I've referred it onto the police, it's going to be hilarious when a friendly police officer turns up at his work tomorrow to serve him the papers :D
 
ezekielrage_99 said:
We'll I didn't appreciate getting hit by the plastic disc thingys, but I'm a funny guy as well... What he did is classified as assault so I've referred it onto the police, it's going to be hilarious when a friendly police officer turns up at his work tomorrow to serve him the papers :D
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LOL. I hope you're serious! :D

He'll probably give you a call letting you know what happened. Can't wait to hear the results!
 
grind versus happiness...
responsibility to family as consumers versus mental health.
learning to deal with the day to day as a means to an end and walling off that life from your new reality is not for amateurs, and is so seldom accomplished.
making the jump, even harder.

As a fellow traveller all I have is more questions... sorry. 25 years for me, and i am broken.
money? not the answer. ask yourself what is the least you can live on. As in LEAST, not ideal least.
willing to lose that house?
car?
will your family support you if you have one?
Gee, if you don't have a family, what the ****** are you waiting for?
save yourself before its too late.
 
ILikeTurtles said:
I'm not depressed - just fed up.

Can you believe I had to revise a simple web banner graphic (1024 x 100px) 6 times yesterday!!! 6 Times! And the dumb client couldn't tell me the exact dimensions of their banner space. I had to estimate the size by taking a screen cap of their website. So once she hands it over to her IT people to plug in the new graphic, they're going to come back and say, "it doesn't fit." Then I will have to revise it for the 7th time, once someone tells her the true size. This is the kind of insanity I'm talking about - and believe me - this example is on the smallest scale of insanity. I have more stories. I could write a book.

Don't get me started on the time, a few months ago, when I had to revise a sell sheet design 27 times!!!
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Have you mentioned that change orders add to the price? This is pretty standard, and is usually effective when you have these pissy clients.
 
I worked in the visual effects industry for roughly 7 years full time, and another 6 freelance whilst also teaching. In the end I almost had breakdown, at least I found myself sitting a field for a week staring at a tree. I never left the office, sent runners to get everything I needed, and worked crazy crazy hours.

At the time I thought I was loving every second of it, until I saw that tree.

So I know what you are going through, everyone needs a change. I changed from 3D, took a year away form all work and fiddled with code, which is what I do now. So I say, go for it, and good luck. :)
 
It's important to have something else be part of your life that is far from what you do. Ie, music, baking, reading books.

Also, I highly doubt anyone in this thread has been doing hard core design...now THAT will hunt you down and tear your head off. The client's are not the only issue at hand.
 
SDAVE said:
Also, I highly doubt anyone in this thread has been doing hard core design...now THAT will hunt you down and tear your head off. The client's are not the only issue at hand.
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No ... my design has been entirely soft-core. :rolleyes:

What exactly qualifies as "hard core design"?
 
citizenzen said:
I'm not sure I understand.

Are you saying that only brands that receive national attention qualify as "hard-core" design?
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Have you worked at these studios as a creative director (designer & animator)?

www.blur.com
www.psyop.tv

If not, you don't know what it takes to be a good designer in the entertainment field. Or better yet in the high end print & interactive field.

Show me your portfolio and I'll tell you if you're good or not. :)
Being good is hard work. Being great is unachievable.

What's funny about this thread is, if you need to vent about being a designer, do that on your own time. We all feel obliged to think about doing other things, and if you constantly want to do other things instead of being a good designer (and improving yourself every chance you get) you probably should have chosen another career. We don't do this for the money. Or the fame.
 
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SDAVE said:
Have you worked at these studios as a creative director (designer & animator)?

www.blur.com
www.psyop.tv

If not, you don't know what it takes to be a good designer in the entertainment field. Or better yet in the high end print & interactive field.

Show me your portfolio and I'll tell you if you're good or not. :)
Being good is hard work. Being great is unachievable.

What's funny about this thread is, if you need to vent about being a designer, do that on your own time. We all feel obliged to think about doing other things, and if you constantly want to do other things instead of being a good designer (and improving yourself every chance you get) you probably should have chosen another career. We don't do this for the money. Or the fame.
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I have not worked in either studio.

And I don't claim to be good. I'm a serviceable designer, working in education. I moved to a small town because I didn't want to live for work ... I wanted to work, to live. As I said earlier in this thread, that unlike the OP I'm very happy with my career.

But the one thing I'll disagree with you on is the notion that you need to be "a player" to be a designer. There are plenty of people with talent and creativity who don't work for a top studio, who don't work 60 plus hours a week.

I personally see it as a sign of mental health to not be so obsessed with ones work.

Your results may vary.
 
SDAVE said:
Have you worked at these studios as a creative director (designer & animator)?

www.blur.com
www.psyop.tv

If not, you don't know what it takes to be a good designer in the entertainment field. Or better yet in the high end print & interactive field.
Click to expand...

I've worked in broadcast for nearly 10 years, churn factories are not fun... They only reason to work for them is to get a good portfolio fast and work in a more senior level with a smaller company. Worked and still working there are two totally different things BTW.
 
SDAVE said:
Also, I highly doubt anyone in this thread has been doing hard core design...
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I too doubt that many on this thread work as a designer for a porn film company. (Although you never know... I did once interview a photoshop guy who had a book full of well... um... creative retouching - he very nervously explained it was the only job he could get and he'd learn't a lot - as we did!)

I think one of reasons many thoughtful designers can struggle and burn out is the immaturity of a lot of people in the industry.
 
mrTortex said:
I worked in the visual effects industry for roughly 7 years full time, and another 6 freelance whilst also teaching. In the end I almost had breakdown, at least I found myself sitting a field for a week staring at a tree. I never left the office, sent runners to get everything I needed, and worked crazy crazy hours.

At the time I thought I was loving every second of it, until I saw that tree.

So I know what you are going through, everyone needs a change. I changed from 3D, took a year away form all work and fiddled with code, which is what I do now. So I say, go for it, and good luck. :)
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Those moments are sometimes the best.

I'd been working for four years in the same place, doing the same thing every day. One night I had a bit of a "moment" and went for a 5 mile cycle in the dark whilst it was raining, I don't know why, but it totally did the trick. The next week I left work and went back to uni.

I also met my girlfriend the weekend that I left, if I hadn't left I'd wouldn't have been where I was when I met her. And I've been with her since, that was four years ago.
 
jeremy h said:
I too doubt that many on this thread work as a designer for a porn film company. (Although you never know... I did once interview a photoshop guy who had a book full of well... um... creative retouching - he very nervously explained it was the only job he could get and he'd learn't a lot - as we did!)

I think one of reasons many thoughtful designers can struggle and burn out is the immaturity of a lot of people in the industry.
Click to expand...

What do you know about "the industry"?
 
jeremy h said:
I think one of reasons many thoughtful designers can struggle and burn out is the immaturity of a lot of people in the industry.
Click to expand...

Well said. Totally agree.

I do agree with your point, after an interview I went for the other day I am seriously considering looking to do something else really not sure what...

I've worked for major broadcasters delivering geospatial graphics, my issue is my portfolio it's too specific around geospatial and I'm seriously bored doing it (and getting close to burnout) and really wont get a look in to any other role despite 10 years broadcast and 4 years military exp...

Though I do agree immaturity is an issue with any industry but hipsters and getting pigeoned holed I also think merits consideration for wanting to "throw it in".
 
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I don't know if this will sum it up but I too was (and still am from time to time; as you never lose the skills) a graphic designer. I went to college and quit (from an injury), but then couldn't go back as I couldn't afford the fees anymore. But I figured since I didn't like college anyway and this is in reality a trade/profession, I felt that college would have wasted more of my time and money. So I bailed and went back into sales for a few years, but in the back of my head I missed it.

I decided I was going to be a true student, but how was I going to do that since college was such a waste and I didn't want to be a slave to the system. Well, I found some menial positions that eventually landed me at the right place with one of the best graphic designers I could've ever been mentored by (actually 3 of them, but one in particular). But that took perseverance and a lot of prayer. I was amazingly grateful (and still am) for all the help that I received that I was actually able to pay forward with the amazing work that all of us contributed within that department that we worked.

BTW, If you don't know what I meant when I said "SLAVE," then you should watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl7R8xIxzKI

Also, Youtube pulled this same vid off of here where it was originally created and posted by Inflation.us:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpZtX32sKVE&feature=player_embedded

It says:
"College Co..."
This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Pepperdine University.

I would highly suggest you watch the vid I found and provided and let you be the judge as to why it was REALLY pulled off. Bottom line people don't like the truth. The reason why anyone would not like their position (by and large) is we work in a "rat-raced" system, and that system is falling apart and we're caught in the middle of that. It's called CHANGE. Now some people are starting to see these changes come and don't like it while others welcome it. Honestly, we have a rough road ahead of us as we're not even close to knowing how that "change" is really going to affect us here in the U.S.. If you still doubt what I'm sharing then you should watch these 3 vids in the order that I have them so you can FULLY understand everything that I'm sharing:

1) Money Banking and the Federal Reserve:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYZM58dulPE

2) Fall of the Republic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU

3) Invisible Empire A New World Order Defined:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO24XmP1c5E&ob=av3e

If you don't want to watch these lengthy docs that show you ACTUAL VIDEO PROOF of what our past and current "leaders" want for all of us and what they want for themselves then, I'll share another video that I think really sums it up in 3+ minutes from (what I believe to be the best comedian - (truth revealer) of all time):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acLW1vFO-2Q

If you believe that what he's saying (or at least are questioning it), THEN you should watch those 3 vids that I provided to get the FULL PICTURE of what he was saying.

I know this topic was originally posted by ILikeTurtles and he/she was expressing that he/she was "burned out" from that position in that field of work, but this is a very related topic as this (again) will affect all of us here in the near future. I've been talking about this for quite some time and many have made fun of me, and that's fine because things are happening the way I've found out anyway, and it's coming with a vengeance. That's unfortunate and it breaks my heart, because it usually takes most all of us losing what we have to fully understand the appreciation of what was lost. I hope anyone reading this will take time NOT TO BELIEVE what I'm saying but to do something that hasn't been done in a while for some of us… OUR HOMEWORK by watching and doing your own research of what these vids are claiming. THEN you can come to your own conclusions...

I'd like to say that none of what I've found out isn't going to happen, but it has and it's already here, and the lot of us are still "asleep" when it comes to TRUE world issues. Why? Because it goes right back to what I said in the beginning, we work in a "rat-raced" system and that very system has kept us blind from the truth of what's really going on in the background and only a certain few people know what's going on and are actually doing something about it. My hope is, that this will be you... Later... :cool:

Here are three alternative (REAL) news websites that will keep you up to date on what's going on so you can be better prepared on how to handle future events:

http://www.infowars.com

http://www.drudgereport.com

http://www.russiatoday.com
 
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