I'm Burnt Out!

[SDAVE]

Point is, if you feel uncomfortable being a graphic designer, then you probably shouldn't be doing it as a career. It's an all-in or nothing type of deal.

It's not for everyone. There are other careers with more cushion behind their bottoms.

You have to love what you're doing, regardless of it's downsides.

 

[citizenzen]

You have to love what you're doing, regardless of it's downsides.

I don't LOVE being a graphic designer.

It may be the best job I've ever had, but it's still a job.

I don't think you have to love what you do.

But it's helpful not to hate it.

 

[farmboy]

I don't LOVE being a graphic designer.

It may be the best job I've ever had, but it's still a job.

I don't think you have to love what you do.

But it's helpful not to hate it.

You're correct. There is a widespread mythology that you have to love your job. You don't; it's just a job. It's not who you are, it's just what you do to earn money, and earning more makes life a little easier, which makes most people happier.

 

[SR2Mac]

So I gather no reply on what I posted yesterday... LOL !!! Too funny !!!

Well, you'll figure it out, one way or the other when it comes...

 

[citizenzen]

So I gather no reply on what I posted yesterday... LOL !!! Too funny !!!

tl;dr

Sorry. Short attention span.

 

[SDAVE]

I don't LOVE being a graphic designer.

It may be the best job I've ever had, but it's still a job.

I don't think you have to love what you do.

But it's helpful not to hate it.

Then you are not a good designer.

Being a designer is a lifestyle, not a "job".

Switch careers, friend. That's what I recommend.

 

[citizenzen]

Then you are not a good designer.

I never said I was good ... merely serviceable.

Being a designer is a lifestyle, not a "job".

Sounds like someone's got an overgrown sense of self.

Switch careers, friend. That's what I recommend.

And give up the easy work, decent pay, benefits and retirement?

You're gonna have to take it from me.

 

[SR2Mac]

As SDAVE said it's a lifestyle. You want to see a seasoned designer, then go here:

www.costelloart.com

Now this was the guy that created the most popular selling font... Papyrus:

http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/letraset/papyrus/

and that's just a sample of his work. Just look through the rest of his site. Now that's a person to look for, find and be mentored by. I should know I was mentored by him (and 2 others that had other skills as designers that helped me grow). I eventually took all of what I learned in sales, marketing & graphic design and turned it into something decent for my family and I... So I didn't just stick with just one thing, I combined my efforts to make it more interesting. Something that you might want to go after...

tl;dr
Sorry. Short attention span.

Well citizen,

I hope that you and others here will take the time to look through some of those vids that I provided and look at what's really going on in this world and plan for what's ahead, so you can make some good changes that will take what you can learn to the next level of growth in life so you can have a more successful future...

 

[SDAVE]

I never said I was good ... merely serviceable.



Sounds like someone's got an overgrown sense of self.



And give up the easy work, decent pay, benefits and retirement?

You're gonna have to take it from me.

Servicable, that's fine. Enjoy your zero contribution to the design field.

As SDAVE said it's a lifestyle. You want to see a seasoned designer, then go here:

www.costelloart.com

Now this was the guy that created the most popular selling font... Papyrus:

http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/letraset/papyrus/

and that's just a sample of his work. Just look through the rest of his site. Now that's a person to look for, find and be mentored by. I should know I was mentored by him (and 2 others that had other skills as designers that helped me grow). I eventually took all of what I learned in sales, marketing & graphic design and turned it into something decent for my family and I... So I didn't just stick with just one thing, I combined my efforts to make it more interesting. Something that you might want to go after... Later...

I appreciate your sense of humor, but attacking Papyrus & Comic Sans are too easy to attack by designers who are just starting out in the field. I hope you're being sarcastic when you mention Chris Costello.

You have to understand what came before you and what will come after you. Contribute something.

Don't you want to be an Erik Spiekermann? Neville Brody? Ian Anderson? El Lissitzky? Lazlo-Moholy-Nagy?

 

[citizenzen]

Servicable, that's fine. Enjoy your zero contribution to the design field.

I enjoy my employer's contributions to my wallet.

And health & dental ... and retirement ...

 

[SDAVE]

I enjoy my employer's contributions to my wallet.

And health & dental ... and retirement ...

Like I said, you're only thinking about funds...not bettering yourself as a human being and as a designer.

You won't understand what I'm talking about unless you've been through as much as I have. Not going to argue over the internet. Made my statement.

 

[SR2Mac]

I appreciate your sense of humor, but attacking Papyrus & Comic Sans are too easy to attack by designers who are just starting out in the field. I hope you're being sarcastic when you mention Chris Costello.

You have to understand what came before you and what will come after you. Contribute something.

Don't you want to be an Erik Spiekermann? Neville Brody? Ian Anderson? El Lissitzky? Lazlo-Moholy-Nagy?

I'm not "attacking" anyone, just pointing out the amazing skill this person had and what he's contributed not only with the companies he's worked for but what he's done to help mentor people like myself. Plus, he was and still is a good friend... there are others (like who you've mentioned) who are great too to model after. I was pointing out and example of someone who loved what they do and it shows.

What about you? Where's your contribution; designs, websites, etc?...

 

[citizenzen]

Like I said, you're only thinking about funds...not bettering yourself as a human being and as a designer.

So now you not only know the quality of my design, you know my quality as a human being?

Like I said ... somebody sure has an enlarged sense of self.

 

[SR2Mac]

So now you not only know the quality of my design, you know my quality as a human being?

Like I said ... somebody sure has an enlarged sense of self.

Hopefully that's not the case, because SDAVE'S "contribution" toward my thoughts about my mentor has the same taste of what you just mentioned. Let's hope not though...

 

[charliejlr]

It has its stresses and strains, but what I would recommend is potentially changing the way you work.

Now, I am only 20 years old, but before you write me off as a kid with a copy of photoshop and the bollocks to call themselves a designer, hear me out...

I found an interest in design at around 12, and learnt to code an incredibly basic website by the time I was 13 (which I sold for £100 to the very happy customer)... I then just carried on learning through books and tutorials, skipping school and not spending any time with friends because that was my passion, whether I knew it or not.

By the time I was 15 I had a freelance contract for a big design agency, which lasted for two years, then at 17 I was hired full time by a design agency in London.

I picked up a whole load of experience in HTML, CSS, jQuery, PHP, MySQL, and WordPress, but I was sick of doing affiliate sites and wanted to build my own businesses around my own ideas.

Long story short, I quit, found an investor, and I'm now doing something much more fun, and interesting, with no pesky clients to worry about.

Moral of the story: A change of scenery every so often enriches the experience of being a designer. Clients throttle your creativity, escape the bottlenecks and do something big.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

So now you not only know the quality of my design, you know my quality as a human being?

Like I said ... somebody sure has an enlarged sense of self.

Petitio Principii, he's assuming the initial points without any of the facts, it's both puerile and circular reasoning. It reminds me of the Oscar Wilde argument regarding a lawyer who has studied to the highest degree... It's plain flawed logic.

I have chosen my career as a profession and pretty happy with it yet some people don't have respect for this (or understanding for this logic). And it sounds with the same with you, you like what you're doing and in a reasonably good position and considering the economic climate I'd rather be employed than in a position a friend who worked for BBH a few years ago (ala GFC).

For me if "mark on the industry" = happiness within the role we'll I created more broadcast weather content than any other designer I know (seriously I worked with over 20 channels world wide delivering graphics), I sat in Paris airport watching my own creations, I turned on a tv in LA and saw my work and I've sat in Dubai Emirates lounge and have seen my work broadcast.

However if I take this to agency side, they just don't get it they see it as a one dimensional portfolio without considering the international exposure and dealing at board level.

Again I have far more respect for someone who has passion for what they do rather than the attitude being where you have worked is the be all and end all to what you've achieved.

Well that's my 2 cents worth...

 

[SR2Mac]

Long story short, I quit, found an investor, and I'm now doing something much more fun, and interesting, with no pesky clients to worry about.

Great that you found an investor, but that too can have it's own pressure, because you're still accountable to someone, because at the end of the day it's all about the ROI (Return On Investment). Let's hope you can continue to produce what you enjoy and make him a bundle of cake, so you can enjoy some of it too...

Moral of the story: A change of scenery every so often enriches the experience of being a designer. Clients throttle your creativity, escape the bottlenecks and do something big.

I agree. The thing that I loved about the group I was working for is that they gave me freedom to leave and free up my mind (that change of scenery) and find other design ideas OUTSIDE of my place of work. So that was very satisfying that they allowed that, before I started my own business...

 

[dreemdazer]

Life is like a box of cupcakes...

I was thinking if you love baking you might try cupcakes. They're all the rage right now and you can be very creative and original with each type of cupcake. You could try using organic and natural ingredients, which a lot of people (including myself) value in their food.

 

[citizenzen]

Well that's my 2 cents worth...

Well worth more than a mere two cents.

In all walks of life you'll find talented people who didn't reach the pinnacle of their profession and leave an indelible mark on their industry. Does that mean they weren't talented? Does that mean they didn't fulfill some need? That they didn't contribute?

I don't think it does.

It's like saying that nobody who enjoys running is really a runner unless they won an Olympic medal. Nobody who enjoys playing music is really a musician unless they won a Grammy. Nobody who enjoys painting is really a painter unless their work hangs in a museum.

That is simply too elitist a point of view.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

Well worth more than a mere two cents.

In all walks of life you'll find talented people who didn't reach the pinnacle of their profession and leave an indelible mark on their industry. Does that mean they weren't talented? Does that mean they didn't fulfill some need? That they didn't contribute?

I don't think it does.

It's like saying that nobody who enjoys running is really a runner unless they won an Olympic medal. Nobody who enjoys playing music is really a musician unless they won a Grammy. Nobody who enjoys painting is really a painter unless their work hangs in a museum.

That is simply too elitist a point of view.

Very true and very well said.

And that what my point as well in a round about way I'm absolutely unemployable in agency/studio land but to some that is seen as a complete failure. Where I do have job security and enjoyment which is more than many people can say.

Where's the issue in enjoying what you're doing?

 

[Chevelle]

This thread is very interesting to me. I'm in a similar position, although I'm not a graphic designer at all lol. I went to college for business and since I've graduated (only a year and a half) I've been regretting it ever since. Hate the jobs I've been doing. So I was considering going back to school. In high school I managed an art store and we had a design and printing department. I was always checking out what the graphic designers were doing and it fascinated me. Everybody told me not to go to school for it and that I was crazy for considering it lol. Now I wish I did. So similar to you, I'm thinking about going back to school and making an early change but getting into graphic design rather then out of it.

I am also into baking and culinary arts. Was all set to go to the French Culinary Institute this month but got involved with a restaurant instead so I put my school money I had into that instead.

If you've been in this field for 19 years it won't be easy to make a change, but people have done it and it's definitely possible. It seems like in the culinary field especially people change out of whatever field to get into it. Look at all the books on the market about people doing just that. Michael Ruhlman's books especially will give you a good idea of what the change will be like. I highly recommend them. I say go for it. You'll regret it if you don't. Could you freelance on the side while you work on your baking/pastry career?