Today we look at if it’s ever too late to get into design. We tackle two listeners questions around this topic and give our best tips for how to break into the creative industry at any age. Without further ado, let’s get into the show.
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Show Notes for This Episode:
[0:30] Today we look at if it’s ever too late to become a designer
[1:30] Tom challenges Ian to do the intro for this episode
[2:00] Dustin and Lisa also give the intro a try
[3:00] This topic is coming from a couple of listener questions
[3:25] The first question comes from Dustin’s follower Naomi Gee @patternedlove
[4:00] The second question is from Sam Cunningham from Nick Nack Crafts
[5:30] Naomi is 30 years old and the host believe that is possible for her to get into design
[6:00] Feeling like an impostor when entering the design scene with no experience
[6:20] Dustin lists the advantages and disadvantages of starting a design career later in life
[7:00] Entrepreneurs in their 30s and 40s have a higher chance of succeeding
[7:20] Samuel L. Jackson started his acting career at 46 years old
[8:30] Ian is almost 40 and looks at the many more years he still has working as a designer
[9:00] Lisa started her illustration career when she was 40
[9:40] Having been self-taught Lisa wondered if she was good enough
[10:20] The benefit of so many courses available on the Internet
[10:40] You can learn anything at any age
[11:00] Dustin worked in banking until he was 27
[11:30] He remembers Ian’s early lettering days and his progress over the years
[11:45] ‘It only takes a few years of dedicated work to become exceptional at a skill’ – Dustin Lee
[12:50] Being able to focus more on what you want when you’re a bit older
[13:30] Actively taking classes and learning more techniques
[14:00] The daily challenges giving you a push to practice and post something every day
[15:00] We all struggle with time so it’s important to decide what you’re dedicating your time to
[15:45] Ian choosing Calligraphy for Dummies over Downton Abbey
[16:30] He then studied how to do web design and got regular work designing websites
[17:40] The cost of Skillshare classes is not more than 3 cups of coffee
[18:20] Ian learned more from this classes than what he learned at college
[19:00] The different skill levels and applications of drawing
[19:50] Ian’s experience with trying to learn PHP coding language
[20:30] Knowing when it’s worthed to pursue a new skill and when you should give up
[21:30] He did not imagine where learning calligraphy could take him
[22:40] The different aspects of design and all the ways in which you can work as a designer
[23:20] The hosts debate Sam’s craft style and believe it’s a valid way of designing
[23:50] Not many people knowing about the digital scrapbooking community
[24:30] Tom explains how Jeremy from The Artifex Forge created ‘The Comprehensive Paper Craft Collection’ using actual paper craft
[25:20] The existence of the most random jobs
[26:00] Ian lists how many jobs and people are involved in making a flight possible
[28:00] Tom’s friend’s neighbour being the inventor of the airplane buckle seatbelt
[28:30] Tom’s aspirations of writing a book and doing public speaking
[29:20] Finding inspiration and getting permission by seeing someone else doing something
[31:20] Learning and accelerated focus learning when wanting to learn a skill later in life
[31:45] The benefit of being able to test a skill without the financial pressure of making a living out of it
[32:30] The importance of having years of work experience, no matter the field
[33:00] The different salary expectations based on age and experience
[33:40] Lisa thinks Naomi has a huge advantage over young people fresh out of college
[34:00] People will mostly hire you based on the quality of your work
[34:50] The need of being up to speed with the changes in design software technology
[35:30] Ian’s suggests trying out design in her spare time while still doing her day job
[36:00] He mentions getting a lot of client work from things he’s done for Instagram
[37:00] Giving yourself a year of learning a new skill and putting work out there
[37:50] This will show your commitment to learning a new skill
[38:50] Bonnie Christine’s example of teaching others pattern design
[39:40] What sets you apart from others is your determination and commitment to learning something
[40:20] If you want something you need to start today
[42:00] Dustin’s experiment of asking yourself what would you tell a friend wanting to start another job later in life
[42:50] Tom wanting to know who the oldest Honest Designer listener is and asking them to reach out
[43:50] Lisa’s example of how her mom started painting a few years back and already has an Etsy shop selling her goods
[44:40] She even thought herself to use design programs
[45:10] The multitude of retired Design Cuts community members
[46:00] The other hosts teasing Lisa and joking about her mum stealing her work
[47:20] Being more comfortable in your 30s with all your personal stuff
[48:00] 30s and 40s being the best years in your life
[49:00] Thanks so much for listening to this week’s episode
“A must for every creative freelancer (or those aspiring to freelance). Thank you for being so… honest! Such a wealth of information from people I admire who have ‘been there and done that’. Listening to the podcast every week feels like I’m among friends. Can’t wait for more episodes!” – AG_GD
I am responding to your query as to the age of your listeners. I am 70 – and two years ago began learning surface design. I have a background as a crafter, quilter, and artist. I always wanted to be an artist – and finally allowed myself to make that a priority at the age of 59. I have been creating designs at Spoonflower for a little over 2 years now. I work on my shop 20 – 30 hours a week, and am happy to see that my sales are becoming more and more frequent. I spend most of my time on that project, but also paint, and have a bit of a shop at Zazzle. My spoonflower shop is http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/maryyx if you would like to see what I have been up to.
Hey Mary, thanks so much for getting in touch and sharing your story with us. Wow that is so great and so inspirational to hear that you can follow your passion even at 70. Your patterns are so beautiful and we’re so happy that they are already bringing a good income your way. Well done Mary, you should be very proud of yourself. Keep up the good work and best of luck with everything :)
As long as we maintain our health . . . and sometimes in spite of it . . . we can follow our dreams and our passions . . . for always, in our core, we are the same person . . . we just look different on the outside. It is following those passions that keeps us inspired, keeps us truly alive and thriving.
Wow ok, I’m not as old as Steinar but did not start my career until I was 49 (Now 52). I studied Web Design at an online college as I live in a VERY rural area of Alberta, Canada. Graduating to realize that I learned web design and not what to do with it. *sigh After realizing there was no opportunity for either freelancing locally or being hired by an agency in my area I did what any recent grad would do and wallowed in self-pity for a bit before determining that working for a company remotely would be just the thing…Nope not qualified – imposter syndrome took over..then another brainstorm I would further develop my skills making me irresistible and enrolled in some courses in WordPress Development and JavaScript, JQuery etc…back to imposter syndrome. Now realizing that the current powers that be in North America had effectively closed the doors for a Canadian girl and her skills I turned to Freelancing and am just working on setting up for working online. Luckily I won tuition in a Freelance Business Building Course (serendipitous isn’t it?)
You guys are a true inspiration for people in my position in every way. Thank you so much for addressing the newbie and laying out real practical ways to move forward. I had promised myself that I would do one tutorial per day after graduation to improve my skills and have done….wait for it ….ZERO Ok I am committing myself to 100 days of design tutorials and will let you all know where to find me so I will be kept accountable.
Keep up the good work and thanks again!
Hey Suzanne
Thanks so much for getting in touch and for sharing your story. It’s really inspiring to hear that even though the attempt at web design didn’t go as well as expected you did not give up and now you are working on setting up your own business. Congratulations on winning your tuition and we wish you best of luck with the new freelance design business.
Glad to hear that you are feeling inspired with starting a daily design tutorial challenge and we can’t wait to see your progress. Please do share your feed so we can cheer for you :)
OK, now we all want to know where we can see Lisa’s mom’s Etsy shop!
Hey Diann, thanks for getting in touch. Ha ha so do we :) We’ll ask Lisa if she can please share this information with us and let you know :)
Honest designers,
I studied graphic design from 1971 to 1974 and printing/graphic art from 1974 to 1977. After that I did not work directly with art and design for many years. In 2014 I made a choice to revitalize my earlier passion for art and design, and learned Autodesk 3ds Max, Pixologic Zbrush, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects and more. Now my age is 67 . . . and I am trying to break in to the design industry. In episode 72, “Is it ever too late to get into design”, you were asking the oldest Honest Designer listeners to reach out, to find out who is the oldest. I really do not think I am the oldest . . . with an age of 67, but I think I will be high up on the list . . .
SteinarV
Hey there Steinar, thanks so much for getting in touch and sharing your experience working as a graphic designer. Well done for teaching yourself all these design programs after such a long break from design. It’s great to hear you’re trying to break into design at 67 and we’re sure you will do great. This means that all those people in their 30s and 40s have no excuse not to try now. Best of luck ?