This week we have a tongue in cheek rant about the negative aspects of being a designer. We typically keep things positive on this show, but this week we manage to laugh at the woes of difficult clients, sleepless nights and doing a job that nobody else seems to understand. You may relate to a few of our pet peeves from this week’s show!

[smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/honestdesigners/Episode19Final.mp3?dest-id=468740″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” title=”Episode 19: Why Being a Designer Sucks!”]

Also on:Honest Designer SticherHonest Designer iTunesHonest Designer Soundcloud


Show Notes for This Episode:

[1.00] This week we’re talking about the aspects of being a designer sucks
[1.50] The inability to switch off
[3.00] When you’ve gotten into the flow of a project, you can’t let go of that feeling, in case it doesn’t come back
[5.45] When clients crush your hopes and dreams
[6.20] When you feel like a performing monkey, with the client designing for you
[7.20] People questioning why you charge so much ‘I could do that’
[8.00] The painful waiting period for a client to get back to you
[8.35] Designing by committee
[9.15] When the client wants 5000 revisions on a project (and goes back to the first one eventually)
[9.50] When clients don’t provide all the deliverables you need
[10.45] When your friends and family think you don’t have a real job
[11.20] When people presume you’re an IT expert, just because you’re a designer
[11.55] Not getting paid
[13.40] Strangers not understanding what you do
[15.45] The psychological doubt in what you do
[17.00] The subjectivity of if you’re good or not
[18.40] The barrier to entry is so low, anyone can ‘be a designer’
[20.15] It’s damaging to your mindset
[21.00] Being envious of your peers
[24.00] Not being able to spell and being a designer
[26.30] Being sent dated document formats
[27.00] Browser and device compatibility woes
[27.30] Responsive web design
[29.00] The design world seems to move so fast, it’s so easy to get behind
[31.15] The feast and famine nature of your monthly income as a freelancer
[31.40] Having to do every single role as a freelancer
[32.15] Thinking you’re cooler than you actually are
[34.00] The look of pity when people presume you’re barely able to make a living doing what you do
[34.35] When non-designers try to relate
[36.30] Find peers to laugh about this stuff with, so it doesn’t get to you


“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