Isolation is something a lot of creatives go through, particularly if they’re working from home. How important is human contact as a designer? Is there a happy medium between a full-time office job or working from home alone? What are some effective ways to connect with like-minded people? How should your personality type dictate your work life? We cover all this and more in today’s episode of The Honest Designer’s Show.
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Meet Your Hosts
The Honest Designers Show started when our founder Tom found he was regularly chatting and sharing tips with top designers; Ian Barnard, Lisa Glanz and Dustin Lee. We soon organised a weekly call where we would help each other with areas we were struggling with and try to give each other actionable feedback. Soon we realised that the collective experience of the group was proving so valuable for each of us, that we thought ‘why not share these conversations with the world?’.
And so, The Honest Designers Show was born! This podcast is an insight into how to succeed in the creative industry, as well as giving you a totally transparent, under the hood look at some of the tougher, less glamorous hurdles to overcome! We also tend to get a little goofy along the way, so this is a chance to get to know each of us a little better :). We’ve loved recording this show for you, and we hope that you find value and enjoyment in listening to it.
SHOW NOTES
In this episode we talk about isolation as a designer. We compare working from home to working with a team, and look at some ways you can find a happy middle ground, that suits your personality type.
[1.00] We’re all isolated
[2.00] Why your personality type dictates your level of isolation when working
[2.50] Ian’s experience working with a team
[3.15] Our collective desperation for human-connection
[4.00] Ian’s coffee breaks and Dustin’s loneliness!
[6.00] How Skype calls can help
[6.50] Adapting your situation around your mindset
[7.45] Ian escaping to London to get people time in
[9.15] Why face to face interaction matters
[10.30] Lisa’s tips for outside activities reducing isolation
[12.00] Lisa finding mental balance (talking to her pets!)
[13.20] The importance of making a non-work schedule
[14.15] Why you shouldn’t be one dimension with your interests
[15.20] Design conferences and communities
[17.20] Ian and Dustin meeting in real life at a conference
[18.30] How the average person has no idea what creatives do
[21.20] The importance of ‘doing you’
[22.20] There are options, and there can be a middle-ground
[23.30] Ian’s friend’s dad who was living the designer dream!
[24.40] The freedom of being a freelancer
[25.50] The benefits of working in an office
[29.30] How offices can also be bad for your mindset
[30.30] Why the atmosphere where you work is everything
[31.30] Dustin paying attention to his ‘biological rhythms’
[32.30] Dustin having the freedom to nap every day
[34.00] Lisa needing more balance and less isolation
[36.15] Lisa being a machine!
[38.20] How Lisa’s personality type is so determined and dedicated (dictating her work life set up)
[40.00] Being grateful for your work-life balance
[43.00] The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people
[45.30] Escaping from the daily routine
How you can help
As this is a new show, we’d really appreciate your help spreading the word. If you enjoyed listening and found value in this episode, you can do these two things to help us:
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2. Leave us an honest rating/review in iTunes
Early reviews can make the world of difference for new podcasts being discovered, and it would mean the world to us if you were able to help.
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Want Help From the Honest Designers?
We would love to help you with your creative journey! Simply use #honestdesigners on social media, and the four of us would love to check out what you’re working on, join the discussion and try to help wherever we can!
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Let Us Know What You Think
We would absolutely love to know how you enjoyed this episode. We’ll be releasing a new episode each Wednesday, and look forward to hopefully answering many of your questions on the show.
Thank you for creating this show. I have enjoyed listening to all of the podcasts. I appreciate the open, honest, and direct perspectives that each of the contributors bring. I don’t have iTunes to follow or leave a review but if it ever comes to android I will.
Thanks Wendy, that’s really appreciated :). Not to worry about the review, your lovely comment is motivation enough for us to keep going! I really hope that you continue to enjoy the show.
I look forward to listening every week. Love that it’s candid and honest…real. It’s inspiring!!
Thanks a ton Becky, that’s so kind of you :). I hope you enjoying the upcoming episodes.
I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!! Soooo good to know I’m now alone in all this!!! Been feeling like an alien for a while now with the isolation thing but hearing you guys talk about the same thing helped put things in perspective! Can’t wait for the next episode!
Thanks so much Mona, that means the world to us :). You’re definitely not alone, we’ve all been through what you’re feeling, and I hope this episode helped you to find some ways to overcome this isolation.
Hi,
Love your podcasts! I’ve been listening to the past few of them and they are wonderfully helpful for my home based handmade party business. I have a topic suggestion for a future podcast – just throwing it out here! I recently had to purchase a new camera for taking photos of my products for my website and five Etsy shops. I am NOT a photographer but I kept getting what seemed like all the wrong advice on which camera to buy??! A photographer friend almost talked me into spending around $600-$800 USD on a camera. After researching it more, I decided I did not need that type of an expensive pro camera! I would have had to take photography lessons to probably figure out how the heck to use it! Anyway, I just need a good inexpensive camera for product photos. Now, of course if I was a photographer, selling my photos on Etsy- that would be different- I would need a fancy, expensive camera. I went with basically the same Canon point and shoot camera I had with the newer version having some upgrades and more pixels (mine worked great for 3 years, but started having shutter problems- most likely because I dropped it, so I had to replace it). I got an Amazon deal for less then a $125.00. Crazy! I really almost spent way more than I needed to based on bad advice. Please help others with a round-table discussion of when and when not to buy an expensive camera for your business. Even graphic designers sometimes need to take photos of their designs- so it would certainly be a helpful podcast subject. Thanks much for all the great advice so far. I’ll keep listening! Jill Hayes
Thanks a lot Jill, I’m so excited the show has been helping you and your party business. In terms of the camera, honestly, I’d say all 4 of us identify more as designers as opposed to photographers, so we may not be the best people equipped to answer this question.
However, one thing I do believe is that it’s not about how fancy your equipment is, but rather what you do with it. It sounds like you’re already thinking along these lines, and I do think it’s wise to invest time in learning how to properly use your camera, come up with interesting compositions etc… rather than just throwing money at the latest shiny camera.
The business man in me would also advocate that there are potentially wiser ways to spend your hard earned money as opposed to a flashy piece of kit. For example – hiring part time staff, advertising etc…
I hope this helps :).
Your podcasts make me feel like maybe I AM actually a “Designer”as I have totally identified with the issues in each one, despite a lack official status through formal qualifications ! (as covered in a previous podcast!) thanks they are great, it’s like joining your team on coffee break!
Thanks so much Elise, and take it from us, you ARE a designer! :) Ultimately, the only badge of honour you need to prove your worth as a designer is to design stuff. If that’s what you love to do, you’re a designer. I’m thrilled the podcast is resonating with you so far, and all four of us really appreciate you tuning in each week.