Ageism
Out of context: Reply #18
- Started
- Last post
- 19 Responses
- kai_40
Honestly, it might be difficult to stay a freelance graphic designer through your 50's. Not that there aren't a lot of incredibly talented and fulfilled people who do it, but you may want to tether yourself to a few projects with longevity in the meantime and negotiate yourself to a position of value and irreplaceability.
Graphic design is a great job during your 20's and 30's... You can work in coffee shops, locked in headphones, flexible hours, much worse things to do on a hangover. But since you're already brushing against that income ceiling in your 30's, of course you're right in thinking it won't get easier with time.
Why not parlay your self-branding into being the creative director of something... production houses, media, fashion, tech? You might have to give up some of your freedom, but if that's not the definition of growing up, I don't know what is.
Unless you're completely confident in your management skills, running an agency -- even boutique -- would be a hard transition after years of only (and barely) having to manage yourself.
Or you could marry a rich girl and be the best stay at home Dad ever. TBH pretty ideal.