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- since197910
Miami,
I used to work broadcast design. I was (and still am) a beast in Adobe After Effects. It was lucrative for awhile but increasingly tedious. I then became a producer and started making full campaigns for on-air and then, for some stupid reason, I became enamored with and learned flash thus becoming an interactive designer for broadcast networks.
That severely exhausted me so I took a sabbatical and began writing using paper and pencil. It wasn't the programming that killed me, it was the revisions and the file size compression that had me up extra hours of the night.
I wrote a screenplay, then another. Simultaneously, I landed an art director gig at a film production company. That led me to start a community program there to help actors with their skills.
That was my first "directing" gig that wasn't attached to a commercial entity. It was purely artistic exercise and it was liberating. I was used to style guides and quick deadlines. I witnessed how that limited my creativity. I was a robot.
I've spent the last 7 years making independent films and growing as an artist. I have expanded my writing through various outlets. I want to release a couple of poetry books and my second graphic novel because I like to make those between film projects and there is stagnation.
I've never had a huge budget on these films and my next approach is to work with bigger budgets and shit so now I have to create some packages, etc.
This was a decent exercise. Glad I wrote it. Thanks.
- oh and I wrote and produced a play. that was an exhilarating experience to say the least.since1979
- fucking cool. whats the name of the films and graphic novel?mugwart
- Seconding mugsy's question.garbage
- nothin worth mentioning, smallish personal projectssince1979
- Still love to see! Prefer that stuff than anything elsemugwart
- orly, my next shorts gonna be sicksince1979
- HNDSTTH0
35 Oakland, CA
For a few years, I worked freelance and owned a small woodworking company. Was working with non-profits in East TN in the mornings, and carving spoons and cutting boards in the evenings. Moved to the bay.
In January 2016 I worked with midsize design agency handling multiple client accounts at the same time. Everything was always rushed and unfinished feeling. The work was enjoyable about 20% of the time. The rest of the time making email templates and slapping logos on images pulled from stock image sites.
Spent March and April polishing up some original electronic music I released on YouTube and Soundcloud. DistroKid soon. It's going well but not something I can monetize at this point.
Launched and built a new portfolio. I want to specialize in doing motion graphics and keep a retainer of clients in the loop.
Currently identifying my next steps.
- Daithi5
Great thread!
I’m 37 in Dublin Ireland. Married with a house, a good wife and an amazing 2.5 year old daughter. Another baby girl on the way in January next year.
I run a small studio with a long standing partner who is a good friend. We do good work, the team is made up of decent hardworking talented people. Finances are always tight at home and at work and are my main source of stress. Sometimes I definitely allow it to get to me... I've gone through long periods of unhappiness in the past which I didn't address for many years. When I met my wife she really helped me to get myself together, and I learned how to find routes back to normality, balance and perspective when things get overwhelming.
These days I try to make some time for important things that aren't urgent and sometimes succeed. Perspective on where things are for me and how fortunate I am in the grander scheme can be hard to maintain, but I try my best.
- Bennn8
My first post was really negative. Here's some positive things ffs > I'm in the best physical condition i've ever been, thanks to martial arts, its gonna be 4 years in november i started this. maybe the best decision i've take lately starting martial arts, it gives me confidence and i learn lots of good life lessons. 'the fight is always against yourself, not the other' is one of them.
I travel every year and visit many places with my gf, we do a lot of thing i wouldnt do if i were alone. I have a condo in a cool part of the city. I make a really decent salary and dont have cash problems. I can buy almost every gadget i want.Thats better now :)
- nylon3
Graduated university in 1998 and was told by lecturers that you are a shit designer if you don't get a job in London.
Moved to London knowing I was a decent designer and simply could not get a job. After about 60 interviews, a husband and wife company gave me a chance. I LOVED it for like two years before I left.
Worked for other companies - one in particular who bullied and overworked me so I left and set up my own thing in 2005.
Have been blagging it to this very day. I know I am a good designer but stuff has changed so much - I feel very much out my depth and not even sure what to call myself title wise or if I'm actually any good. Sure, sometimes it makes decent money but the people I work for are fucking depressing and value nothing.
My work has enabled me to travel all over the world and helped me to move full-time to NYC in 2011. I literally sold everything I own (soul destroying) and rocked up at JFK with 3 bags.
Everything I have in this city has been due to putting myself out there, making real friends and generally trying my best to be a good person. I literally just got my green card this week so I feel I could go out and do something else if I wanted to.
I think I suffer from depression. Some days I feel worthless and what exactly is the point. I wish I had the balls to go and do something else but I don't think Im any good at anything else.
I get excited about things very easily but I also get deflated very easily too. I LOVE making things with my hands - partly because people value it if that makes sense?
I have recently started freelancing in NYC via agencies - the work is easy but the pay is shit because the agencies take a huge cut.
I will say the depression has gone away since I have been 'busy' - I think it makes me take my mind off things. For that reason, I am toying with going full time but I would have to tell all my business contacts and aqaintences. I believe my network in a certain sector could actually help me as they may stick their neck out for me but I find opening up very, very scary.
Work aside, I got married last year, have a baby on the way and we are looking to buy an apartment in NYC (wild). My family makes me very happy and am excited about becoming a dad.
If nothing else, the baby makes me want to knock it out the park and be the best dad ever...
Hopefully I won't be in the design world forever. Sad but true... Still can't put my finger on how something I love and am passionate about has been ripped out of me and is now just a way to earn money :(
- Have def felt this way, and this thread proves we're not alone. We should grab a beer sometime (or coffee if that's your jam).bulletfactory
- Congrats man, you won't get tired of being a good Dad. Its quite the opposite of working, although it will probably push you to the limit sometimes.slappy
- garbage3
Early 30s. Worked 7 years in video editing, got fed up and have since focused more on writing and photography. Hoping to put out a book in a year. I'm making less but enjoying more. Will never, ever have kids; my dog and my girl are all I need. I eat a lot of vegan hot dogs, and don't really fancy living past 40.
- Great luck with the book. Please let us know how it goes.mugwart
- We will see. I actually am working on a photo book, and trying to get some shorts in legit quarterlies. It's scary, but exciting.garbage
- You sound content. Why wouldn't you live past 40?jagara
- The lady asks the same thing. I don't won't to get old, is all. To be fair, when I was in elementary school I always hoped I wouldn't make it to 30.garbage
- *want, Christ sake autocorrectgarbage
- jpgjpg0
42, freelancing creative dev, Ottawa
Married, own a place, no kids.
Started as a flash designer in 2001 and used it to go anywhere I could. Moved to London, then to Edinburgh for my first agency job, then back to Canada for some more agency work.
Still kept pushing which got me to NYC and then Portland and then back to Ottawa, felt burnt out but kept at it. Then got a gig in Amsterdam.
Nowadays I'm back in Ottawa, work for myself, good client work - mostly web dev but from higher up the chain. I work a pretty relaxed pace just go with ebb and flow of freelancing. Sometimes there's lots, but mostly i set the deadlines and stuff gets done.
Took up the drums a year ago play in band, pretty handy around the house, do some woodworking. Anywho, i don't make as much money as i once did, but i make enough - my only worry is not being relevant - jesus, where did react and touchdesigner come from? :)
- desmo2
- Recently turned 36
- No kids, not married but got a great girl
- Been working in the agency world since 22
- Freelanced full time for 4 yrs
- Was lucky enough to live in London, freelance, travel for 2 years in my 20s
- Currently a senior art director at an agency, but been really feeling the work grind lately. Getting completely burned out and unmotivated
- I hardly have enough gas at the end of the day to do personal side projects. But I'm trying.
- I buy a lot of needless material things to fill this void
- Is the natural progression for 'old' designers to be a creative director? At this point, that shit does not appeal to me
- Still feel incredibly lucky to be working in this industry for this long
- Trying to figure out whats next
- Like most of you, i feel like I'm at a fork in the roadGreat thread though. The stories are interesting.
- " Is the natural progression for 'old' designers to be a creative director? At this point, that shit does not appeal to me" feel the exact same way.lvl_13
- OBBTKN0
More like this, Ben:
Set can play Tyler Durden role, easy
- tank022
Hey remember this kid who wanted to make a QBN book. This should actually be it. These stories.
- Is he calling it Book of the Day?CyBrainX
- I'd buy the "old & design thread" book anydayArchitectofFate
- Nutter1
34, Copenhagen, Denmark,
Working part time in house and freelancing for the rest. Bit of a jack of all trades, graphic design, webdesign, web programming and what else is needed. Generally think I'm pretty good at figuring out programs and getting things done, but haven't really had much luck with my career.
Seen old class mates have their caeer really take off, been happy for them but quietly wonder if mine ever will. Didn't help that there were some rough years where my significant others health, going through a drepression and having a messed up family didn't really help.
We've talked about if I can't get a better paying full time job, perhaps I should get out of the design business while I can, and just do it as a secondary thing. Doesn't help that I seem to have a special talent for coming in second place at job interviews.
So I'm getting things ready for another round of job applications, hopefully I'll get lucky this time round.
- hang in there. I find my "downs" and depression actually positives. try and work out what it is and work on that.
I'm sure you'll get somewheremugwart - The depression was actually my other half that had for 4 years, turned out it was a side effect of some medication. 0.01% people get it according to the label.Nutter
- hang in there. I find my "downs" and depression actually positives. try and work out what it is and work on that.
- Bennn10
This thread ;-)
- nar its more fight club! We'll be space cadets any at momentmugwart
- why 2 pics? one would have been sufficient to get the point across, no?chukkaphob
- its gonna be okBennn
- I honestly thought the first pic was a prayer meeting. Thank you for clearing things up with the second picfuturefood
- hehhehbklyndroobeki
- matski10
40, Newcastle, England.
I started as a graphic designer, moved to London after graduating and worked at a few design agencies for 13 years. I got to my limit working as a designer, was very bored, disillusioned with clients etc, so decided to do what I really love, which is painting. Now I am a full time artist.
I sold my flat in London, brought a house by the sea, from where I now paint. I'm about to launch my new career as an artist as I've been busy putting a big collection of works together. I wouldn't have been able to do this but for the fact I am alone, no kids or dependents.
I can relate to many here about being alone, but for me, this is because I have an acute speech impediment (stutter), so communicating verbally for me is very difficult. Not being able to talk, has without doubt held me back, not only in my career as a designer, but also life in general. Its very frustrating, but you adjust and adapt. I've come to terms with being alone, it doesn't bother me, and I enjoy a simpler way of life.
My health is good, and I've found as long as I do three things everything is ok with the world:
• Keep things in perspective
• Keep things in context
• Accept life isn't fairI think accepting life isn't fair is really important. When you come to terms and actually accept life is not fair, it helps to move on. I wouldn't necessarily say I'm happy now, but I am definitely more happy now than I was living and working in London.
- I have a stammer and issues communicating. I share your frustrations. Fantastic life though. Love to see your art works.mugwart
- Re: last paragraph - London's the worst place in the world for a sense of fairness, esp these days. Would love to move to Toon, but foreign partner isn't keendetritus
- NIce man, i want to get back to painting too.i_was
- Good luck with the painting Matski!nylon
- Good on you mate. I have no speech impediment and struggle to communicate. Good luck to you.BusterBoy
- "When you come to terms and actually accept life is not fair, it helps to move on." - The Man has his foot on your throat and you're okay with it.robthelad
- SimonFFM6
41, Frankfurt, Germany
I live in Frankfurt for 20 years now and would like to move. Frankfurt is just a hub for me. With an international airport and good train connections to France, it makes it possible for me to travel to places. But somehow it feels stupid to live in a place where we neither have suitable models nor locations. If only I knew where to move. I cannot decide this for myself as my wife should be moving with me. From afar this might sound simple, for us it isn't.
In 1997 I came here to study design and always worked independently. Being self-employed never was easy, but it's the only way I can work.
Currently I work on very exciting projects. One is my second photo book that I will publish in October 2018 and another is a client project I am not allowed to speak about. It involves naked women, so a lot of people are jealous of me.
- That last line. I was waiting for you to chime in, mostly so I could apply for an assistant position.garbage
- What about Amsterdam? Hubs and I'm sure models and its not quite London price. Or why not France itself? Get a large barn and create a studio?mugwart
- Amsterdam is cool, but a lot of rain. Zero nude models there as well. Paris is too expensive. I don't even need a studio. We will see how things progress.SimonFFM
- scarabin9
learn learn learn
werk werk werk
skipping burning man this year to focus on these things.
starting as a beginner at a place that feeds my mind but dominates my time. complete reversal of previous years.
ended a 12-year relationship, still going strong in a 20-year one. don't want kids because i don't feel like i'm qualified for that sort of thing.
living humbly but rent-free in an old house but doing things to make it cozy.
i try not to compare my path to others or think of the fact that it's half over. just do my best day-to-day, not be a dick, and enjoy what i have.
i do need to travel more!
- No one is really qualified to have kids. We just have them and adapt fastbreadlegz
- yup, you learn on the spot with kids.microkorg
- share your pain about learning. With kids, your view will be the best view. No one is qualified. Its better to question your logic than be confident and 'know'mugwart
- defiantly travel more. I'm itching as well. We all should do a QBN road trip!mugwart
- It's fun to meet someone all giddy and excited about going to burning man and say to them in a dead pan face, "yeah I've gone a few times, it's pretty cool..."robotron3k
- fate7
30 - Terre Haute, Indiana
Hate, hate, hate it here, can't believe I've allowed myself to stay in the midwest for as long as I have. There's nothing to do, the meth and opiod epidemic is real, little to no jobs, very dirty.
Trying desperately to move to Los Angeles and start a new life.
I'm happily married, no kids yet.
Started my own agency about 3 years ago. Before that, I worked for 6 years a Creative Director for a regional marketing firm. I worked like a dog, first one in, last one out, until the hours got to be too much. They offered to make me partner, but with the choice of spending another couple decades in the midwest and with 30 approaching fast, I decided to jump ship.
Hardest decision I ever made, but best decision I ever made.
After that, they decided to close their firm, and were gracious enough to give me their clients. Still on great terms with both of the former partners of the firm.
Running a business is stressful, but I worked freelance for years and years and years, so it's been like jumping on a bicycle.
Really hoping the move to California will be a fresh start and the right move for my career. Wife and I have traveled extensively the last 3 years, and California is the only place see for our futures.
I would love to get a CD job at an agency and be able to finally put down some roots.
- thumb_screws4
Great thread, so interesting to hear others QBN’rs stories!
37, married and feel like I’m in a really good place at the moment :)
I had typed out a massive synopsis of how I got to where Im at. Re-read it and realised its irrelevant.
Designer by trade but moved into advertising creative, have lived and worked in Sydney, Melbourne, London and currently in Hobart.
A few years the absurdity of the pressures of working in agencies started to become apparent and I started to look for an out.
Had my Honeymoon in Tasmania and instantly fell in love with the place, we promised each other if we the opportunity came up to work here we would take it.
I got head hunted by an agency (I don't work there anymore, I'm self employed now) and moved here.I shifted from being someone who defines them self by their work/career success. To someone who still loves their work but realises that its only a small part of what I am and do. I think the environment here has had massive impact on me in that regard.
- We visit Tassie at least once a year, I always dream of buying a place in Sandy Bay. Could happen.slappy
- Do it! Its still way cheaper than the Mainland. I live on the ridge above Sandy Bay.thumb_screws
- Wow, Tasmania! Great story!SimonFFM
- My brother in law looked at a map of Tassie...and decided it wasn't for him ;)BusterBoy
- Hehe *boom tish*thumb_screws
- d0mino9
34, Melbourne, Australia
Grew up in Brisbane. Studied design to work in Advertising.
After graduating started working for a real pack of dickheads designing Annual Reports. These reports are all due on the same day, so we had horrendous crunch times. Worked minimum wage without a day off (that's weekends, too) for months on end. They ended up firing me after a year, which was a great blessing.
The day I was fired was also the day that applications for an advertising program (AWARD school) closed. I had been toying with the idea, but thought I would tough out another year doing annual reports before jumping ship. Think I didn't have the time or energy to put an application on the day it closed. GF at the time really pushed me to do it, gave them a call and got an extension of 2 days. Applied, got in, and that set me on my path to work in Advertising. If GF wasn't there to push me my life would be very different.
Got a job at a great agency doing finished art. Really inspiring creative leadership. Worked my ass off doing FA with the hope of rising through the ranks. Got a job offer from a competing agency as junior AD with a writer I did AWARD school with, told my employer I was going to walk. They really wanted to keep me, so put me up to junior AD and I worked directly with the CD (writer) for about a year until they put on a junior writer to team up with me.
Worked there for 6 years. Learned so much. Did great work with great people. The CD and MD ended up selling the business to a big global group about 4 years in. The culture really changed in those last two years.
In those 6 years I married that GF, we bought an apartment. Life was good, but didn't really have a sense of the world. Was pretty sheltered in the creative dept there.
During that time wife got really caught up in a design niche and got lucky with timing. We moved to Melbourne to start a business together, bigger creative industry to work with.
It's been almost 6 years and the time has FLOWN by. We were living in the studio for the first 2 years. We have a 2 year old boy now, and we bought a house in the burbs. We have 4 staff, not including ourselves.
Late last year I bought into another business, doing digital development servicing creative industries (design studios). It's been a learning experience but great so far. A QBN hookup was a godsend. For this I am super thankful. You know who you are. Biggest change is business partners not being my wife.
Went into business for myself for flexibility – saw my CD going home at 6pm for half an hour to read his kids a story before bedtime and then head back to the studio with us to see the night through. Didn't bother me working late in my early 20's, it was fun. Good work, good crew but if I were to have a family I wanted to spend time with my kids. Fast forward to now, currently working 4 day weeks, spending one day with my boy. We go to the zoo almost every Friday together, just me and him and the spider monkeys. It's great. Squeeze in extra work during naps, and evenings, but it's on my schedule. Not sure how sustainable this is though.
The pressures of running 2x business is real. We're renovating our house. Wife is keen to have another baby. Am I happy? Things are super, super tight at the moment. I think that is feeling the risk of new business and the slowing in growth of the old.
Watching the bottom line, chasing monthly sales targets is exhausting.
I have a lot of responsibilities to a lot of people.
- I knew a bunch of dicks that did Annual Reports...in Melbourne. Richmond to be specific! :)BusterBoy
- these dicks were Brisbane based. After I left they folded a year later because one of the dicks was cooking the books.d0mino
- The pressure is high. I had 7 staff at one point all relying on me to bring in the work.breadlegz
- dyspl7
38 - No kids yet
Left France in 2010 for Singapour to follow my GF, we got married and then moved to USA.
I Landed my dream job in California a couple of years ago, and it's exactly if not better than what I was hoping it to be. In the meantime, after a year at this job my personal life went to shit, I went into depression for about a year. I did a lot of therapy and gym, it helped me a lot. Things are way better now, I'm not as in good shape as I was then, but I'm happy.
I'm still at this job, and keep growing with the company.
I work a lot, doing extras on top of my full-time job, I'm currently trying to save some time to start a side gig/personal project I've been wanting to do for a long time, and Wifey and I try to save money for a future home.
I've been pretty lucky so far, even though I worked hard for it. Curious to see what's next.
- BonSeff4
42, Plano, TX. Got run out of Austin 15yrs ago after the .com crash, had to move up to Dallas to find work. Worked for a challenging interactive shop and developed anxiety. Losing my dad didn:t help.
But moving up here brought me to my wife and we have a beautiful, spirited 4yr old daughter.
I currently am an Interactive CD for a mid-sized agency. Coming up on 20yrs since graduating college. I am growing old and crusty and having a hard time relating to the kids I manage. Pushing pixels around and making things pretty is getting old as well. But its all I know.
- I should have gone into accounting or plumbing. nothing creative about accounting and plumbing you know you are dealing with shit going inBonSeff
- ™BonSeff
- I dream of mowing lawns for my next job somedays, the grass is either cut or not cut.slappy
- "spirited" meaning hyper active?! ;-)mugwart
- Spirited in super happy and full of life! Just a wonderful little person.
http://halftonefacto…BonSeff