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Ok, i'll keep this short. I've been at my current job in a big worldwide corporation for just over 12 months. It hasn't worked out as planned and l've been looking for ways out for a while. My background is in product design, within which l have always had a very hands on, creative mentality. I work in the design department and while l work with a good, young team, l struggle to get my head around the work, mainly as it is concentrated on refining the design process itself. Its very process lead, and there is virtually no opportunity to do actual design work - everything gets outsourced.
I have recently been offered two jobs. One is at an old employer (design consultancy), one at a local packaging firm where l would be employed as a pack designer. The first has a bit less pay, longer hours, but will be a lot more interesting and will allow me to get back to what l enjoy as a job. The second will pay more than currently, with similar hours, but is likely to be a bit dull. But at least both options will allow me to be hands on and creative again.
I'm in a bit of a pickle as to what to do. While my current job is very secure, flexible, offers progression (if l'm up for endless corporate brown nosing, BS'ing and such, but I really don't think l am), l feel redundant here and l want to get back to what l love.
Am l making a mistake by moving so soon (1year)?
All big employers work that way. That's the way of the world these days.
1 year? No. It'll be fine.
Less than 2 weeks? No. (Exactly what my wife did)
As long as you can justify it, it'll be fine.
All big employers work that way. That's the way of the world these days.
With respect, I don't think this is actually true.
I've worked places where designers are allowed to design, with a manager dealing with all the process and admin stuff.
Just might not get the big bucks that way.
OP - don't worry, so long as you can explain your reasoning so eloquently at your job interview
Having been in the design industry all my working life, one simple equation applies:
Job doing interesting creative stuff = not very well paid
Job doing spirit-crushingly formulaic, dull, unimaginative corporate stuff = ker-ching!
Best thing is to go freelance/self-employed and do a balance of the two. 😀
Failing that, go for the interesting, lower paid job. I guarantee you'll be so much happier
If you don't , then a couple of years, when you can take no more, you'll realise you made the wrong decision, and all the money in the world won't make up for the waste time.
Its the rest of your life. Look past the money! Its not the most important thing, by a long shot
[quote="binners"]Job doing interesting creative stuff = not very well paid
Job doing spirit-crushingly formulaic, dull, unimaginative corporate stuff = ker-ching!I'm currently making a sideways move from the latter sort of role to the former. Having already climbed the greasy corporate pole as far as I can be bothered.
Just wondering if I can remember how to create stuff, instead of telling other people what processes they have to follow to be allowed to create stuff........
You're there for a significant portion of your week, it might as well be enjoyable.
Good luck with it ghostlymachine. I guarantee you'll never look back, and fully embrace a return to this creativity lark 😀
Just wondering if I can remember how to create stuff, instead of telling other people what processes they have to follow to be allowed to create stuff........
Yeah, that's going to be 'fun'
Genuinely didn't realise you could make something so seemingly creative and interesting (as product design) into something as dull and rigid as my employer's process. I can see why they have to do this, but I just cant seem to wrap my head around it and to be frank, its dull as dishwater...
Enjoyment > Money
Just be sure going back to your old job isn't through rose tinted glasses
[quote="wornout"]Genuinely didn't realise you could make something so seemingly creative and interesting (as product design) into something as dull and rigid as my employer's process. I can see why they have to do this, but I just cant seem to wrap my head around it and to be frank, its dull as dishwater... TBH in a lot of design/creative industries it's absolutely essential to have a process, aerospace, automotive, architecture, bike design (LOL) and so on. So you can almost guarantee that it won't go wrong, or that if it does go wrong, you at least tried to do it right.
With no process, you're in a world of pain.
So I can see the point.
But in some areas, the process has become a massive drain on resources and has finally become the biggest part of the job. Which makes it very very boring.........
I'm a product designer working at a design consultancy and i've been in the same situation . Both ways too. Enjoyment to money and then back to enjoyment. I worked as a design engineer for 7 years at a medical company and they loved a process/guidance/SOP/ etc..
I wont go into what I done but I can offer the following:
Packaging design is boring as **** on the whole imo.
You can always go back to corporate design world towards the end of your career when your experience alone helps you get past brown nosing.
I would try and put in place and cash goals with the design consultancy so as their business grows its reflected in your pay.
Job doing interesting creative stuff = not very well paid
Job doing spirit-crushingly formulaic, dull, unimaginative corporate stuff = ker-ching!
This.
Work is looking for a Powerpoint designer at the moment. I wouldn't do it for love or money but the right person could ask to be paid in gold sovereigns, and probably get it.
I'm in a bit of a pickle as to what to do. While my current job is very secure, flexible, offers progression (if l'm up for endless corporate brown nosing, BS'ing and such, but I really don't think l am), l feel redundant here and l want to get back to what l love.
Without wishing to appear rude, how old you OP?
Im early thirties.
the process has become a massive drain on resources and has finally become the biggest part of the job. Which makes it very very boring.........
This? Check. 😐
Im early thirties.
Go travelling! 😀
In all seriousness I ask because I'm late thirties and aware the greasy pole is getting slipperier without already having climbed to a safe perch, if that's the sort of thing you're aiming for (I'm not. But a payrise would be nice...)
Go for the consultancy, much better in the long term - wider range of experience, reater commercial involvement and awareness, more ownership of your work, generally a better atmosphere.
Packaging design? Do you want to look back on that in years to come? Ooh I put that product in some rather good packaging.....
I can offer a perspective from someone who started their career in product design 28 years ago and how much I'd love to still being doing a genuinely creative role. I've climbed the corporate greasy pole and whilst the money is OK, it doesn't compensate for job satisfaction - I currently find myself in HR for one of the UK's biggest companies trying to get 'creative' with organisation development! The only compensation is that I put my skills to use by designing my own bikes, kayaks etc and get to play with them. The bull$hit doesn't stop at any level and my aspirations are capped on the basis that I didn't have a desire to spend any more time than necessary with some colleagues. My advise is be totally realistic about your talents and if you genuinely have a flair for design, then nothing beats the satisfaction of turning your ideas into reality.
Three weeks later...
Well, things are still looking fairly optimistic with regards to moving back to the consultancy. I have a meeting with the directors soon to discuss our plan's for the future. Without wanting to sound completely moronic, what's the best way of bringing up / discussing / securing things like potential pay rises, flexible working, promotion etc, particularly within small companies?
Without wanting to sound completely moronic, what's the best way of bringing up / discussing / securing things like potential pay rises, flexible working, promotion etc, particularly within small companies?
Honestly? Probably quite directly. Discussing - certainly. Securing - that's the tough bit, especially in a small company. I need to do this soon, but I've already had the 'what do I need to do to get a promotion?' conversation, so I'm now anticipating the 'I'd like a promotion and payrise' chat.
As I've grown older and wiser,
I would say go for the job with the most money / least hassle.
I've decided frankly work is dull what ever you do the objective is to get the most money for the least hassle.
This will enable you to enjoy the rest of your life with out so much to worry about.
On the other hand Im not suggesting going for jobs which pay alot but increase stress levels too much.