I’m so burned out that I’m considering quitting design entirely. Am I making a mistake?
A designer, who previously worked at a superyacht company and then a global architecture studio, is contemplating leaving the interior design field due to burnout and a feeling of being unappreciated. The individual reports experiencing intense work, long hours, and feeling pigeonholed into tasks like furniture and material selection, which they do not enjoy. Despite being in a company with perceived opportunities for learning, the designer feels their professional growth is stagnant and that their role as an interior designer is undervalued within an architect-dominated environment. The designer expresses that they never wished to start their own design business and do not consider themselves a 'natural designer' because they dislike working with fabrics.
However, the designer identifies as a creative individual with a passion for painting and writing. They describe themselves as a skilled presenter, inspiring and motivating others, and someone who easily connects with people. They also highlight their positive and organized nature, indicating a desire to find a new profession where they can genuinely connect with people and feel their work is impactful. This sentiment leads them to question if they are making a mistake by considering leaving design entirely, especially given their underlying creative and interpersonal strengths.
Sean Low, a business coach for interior designers, responds to the designer's dilemma by urging them to consider if their 'art' still holds personal significance. He asserts that if it does not, the decision to stop is clear. Low contends that burnout or feeling unappreciated by an employer only holds power if the individual allows it. He suggests that the designer is, in fact, a 'natural designer' because their stated enjoyments—helping people, creating, presenting, inspiring, and connecting—are fundamental aspects of design, which he defines as the conviction to help others visualize and realize what they cannot. The coach posits that the designer might be in the wrong professional environment, or that a deeper issue is at play: a reluctance to fully express their voice and demand an opinion-first, service-second role within a firm, which he assures can be found.
Low advises the designer that quitting, while messy and challenging, is necessary if they are truly burned out. He warns against running from the situation, emphasizing that avoiding confrontation with the underlying reality of gradual personal and professional deterioration will only worsen the malaise. Instead, he encourages moving towards something new, acknowledging that the certainty of pain can sometimes be more tolerable than true uncertainty, but ultimately, uncertainty coupled with hope and opportunity is the path to freedom. He advocates for choosing oneself, one's gifts, and one's art, suggesting that the medium or industry is secondary to the core creative drive and desire to help others. The advice concludes by encouraging the designer to embrace a new dream and find a path that allows their creative spirit to thrive. #BusinessAdvice #CareerChange #DesignerBurnout #ProfessionalDevelopment #InteriorDesign #CreativeProfessionals #CareerCounseling #SelfDiscovery
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