TOO OLD to DESIGN
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- infields
Im a 27yr old graphic designer, working mostly on film advertising. I keep getting this feeling that it wont be too long before i'm too old to start work in a different field of graphic design. Say, Motion graphics, for instance.
Do you guys get the feeling there is a little bit of ageism going on in the design industry towards slightly older applicants. Maybe ridiculous, i know, but i feel if you aint some young gun, brimming with enthusiasm and mold-ability then the firms aren't interested. I just don't run into too many older graphic designers, they've all moved on into middle management or run their own firms. aghhhhhh, ( i think 27 is too early for a mid life crisis, unless mid 50 is my lot.)
- mydo0
"ridiculous"
- set0
Talent knows no boundaries
- infields0
well good, i want some disagreement. I don't want to be correct on this one.
- Miesfan0
too young to shout...
- comicsans0
Changing fields (as an employee) must get trickier as you get older whatever profession you are in. That said, 27 does seem a bit young.
- maikel0
I'm over 30 mate... That's where you either are successful or fuck'd.
- Peter0
>I'm over 30 mate... That's where you either are successful or fuck'd.
Maybe it's just wishful thinking but I'd like to think that you can still accomplish things after 30. Be it starting a new company, inventing something or finding a new career path. Were it almost any other industry I'd think twice before accepting a CEO under 30.
That said, having worked over 10 years there's not much work-wise that excites me the way it used too. Guess it is up to oneself to stir things up.
- You can do whatever you want whenever you want.CygnusZero4
- What Cygnus saiddiscoduro
- DoktorDavid0
I'm twice your age and I'm on my fifth career change in the 30+ years I've been working - age is nothing, skill/attitude/desire is everything. As my eldest daughter said to me one day... "'ell, you can't die; you got too much left to do..."
- 50+er on QBN. Fuck yea.set
- why thank you, you insolent cur... =]DoktorDavid
- curvaceous hotty?set
- this!ItTango
- ribit0
I'm not sure how it is in graphic design, but my ex-boss (now a design director at General Motors Design), switched from architecture to car design in his mid-30s. I knew a lot of designers in Germany who didn't even graduate from their final degree until they were about thirty.
- Amicus0
Think of the most successful thinkers in history.
I bet you didn't picture too many youthful faces, right? I think that tells you something. Talent isn't bounded by age, gender, race, nationality or any other arbitrary limits.
Challenge yourself with the goal of constant improvement and strive to be the best. Find the best in whatever field you like and aim to do something that surprises even them – even if it takes 5 years to achieve. Thats how you keep yourself fresh, and relevant.
- ukit0
A little perspective...
Most people finish college sometime in their mid 20s (25 is the average). 27 = just a few years after graduation.
Average retirement age is 65, and will probably go up to something like 70 by the time we make it that far. So you are talking 40+ years between 27 and retirement.
If you are quitting design at 27 then it isn't really your career, more like "something you dabbled in briefly" before figuring out what you wanted to do.
- <neandersthal
- Not necessarily so, I'm 28 and have been working in design for 12 years. It's certainly my career. But I agree with most of your point.set
- ..what you've said.set
- AVAVA0
I am much more inclined to employ over 30s for design simply because more often than not (as long as their portfolio is hot of course) they generally get things done quicker and of higher quality. They need less management, need less guidance, are more reliable, they know the the industry, have far more experience and therefore get to solutions quicker.
Even though they cost more - you actually save money on less management and less fuck ups.
Design is one of the only industries where age and experience are in your favour.
- Leigh0
Rubbish
whats about Massimo Vignelli, Paul Rand, Wim crouwel, Saul Bass etc
- maikel0
...just to clarify, the previous comment was not meant to taken in a literal way.
I worked for more than 12 years in the design field and I don't think I am yet successful or fuck'd. But I know where I am, and where I want to go.
Following what PeterH says, I doubt you will feel the same excitement when you see trends start, fall, and start again in a loop.
I guess that soon you will find that you have more talent leading people with better technical skills than yours, or you will become specialist in whatever technical skill you have. Maybe you will use your market knowledge to get jobs in.
...and all that failed you can always become a project manager!
- note that the comment is from the perspective of start working professionally at 18 not 25maikel
- ali0
You're a spring chicken, I studied design with a 52 year old who went on to have a career in graphic design.... no need to worry.
- e-pill0
im almost 40 years old and i havent even peaked yet. dont let the work bring your conscious down, jusst take a day to get inspired and soon you will be back disco dancing with the rest.
- "disco dancing"? Is that what the kids are doing these days?TheBlueOne
- damn! e-pill done slipped into some temporal vortex! somebody go get that boy.ItTango
- set0