Changing Careers: Corporate to Interior Design
I’ve been on the prescribed path my boomer parents set me on for education and career—until now. I went the practical route after college, getting a temp job at a corporate office answering phones. I turned that into 3 promotions and a social media specialist role. I went on to manage Petco’s social media responses for 9 years as the team manager. Now, I’m a project manager supporting an internal performance software our entire company uses.
At 35, after years of soul searching, I decided to follow my dream career of being an interior designer. I am an artist but have never taken art classes beyond what was offered in high school. I’m so exited to learned about color theory, perspective drawing and design history. It had been 11 years since I had taken a college class, getting back into learning as a student this year was a lot of work and very rewarding.
Anyone else pivoting?? I’d love to hear about your journey 👇
#lemon8challenge #l8r2023 #2023selfreflection #careerchange #interiordesigner #student #learning #education #design #designinspiration
As I navigate this exciting but sometimes overwhelming career change into interior design, I’ve quickly realized how crucial it is to have accessible resources for visualizing ideas and practicing skills. For anyone else diving into this creative world, especially if you're looking for 'free interior design stock photos' or guidance on 'interior design drawing,' I wanted to share some of my newfound insights and go-to spots. When piecing together a 'mood board' or gathering 'design inspiration,' high-quality visuals are a must. I've found incredible free stock photo sites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay to be lifesavers. They offer a vast array of beautiful interior shots, furniture, and decorative elements. You can easily find images that help you experiment with different 'colors & textures' without breaking the bank. These resources are perfect for building client presentations or just exploring your own aesthetic. Sometimes, I even browse design blogs or brand websites that offer free downloadable assets – you just have to do a little digging to find those hidden gems! Then there's the essential skill of drawing. Learning 'interior design drawing' has been one of the most rewarding parts of my education so far. It’s not just about pretty sketches; it’s about communicating your vision clearly. I started with simple hand sketches, practicing floor plans and elevations, much like the early 'floor plan sketch' I did for a 'David Bowie's space' project in my class! There are also fantastic free digital tools emerging. For basic 'floor plan' layouts, some online room planners offer free tiers. Don't be intimidated if you're not an artist – it's about learning the conventions and practicing perspective. I'm still honing my skills, but even simple outline drawings of furniture can bring a concept to life. Sometimes I even use these free stock photos as references for my own drawings, helping me understand scale and proportion, and visualize how different 'colors & textures' will work together in a space. What I’ve realized is that these practical resources aren't just for professionals; they're invaluable learning tools for aspiring designers too. They help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge of 'design history' and practical application. It truly shows that with a bit of effort, you can find so many ways to support your learning journey without significant investment. It will be hard work, it will take time, but I will keep going – every drawing, every mood board, every bit of inspiration adds up!
Me 🙋🏾♀️ I graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration in 2010. Now at the big age of 37 I’ve decided to turn my hobby of interior decorating into a career. I also a creative at heart! Now I’m branching out and signing up for an online interior design program. Great luck on your journey! I’ll be following!