I'm not going to come against you for not having a degree, but I do have to ask. Were you trained as a Junior at a design or print studio, or is all of your previous work freelance, or Fiver type jobs?
That is going to make all of the difference.
I am from Ireland. And I can tell you honestly that it's almost impossible for a new designer to get work here without a degree, in any discipline. The job market is way too saturated with university graduated designers.
I worked as a graphic and UI/UX designer for two companies: a charity platform startup and a logistics company that transports goods from China to Kyrgyzstan, my home country. In addition to these positions, I also worked as a freelancer in between jobs. (I found orders through friends, did not use freelance platforms)
In Kyrgyzstan, a diploma is not as important as work experience and a strong portfolio. I would have found a great job there a long time ago, but the salaries are low. I won a green card, a year ago my family and I moved to the USA. Now, when I apply for jobs here, I often encounter requests for educational qualifications, which creates problems. So I’m thinking, maybe I should go for an interior designer or a ui/ux designer...
If I was to stop being a graphic designer, I'd go into tech, or product design, honestly. You have to learn UI/UX as part of a product design course, so it's related. Certainly not interior design. It's very different, and requires a very different skill set.
I would look into 1-2 year courses in whatever design discipline you want to work in, if I were in your shoes. You would at least have a piece of paper to compete with everyone else out there, and your portfolio will do the rest.
I have a friend over in the US who did a 2-year animation course and is now working at a big name studio there as an animator. She could already do the work, she really just needed a paper to say she was qualified. It is what it is.
Regardless of what kind of design you’re looking to do, you’re going to be competing for jobs with people who have degrees and more years of experience. You’re also competing with people who might have personal connections at any given employer. If you don’t have a degree and your portfolio isn’t blow-your-mind good, your chances of being hired are pretty low. I don’t think interior design is any more in demand than graphic design and it still requires at least a portfolio of good work. With no degree or experience, I imagine it will be even more difficult for you to become an interior designer than a graphic designer.
Thanks for the answer! I think you’re right, I’m on edge right now and haven’t even thought about the fact that I need my own interior design portfolio
I think you'd need to ask an interior design sub. Despite both being "design" there is really nothing in common between graphic design and interior design.
>There are so many graphic designers competing for the same jobs; literally, over 500 people apply for one position on LinkedIn within a day.
I wouldn't trust those numbers to begin with, but they also won't be equally qualified or competent in the first place.
Even if that 500 is accurate, you can immediately remove half due to having zero design qualifications of any kind (eg people spamming every posting, especially for work visas), and of the other 250, 60-70% will not meet minimum standards for the role. So very quickly you could be down to only 75-100 relevant applicants, but that will still be a spectrum from "barely good enough" to whatever the ceiling is for that group, of which, in theory, the best 15-25 people might be contacted.
So it still largely comes down to being sufficiently developed and able to demonstrate proper ability and understanding in your work, along with just making good decisions and not making avoidable or sloppy errors in your materials. Even if there will always be more qualified people apply than are called, if you can consistently be seen as within the top 25-50 applicants within typical pools you'll stand a much better chance. You won't ever know exactly where you fall, but the better you are and the better you do with your work, the more likely you should fall within that group.
The issue in that sense is probably this:
> I'm still a junior designer with 2 years of experience, but not in the U.S., and I don't have a degree in design.
What development/training did you have prior to that experience, and what does that 2 years actually involve? Is it only freelancing?
Thank you very much for your response! I'm trying my best. I recently created an Instagram account and am considering promoting myself on social media, including TikTok and Instagram, showcasing my work process, and so on (creating content to attract clients, as many designers do). However, I have some doubts about whether it will work out because I'm feeling a bit burnt out.
I worked for one year in a charity startup in my country as a graphic and UI/UX designer, and I also worked for one year in a logistics company, also as a graphic and UI/UX designer. In the logistic company I've been working as a solo designer, doing almost everything. This includes redesigning a company's brand, redesigning a website with another senior designer, updating logos, brand books, and print materials.
Maybe I was too hasty in leaving graphic design, and I should continue to promote myself and start applying for UI/UX designer positions. However, I have only worked with Figma, and many job postings require knowledge of HTML/CSS as a mandatory skill.
I created my own Instagram page a week ago and I’m thinking about creating TikTok and creating content to attract clients. I also simultaneously submit 30 applications for jobs in companies almost every day. If this doesn’t work, then I’ll probably leave design.
But I think it's worth a shot right? Getting to build clients from the ground up. If they experienced the commendable output of your work and find you reliable enough for your service, I believe you will be remembered by them next time they need something similar. Wdyt
Since you don't have a design degree - meaning you haven't put a lot of money and studies into the degree, you should certainly pursue other careers. I can't imagine Interior Design has many opportunities but go explore it. Good luck.
I am currently switching from interior design to graphic design :)) If you are not really passionate about interior design then better don’t do it. The first year when you are still learning about the industry it’s interesting, but then, it becomes very demanding and the pay is not worth it. But if you are very curious about architecture, furniture & decor and you like to talk to people all the time, then it may be a good career for you! Just be prepared to work long hours and in the weekends sometimes.. but I think this applies to any design job
Interior design is just as hard an industry as graphic design.
If you’re looking for something easy and stable, you’d do best to avoid all creative roles.
Not sure how you "switch" to interior design as a professional without formal education or a degree in either discipline. They are very different professions. If you get work for an ID firm, it will probably not be a creative role. Maybe you bring software skills for space planing or mocking up plans? You could maybe get your foot in the door doing project management or maintaining the sample library? I have some experience and know many in this business. It is tough. You are dealing with the client's tastes vs the designer's point of view in many cases. They don't always align. There can be very expensive mistakes made when a measurement is not correct or something goes damaged. You could be a "designer" in a furniture store, but you are basically working retail sales and that means low pay and limited advancement.
Stick with graphic design for a while. You have somehow made your way into a position with no education or experience. Don't throw that away. Don't obsess over AI taking your job. AI may likely expedite many function of your job, but a designer can keep it from looking weird and maybe improve on what AI provides.
If you are burnt out, look at what you can do to help with that. Can you change something in the work environment? Can you talk to your boss about options? What about self-care? I started doing hot yoga 3 days per week last year and it had improved my life in so many ways. In particular my mood and energy. Maybe there is something that will maybe you feel better outside of work?
Thank you very much for such a responsive answer! In fact, I just adore design and love it so much that constantly being on job search pages and the financial situation makes me burn out, I just want to design for pleasure for myself and my clients. Of course, I gave up on sports and even walking, I think this greatly affects my mental state. I need to pull myself together
Low effort graphic design jobs are going to disappear. With the improvements in AI and programs like Canva, just knowing how to use photoshop is not enough.
Graphic Designers in the near future will have to be able to demonstrate that their designs capture attention better than what anyone with no skills can do. If you can’t do that, you will struggle to stay employed.
One of the best paths for you would be to consider becoming/focusing on being an Environmental Graphic Designer. They are typically in high demand and you get the best of both worlds, 2D and 3D.
Can work for a Museum, a huge architectural design firm, a Hospitality or Retail company, etc.
I'm not going to come against you for not having a degree, but I do have to ask. Were you trained as a Junior at a design or print studio, or is all of your previous work freelance, or Fiver type jobs? That is going to make all of the difference. I am from Ireland. And I can tell you honestly that it's almost impossible for a new designer to get work here without a degree, in any discipline. The job market is way too saturated with university graduated designers.
I worked as a graphic and UI/UX designer for two companies: a charity platform startup and a logistics company that transports goods from China to Kyrgyzstan, my home country. In addition to these positions, I also worked as a freelancer in between jobs. (I found orders through friends, did not use freelance platforms) In Kyrgyzstan, a diploma is not as important as work experience and a strong portfolio. I would have found a great job there a long time ago, but the salaries are low. I won a green card, a year ago my family and I moved to the USA. Now, when I apply for jobs here, I often encounter requests for educational qualifications, which creates problems. So I’m thinking, maybe I should go for an interior designer or a ui/ux designer...
If I was to stop being a graphic designer, I'd go into tech, or product design, honestly. You have to learn UI/UX as part of a product design course, so it's related. Certainly not interior design. It's very different, and requires a very different skill set. I would look into 1-2 year courses in whatever design discipline you want to work in, if I were in your shoes. You would at least have a piece of paper to compete with everyone else out there, and your portfolio will do the rest. I have a friend over in the US who did a 2-year animation course and is now working at a big name studio there as an animator. She could already do the work, she really just needed a paper to say she was qualified. It is what it is.
Thank you! I also think it’s worth studying and taking courses to get papers and recommendations😭
Regardless of what kind of design you’re looking to do, you’re going to be competing for jobs with people who have degrees and more years of experience. You’re also competing with people who might have personal connections at any given employer. If you don’t have a degree and your portfolio isn’t blow-your-mind good, your chances of being hired are pretty low. I don’t think interior design is any more in demand than graphic design and it still requires at least a portfolio of good work. With no degree or experience, I imagine it will be even more difficult for you to become an interior designer than a graphic designer.
Thanks for the answer! I think you’re right, I’m on edge right now and haven’t even thought about the fact that I need my own interior design portfolio
Very well said u/Last-Ad-2970 👍
I think you'd need to ask an interior design sub. Despite both being "design" there is really nothing in common between graphic design and interior design. >There are so many graphic designers competing for the same jobs; literally, over 500 people apply for one position on LinkedIn within a day. I wouldn't trust those numbers to begin with, but they also won't be equally qualified or competent in the first place. Even if that 500 is accurate, you can immediately remove half due to having zero design qualifications of any kind (eg people spamming every posting, especially for work visas), and of the other 250, 60-70% will not meet minimum standards for the role. So very quickly you could be down to only 75-100 relevant applicants, but that will still be a spectrum from "barely good enough" to whatever the ceiling is for that group, of which, in theory, the best 15-25 people might be contacted. So it still largely comes down to being sufficiently developed and able to demonstrate proper ability and understanding in your work, along with just making good decisions and not making avoidable or sloppy errors in your materials. Even if there will always be more qualified people apply than are called, if you can consistently be seen as within the top 25-50 applicants within typical pools you'll stand a much better chance. You won't ever know exactly where you fall, but the better you are and the better you do with your work, the more likely you should fall within that group. The issue in that sense is probably this: > I'm still a junior designer with 2 years of experience, but not in the U.S., and I don't have a degree in design. What development/training did you have prior to that experience, and what does that 2 years actually involve? Is it only freelancing?
Thank you very much for your response! I'm trying my best. I recently created an Instagram account and am considering promoting myself on social media, including TikTok and Instagram, showcasing my work process, and so on (creating content to attract clients, as many designers do). However, I have some doubts about whether it will work out because I'm feeling a bit burnt out. I worked for one year in a charity startup in my country as a graphic and UI/UX designer, and I also worked for one year in a logistics company, also as a graphic and UI/UX designer. In the logistic company I've been working as a solo designer, doing almost everything. This includes redesigning a company's brand, redesigning a website with another senior designer, updating logos, brand books, and print materials. Maybe I was too hasty in leaving graphic design, and I should continue to promote myself and start applying for UI/UX designer positions. However, I have only worked with Figma, and many job postings require knowledge of HTML/CSS as a mandatory skill.
Yes.
Ever thought of taking the Freelance route?
I created my own Instagram page a week ago and I’m thinking about creating TikTok and creating content to attract clients. I also simultaneously submit 30 applications for jobs in companies almost every day. If this doesn’t work, then I’ll probably leave design.
What about Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr or something similar. Any luck?
I didn’t work there, I read that there is a lot of competition and they pay little, it’s better not to even register 😅
But I think it's worth a shot right? Getting to build clients from the ground up. If they experienced the commendable output of your work and find you reliable enough for your service, I believe you will be remembered by them next time they need something similar. Wdyt
Thank you! You are right, I need to try that platforms
God bless!
Theres always affluent people looking for someone to design their homes for them. It's a lot of logistics though.
Since you don't have a design degree - meaning you haven't put a lot of money and studies into the degree, you should certainly pursue other careers. I can't imagine Interior Design has many opportunities but go explore it. Good luck.
Thank you for your advice! But I've heard that a diploma isn't really that important? More important is portfolio and experience or am I wrong?😅
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Thank you! I really love design, but it doesn't make money, so I'm really sad😅. I will try!
I am currently switching from interior design to graphic design :)) If you are not really passionate about interior design then better don’t do it. The first year when you are still learning about the industry it’s interesting, but then, it becomes very demanding and the pay is not worth it. But if you are very curious about architecture, furniture & decor and you like to talk to people all the time, then it may be a good career for you! Just be prepared to work long hours and in the weekends sometimes.. but I think this applies to any design job
Wow, thanks for respond!
Interior design is just as hard an industry as graphic design. If you’re looking for something easy and stable, you’d do best to avoid all creative roles.
Will think about it, thank you!
Not sure how you "switch" to interior design as a professional without formal education or a degree in either discipline. They are very different professions. If you get work for an ID firm, it will probably not be a creative role. Maybe you bring software skills for space planing or mocking up plans? You could maybe get your foot in the door doing project management or maintaining the sample library? I have some experience and know many in this business. It is tough. You are dealing with the client's tastes vs the designer's point of view in many cases. They don't always align. There can be very expensive mistakes made when a measurement is not correct or something goes damaged. You could be a "designer" in a furniture store, but you are basically working retail sales and that means low pay and limited advancement. Stick with graphic design for a while. You have somehow made your way into a position with no education or experience. Don't throw that away. Don't obsess over AI taking your job. AI may likely expedite many function of your job, but a designer can keep it from looking weird and maybe improve on what AI provides. If you are burnt out, look at what you can do to help with that. Can you change something in the work environment? Can you talk to your boss about options? What about self-care? I started doing hot yoga 3 days per week last year and it had improved my life in so many ways. In particular my mood and energy. Maybe there is something that will maybe you feel better outside of work?
Thank you very much for such a responsive answer! In fact, I just adore design and love it so much that constantly being on job search pages and the financial situation makes me burn out, I just want to design for pleasure for myself and my clients. Of course, I gave up on sports and even walking, I think this greatly affects my mental state. I need to pull myself together
I think you have to switch. OR become AI Graphic designer who use all these tools
Low effort graphic design jobs are going to disappear. With the improvements in AI and programs like Canva, just knowing how to use photoshop is not enough. Graphic Designers in the near future will have to be able to demonstrate that their designs capture attention better than what anyone with no skills can do. If you can’t do that, you will struggle to stay employed.
One of the best paths for you would be to consider becoming/focusing on being an Environmental Graphic Designer. They are typically in high demand and you get the best of both worlds, 2D and 3D. Can work for a Museum, a huge architectural design firm, a Hospitality or Retail company, etc.