24 y/o Interior Design Student Unsure of my next Career Move
Hi everyone! This is my first Reddit post, so I’d love some feedback and perspective. I’m 24 and currently finishing my bachelor's degree in interior design. As a nontraditional student, my journey has looked a little different from that of my peers/colleagues. I’ve spent years balancing school, multiple jobs, and adult responsibilities, which has at times made it difficult to fully immerse myself in my design education as I would have liked. I’ve been working as a design consultant for about a year, and while I’m grateful for the experience, I’m starting to think seriously about what comes next. I’ve heard that if I want to grow in the industry, I should pursue more hands-on design experience. The challenge is that I’m not always confident in my portfolio. I’ve completed projects for school, but because I’ve often been focused on simply getting through semesters while working, I don’t always feel like my work reflects my full potential. I’ve been networking, attending industry events, and trying to learn as much as possible, but I still feel unsure about which direction to take. Some designers have suggested kitchen and bath design as a natural transition from consulting. Others have encouraged me to explore freelancing, build my portfolio independently, and not limit myself before I even graduate.
I think part of my uncertainty comes from feeling caught between practicality and passion. I understand the importance of having stable employment, especially when you’re supporting yourself. Still, I also don’t want to wake up five years from now feeling like I never took a chance on the design side of the industry. For those of you working in design-related fields,
How did you get your first real design experience?
What would you focus on if you were in my position?
Would you stay in a consulting role while building a portfolio, or make a move into a more design-focused position ASAP?
I’d love to hear your experiences and any advice you may have. I’m trying not to feel discouraged!
Thanks! xoxo