Thursday, January 29, 2009

Graphic Design?

I don't know if everyone has moments in their life/career where we question what we're doing with ourselves, and if what we're doing is really what we want to do? Are you confused yet? The other day, I didn't really have the best day, if you know what I mean. things just seem to go wrong and as the day went on, it only seem to pile on. Quite a few of these things had to do with being a graphic designer. For those of you who don't know, I'm a graphic designer at a Baptist Church, and I own my own side business as a graphic designer. Talk about getting burnt out on graphic design. So basically that day I was questioning if this is the life I wanted to have from now on. I mean, I like doing graphic design. I really do. It's fun, it's creative, you work with computers and every now and then get the chance to sketch out some work. But I guess the artist side of me sometimes comes out too much. It's like, what if Leonardo DaVinci painted the Mona Lisa, then when was finished and satisfied with it, people came in and we like, "Let's do this to it instead, and maybe change this color, and move this here". I mean, would it be his artwork still? Would he still love that piece that he once created? Sometimes I really feel that way. As a graphic designer, and being in this industry for almost 5 years, I know what the job comes with. Criticism, changes, rejection, disappointed and ever now and then the occaisional praise and thank you. Sometimes it feels that one outweighs the other. Maybe it's just as humans we always let the negative stand out like a sore thumb. I told my wife a little bit of what I was feeling, and she responded back, "Well, what would you want to do besides graphic design?". Honestly, I truly don't know. I don't even know why I'm feeling this way. It's really nothing to do with my job, I love where I work. I guess most of that is because I work with some really awesome people and they make each day so much fun. Of course, it doesn't help to be so far away from them during the day, as the graphic designers are set so far apart from the rest of the team. Sometimes, that doesn't help me feel connected. Like we're the bottom of the barrell. I don't know, maybe I'm just venting. I guess either way, God is in control and in the end, no matter what, he's going to put me exactly where he needs me to be.