Event Recap: Student Design Day Keynote on Succeeding in Design Business (Part 1 of 3)

Last week's Student Design Day at the DDB took the building by storm, and all with the help of co-sponsors ASID who shared their post-design school experiences, including trials and tribulations of getting started, landing their first job, and recognizing their big break.

Moderating the panel was designer and author Susanna Salk, joined by panelists Campion Platt, Amanda Nisbet, David Scott, and Malcolm James Kutner.

Susanna began the discussion by asking the panelists to describe when it was that they each realized that interior design was the career path for them.

"I realized it when I simply wasn't getting any callbacks for my acting career!" said Amanda. "Once I had my aha moment, I plunged right into the industry and never worked for anyone but myself. My apartment became my office and my ongoing experiment, but I jumped in not knowing whether I had a parachute or not. Luckily, it all worked out!"

David Scott described his aha moment happening well into his career in the hotel and real estate industry. "I had been working with Jason Spector, who was the designer on these hotel-to-condominiums we were converting. I worked with him for some time on the projects, and after all the design and floor spaces were finished, Jay looked at me and asked why on earth I wasn't an interior designer. He insisted I go back to school for interior design, and that's what I did."

Campion explained that architecture was his first calling and interior design soon followed, but with caution.

"I worked on my own projects in small scale and small spaces and eventually realized that I didn't know my voice in interior design," Campion said. "I decided to take some time off to find a client who would allow me to do both architecture and design, but it took almost two years to find that. That time off was important for me because finding a voice in your work is essential to being successful in your field. I was lucky to find a client who would let me practice both of my trades and use my own voice, but using caution with the venture was necessary for my personal confidence."

Check back with GoDesignGo tomorrow for more on the Student Design Day keynote for more advice on success in the design world.