So I have depression. I’m resilient tho. But I lost my designer confidence. Any advice welcome - apart from don’t tell anyone.
Replies14
- @Duncan Crawford Hi Duncan, I have some illustration jobs to start/finish over the holidays, but lately I've been busy working on a new portfolio site. Sort of a long overdue rebranding. Figure I want to start fresh and fast on January 1.
- @Michael PiggottHi Michael, I get out a lot these days as I’m pretty much unemployed. I do bits and bobs of design and paint as well. The problem is when your performance is under scrutiny because you have depression it sort of messes you up. Also so much creativity is wasted these days on stupid deadlines that don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.
- @Kevin BanksHi Kevin, very kind of you to ask.I’ve been busy working in some illustration and Paintings. Using photoshop and Illustrator. How’s you?
- The only advice I can give (as my creativity has nosedived this year) is to get out into nature as much as possible. I've been doing regular 2, 3, 4 mile walks. At the least it helps mental health - and my hope is creativity comes once that is in a better place.
- Hi Duncan, following up on my note last month. How's it going, been busy lately?
- Hey Duncan,Vulnerabilty equal strength. And you are resilient. Both great attributes to have. As a designer, why not make yourself the project, investigate your depression and how you are feeling. You can 'kind of' design yourself out of your situation and even discover a new found confidence.Depression is often a sign of supression. Maybe there is something in this - maybe you want/need a slight change of direction in what you do, who for.Acceptance where we are is another skill. Try not to fight it but befriend your situatuon and see where it leads you.Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable. The most important thing is to talk and reach out for help. There are many helplines and organisations. And please feel free to reach out to me if you want to talk.
- Hi Duncan,First of all give your self a massive hand in the back for reaching out: it takes courage and the first step to move from your current mind space.As many other here I can confirm that you are not alone on this one and like @Sean Thomas I agree that being kind to yourself is paramount. Also bear in mind that there is a global situation out there so there is a limit to what you can do about it.That said, there are some moves that might help you:- Have an honest analysis of your practice, skills and many talents and work a way to align these around what do you see as your ideal career goal.- Design a plan according to these goals and take little steps towards that direction, but please try not to pressure yourself massively.- Avoid comparing yourself with others and I strongly recommend a social media diet.- Try and join a group of like minded people that share your work and personal interests, that might help you in both departments.- Be very clear about your own goals, the ones that genuinely speak with you . It is very easy to get caught in the current culture of achievement and not feeling good about your work.- And more importantly, do not assume people know what they do all the time. It is perfectly understandable feeling low at the moment and things will eventually move as we have seen many times before now.Hope all this helps, please do note hesitate to reach out if need to talk.Best,
- First – as lots of others have said, you are not alone. And you can see your resilience through posting your question in the first place :) Second, don't try and force confidence. A lot of advice out there during Covid is to learn a new skill – not try and keep doing what you've always done. So learn a new design programme, or do something creative that has no pressure and unrelated to your work. The process of creating rather than a perfect or ideal or client outcome can really help. Sounds obvious, but the theory is nowhere as good as the practise.Also similar to Michelle – keeping a gratitude book, and writing in it every day really helps.Remember, you're not alone, and the perfect images of smiling faces we see on the internet are not the reality of everyone's lives.
- Hey Duncan, its a common issue in the creative industries. I think I read once that something like 80% of all creatives suffer from imposter syndrome and doubt their abilities, work and talent. And thats in a normal year, not one where work, personal space, sources of inspiration, headspace etc are at a premium.My advice would be to cut yourself some slack; and be kind to yourself. We've all been there. People presume I've got my shit together as I lead an international design agency but the reality is, I still get worried everytime I present a piece of work, send a job to the press or get client feedback.Something I've found that helps me is to surround myself with people who make you feel good about the work. That helps. If you operate solo, perhaps remove yourself from reading feedback on your work or obsessing over other peoples opinion's. The important thing is that you and the client like it.These articles might help.The first one is quite a good topline set of 3 tips to help out creatives like us in a working day - nothing new here but a good blog:https://dribbble.com/stories/2019/08/29/outsmart-imposter-syndrome-to-create-your-best-designsThis one is really different but also interesting, as it goes into more depth about why doubting yourself is a good thing. Its exhausting, but its what drives you on, makes you better, keeps the ego in check etc:https://www.culturepartnership.eu/en/article/imposter-syndromeHope that helps.
- I see flavours of this show up in almost all my contacts across all industries from time to time. You are definitely not alone. Confidence is less a constant, but more a wave that ebbs and flows. Grey foggy days show up. Do you have a showcase of the work which brings you the most joy and is (in your own view) your best? Having a praise book can help remind of your how good you are at your craft when a reminder would be appreciated.
- Keep pushing, I have struggled with anxiety and didn't create anything for almost a year. Sometimes you need time out to build your hunger and motivation again. And take it a day at a time and have other creatives around you to inspire and motivate you.. hope that helps
- This is such a good question, and it's actually helped me in this department, thank you Duncan.
- I think all of us will have had a dip like this. It can get set off by so many things from a job going badly with an unappreciative client to general everyday llife stuff overspilling into your work and knocking your confidence. Try doing something different - just small things that gives you some satisfaction and makes you smile, put your shirts into a colour wheel order, draw your cat/view from your window, paint your old shoes crazy colours and wear them around the house, make an great card for a friend. Use your creativity in a different way. Trust me when I tell you the clouds will open.
- Hi Duncan. It happens to many of us. Happened to me years ago. Resilience is key and glad you have it. I was teaching design a few years ago at a University, and halfway through the first week I remembered that I had no teaching experience whatsoever. Instead of being scary it was quite funny. The class was highly rated and I tought it for 4 years. Looking back on it, my confidence was supported by the humor of being unqulaified but doing my best and working very hard at it. Of course, we both know it's all much more complicated than this - but what I'm saying is that confidence never really goes away, it just hides for a bit. It's in there and it will be back soon.KB
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