Article
Feeling stuck?
Dec 26, 2022
About ten years ago, I hit a rut.
In my twenties, I was in my prime—working with major brands like Disney, Google, and Montblanc, global agencies, and even running my own design studio. I chased every opportunity with energy and ambition.
But then life shifted.
In my thirties, we started a family. My wife took five years of unpaid leave to raise our twins, a decision we made together, but one that meant the financial pressure to provide fell squarely on me. Around the same time, I had a rough exit from a startup and returned to freelancing. I took on whatever work paid the bills, but it didn't light me up.
The passion I had for design? It faded. My work became about survival. For the next few years, I felt like I was moving through a fog.
Eventually, I realized something had to change. I wasn't the same person I was in my twenties—and that was okay. With over a decade of big wins and failures behind me, I knew it was time to use that experience to chart a new path forward.
So I got intentional. I shifted my mindset. I looked for that spark again.
Here are the steps I took to get unstuck:
1. I got curious again
This is the single most important thing.
You lose momentum the moment you stop learning. Mid-career designers often get stuck in execution loops with the same outcomes.
Reignite your curiosity:
Experiment with new tools that make you feel like a beginner again.
Follow new people that inspire you with their work.
Explore a space outside of design like AI, crypto, music production, etc…
Explore side projects with no brief, no client, no roadmap.
Curiosity is fuel. Relevance is a byproduct.
2. I started thinking beyond pixels
You’re not getting paid just to make things pretty anymore.
At this stage, your real value is in how you think.
Learn to zoom out:
Understand product strategy.
Get comfortable with business models.
Know how your work affects the bottom line.
Start asking better questions.
The designers who thrive mid-career are the ones who evolve from craft experts to thinking partners.
3. I forced myself to get uncomfortable
Growth doesn't happen within your comfort zone. You know this already. While mid-career often pushes us toward safety and risk avoidance, that's exactly the opposite of what we should be doing.
Want to shake the rust off? Try one of these:
Join a startup and wear way too many hats.
Post your work in progress, even when it’s not polished.
Start writing on LinkedIn.
Start a newsletter to share your knowledge.
Nothing sharpens your skills like doing something that makes you uncomfortable.
4. I did an audit of my value
What made you valuable at 25 isn’t what makes you valuable now.
Be honest with yourself about what skills you’ve developed over the years. Start to focus on:
Setting direction instead of taking it.
Connecting dots across teams.
Guiding junior designers.
Defining product strategy.
Mid-career isn’t about proving you can do the work. It’s about showing you can shape the vision.
5. I got connected
This one’s underrated.
Design can get lonely, especially if you work remote like I do.
But connection is key to staying inspired and current.
Join a community.
Go to industry events.
Message someone you admire.
Mentor someone with fresh energy.
Connecting with others that share your passions can help spark new creative energy.
The takeaway
You’re not stuck. You’re just shifting gears.
Mid-career isn’t a dead zone, it’s where your depth, your intuition, and your experience finally come together.
So embrace the evolution.
Stay curious. Stay uncomfortable. Stay connected.
You’re not behind. You’re just starting a new chapter of your career.
Want help navigating this phase or want to read more articles like this? Send me an email and let me know what you’re wrestling with. I’ve probably been there too.
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