Taking the Plunge Gets Real

I wanna get real with you guys about this whole career switch. I don't know how others have felt going through a transition like this, but for me, its exciting, empowering, and absolutely terrifying all at the same time...

I want to share my real feelings about it all in the hopes that someone else who's terrified to follow their dreams might feel like they can despite the fear... and to remind myself of that fact as well! Hopefully I'll look back on this post one day when I'm all settled into a career and and be able to proudly say, "I made it!"

Why is this on my mind right now, you ask?  Last week, I finally gave notice at my engineering job to pursue design full time.  I have one more week, only ONE MORE WEEK! Yay!  That's just thrilling.  From then on I will no longer be "part-time engineering/part-time design assistant," I'll just be an interior designer! Technically, a freelance interior design assistant, but I have some prospects on the horizon, so there's a possibility that I'll have some work of my own.

This is all such great news! And sometimes I think... "I can do this! I'm going to be awesome!" and then I start thinking of all the little things I'll have to do to get a professional business up and running, and my lack of experience in real-life design, and the fact that I've just started school again  which is also a lot of work and, and, and... and I totally get down on myself and feel incompetent. I'm guessing I'm not the only one with feelings like this. So I'm giving myself positive reminders to keep me going.  Here's a great one my mom told me about recently...

My mom saw Sara Blakely, inventor of Spanx, speak a while back and told me that she largely attributed her success to a philosophy of failure that her father instilled in her at a young age. She said her father would often ask her each what she failed at that day, which changed her perspective to view failure as a positive thing because that meant you'd tried.

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I'm usually so afraid of failure so this is a new and amazing concept for me.  What a great thing to keep in mind when trying something new. So if I fail, I'll buy myself an ice cream cone, pat myself of the back and say "good for trying, Genevieve! No get up and try again, so we can have more celebratory ice cream!"

Source: Dear Lizzy

Taking the Plunge: Putting Together Portfolio

I told you I'd get back to the "Taking the Plunge" series I started, so here I am!  Today I'll tell you/show you how I put together what I call my "Draft" Portfolio.  If you're looking for a job in the interior design industry, a portfolio is something you will absolutely need. But what do you do if you haven't finished school and don't have any "real" projects to include?  At my school we have a class as part of the Bachelor's program where they teach how to put a portfolio together and help you refine yours. But that class is at the end of the program, so what about us folks who aren't that far along in school and want design jobs? What do we do?  Here's what I did...

As always, Google is your friend. I did some internet research on "interior design portfolio" and also thumbed through a book on the same subject in my school's library.  From what I could tell, it looked as though students basically "deconstructed" their digital design board and reformatted each project to a more manageable size, like 11"x17" (or a spread of 2 11"x17" sheets), to be added to a portfolio book. Another common thing I noticed was a consistent graphic design across all pages to pull the projects into a cohesive book... basically like a letterhead with some type of header/footer.

So I followed their lead and deconstructed my own digital design boards and reassembled them in 11x17 format. I made sure to include sketches, floor plans, fabirc and major furnishing choices to give the overall idea of each project.  While I did this for all of my digital boards, I didn't have the time to do this for my first board which wasn't digital since it would have required finding all the images angain.  Instead, I just included photographs of the boards.  I also made a point of including some sketches, CAD drawings, etc. to show a variety of skills as well as the process of my designs. I did also  utilize the idea of a consistent header/footer graphic and created a simple stripe at the bottom and top of each page along with the double arrow (from the blog) next to each heading.

I created the whole thing in Adobe InDesign had it printed on 11x17 paper. I used brads to hold it together so that I could switch around the order or add/remove pages depending on which employer I was showing it to.

It still could use a lot of editing and refining, and will eventually have quite a few more projects in it... heck, I may even change it all together when I'm in the Senior Show class! But for now, it works.

Taking the Plunge: Revamping the Resume for Interior Design

Sorry I've been off the map for a little while.  I hope everyone had a fun Labor Day weekend. I know I did!  I have since been working out of a hotel room while my apartment is fumigated for termites. Fun fun! Anyway... lets get onto round two of "Taking the Plunge."  

If you're interested in taking the plunge into another career, one of the first things you probably need to update your resume.  Today I'll share with you how I updated my resume to transition from Civil Engineering to Interior Design.  Of course you'll have different experience and objectives, but I figured it might help someone out there to break down what I went into my design resume and what I changed.

• I'll tell you more about my branding in another post, but I basically wanted to create an image for myself and make my resume look good.  I used the same text and arrows that I used for my blog.
• I added an objective that I tailored for the various jobs I was investigating.  In this one, I specifically noted that I want to work at a "high-end residential firm."  For another resume geared toward retail, I emphasized customer service.  This is a simple change to make that can really make your resume and you fit for the position you're looking for. You can even use words from the job description!
• I put my education and design skills at the top. Because I didn't have any design job experience, my design education is the most relevant information for the positions I'm interested in.  I also chose to give descriptions of my school design projects.  If you have relevant design experience you could choose to make two different job sections for "Relevant Experience" and "Other Experience" or something along those lines.  Basically, the idea is to get the stuff that relates to the job you're looking for at the top.
• One mistake I did make was not putting my expected graduation date. I left it off because I wasn't sure if I was going to continue onto the bachelor program or stop at after I get my associates degree.  But most people asked me when I was going to be finished with school, so I just gave them an answer based on finishing the bachelors anyway.  So I should have just put that on there and recommend for your to do so even if you're unsure. Just pick the date you think is most likely.
• Throughout my resume I made the important information, like desirable computer skills and awards, stand out with bold text.  That way at a glance someone should be able to see the stuff that is important to the job and the stuff that makes you stand out as a candidate.
• Add any memberships you have with professional organizations in your industry. It looks good to be involved.
• In the last section of my experience I modified my job descriptions quite a bit to make them more general. Interior designers don't typically know what H2OMap or InfoSWMM are, so instead of listing specific computer programs I used in my engineering job, I more generally wrote "hydraulic models." I also added key words like "problem solving skills" to express the transferable skills that I have gained from my experience. 
• Finally, I added a little pizazz to my resume by adding a border and making some text the same color. As far as I know, this isn't something that's done for an Engineering job and probably many others. But since design is largely about aesthetics, you better have a good lookin' resume if you want it to be your profession.

Hope that helps someone out there!

Taking the Design Plunge: 5 Tips for Interior Design School

Recently, a reader emailed me asking how I went about "taking the plunge" into an interior design career from a career that is so different: Civil Engineering. I've been meaning to write about this for a little while now, so I was happy to be reminded. This "Taking the Plunge" series of posts will share details of how I worked my way into the field of design. I still have quite a ways to go, but I figure, why not share it with ya'll while it's current and fresh on my mind. Hopefully this can be a helpful to anyone else looking to change careers to pursue a passion. It is by no means the only way to go about transitioning; this is simply my experience.

As most of you probably know (if you've read the About Me section), I started out by searching out and enrolling in interior design school.  I felt that for me to be confident in my future career, I needed the education to back it up.  I looked at a few different schools that were CIDA accredited--that's the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.  I wanted to go somewhere that had a reputable program.  Finally, I decided on Interior Designers Institute because it was accredited, close to my house, and slightly less expensive than others I looked into.

I went into school excited and interested.  I've been quite successful in it thus far, so I thought I'd share with you a few ideas that I developed from the beginning, which I believe have helped me.

1. Don't worry about grades. I'm not in school to get a good report card like I was in elementary school.  I enrolled in design school to learn information and how to apply it and to exercise and hone my design skills.  The learning is the important part to me, not the paper transcript. So I don't think about my grades.  And what'dya know... the grades that have followed as a result of that attitude couldn't be better.
2. Treat each teacher as your client.  We usually have to make up a fictional clients for school projects, but I always think of my teacher as the client since they are evaluating the work.  If they have input, I take it; if they don't like something, I change it.  I do my best not to take things personally and figure it's good practice for dealing with clients in the future.  I also keep in mind that there are so many different ways to design something well, so I need to be flexible and not get stuck on doing something one way.
3. Learn from your peers.  I always look around at other student's work.  There are many talented people at school, so I try gather as much inspiration as possible.  I love seeing the way that different people approach projects and their unique visions.  It helps me expand my ideas about design and look at projects in different ways, which might help me to think of better design solutions.
4. Be the best you can be; don't try to be THE best.  Some people might disagree with me here, but for me, trying to have a little humility goes a long way.  I must admit, I'm human and pride does get me at times, but I do my best to stifle it.  Design is such a subjective matter; there really is no "best."  I try not to think of school as a competition and instead remind myself of #3... instead of being stuck on trying to be the most awesome, I remind myself that others have awesome ideas as well.   I appreciate the work of my peers, let myself be inspired by them, and do the best that I can on each individual project with the "client" in mind.  
5. Be of service.  I think helping my peers feeds the soul. Like I said... it's not a competition. I don't hesitate to share ideas, information and assistance whenever possible.

Armed with these objectives, I think you're bound to maximize your success. Now, go get 'em design students!

Coming up in the series, I'll share about...

• how to revamp your resume for design,
• putting together a portfolio (quickly), and
• searching and interviewing for jobs.

Mom's TV Room - Part 2 {How we kept it Under $500}

Today I'm going to give you a break down of what we did in Mom's TV Room and how much each thing cost to create this lovely budget-friendly space.  While this cost break down will give you creative DIYers an idea of what you can do on a budget, it excludes the cost of the design services which brought ideas and items together and as well as the labor it took to get it done (since we did it ourselves).

We started off by doing some major organizing which I talked about here.  In order to get everything organized into the closet, I found a filing cabinet on craigslist for $60.  Craigslist is one of the first places I look when I'm on a budget.

Next, we painted the room.  We chose the color "Toasted Wheat" by Behr as a neutral backdrop that would make the space feel warm and cozy and coordinate with mom's rug.  2 gallons - $60

When we brought furniture back in the room, we utilized some of mom's existing furniture from other rooms.  Shopping your house is a great way to stay under budget, so keep an open mind when looking at the items in your house. They may find a new use you never thought of before!  The mirror and Asian cabinet were the perfect pieces to fit where the bookcase used to be and the mirror brightens up the room by reflecting light into the space.  Mom's furniture - Free

Then we brought in an Ikea Ektorp sofa that I found on craigslist for $120.  Since a lot of Ikea stuff has been available for quite a while, it seems that you can often find items like this from people who have moved or upgraded and are making changes.  Simply search craigslist for the Ikea name of the piece you're looking for. (This is also how I found Dad's rug which I showed you here.)

Next we brought a bunch of mom's art collection into the room to create a gallery wall. We determined a layout on the floor and then used paper cut to the size of the frames to locate their position on the wall.  Gallery wall - Free

I picked up two throw pillows for the sofa from a local fabric store ($75)...

...and white Ikea tab top curtain panels (LENDA), which we customized with a stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils. Since we couldn't find any ready made curtains that we wanted and custom drapes are quite expensive, this was the perfect way to get the look we wanted for less.  Read more about that project here.  Curtains $20; Stencil $40; Paint, fabric medium, and foam rollers - $13; Total = $73.  Drapery rod (Target) - $10.

Mom bought these lamps from JCPenney online for $90 (which are now look to be on sale for $70).  Great deal right!  They seem to have quite a nice lighting selection. I discovered this when I bought my bedroom lamps there a while back.

Finally, for Christmas I made my mom the ever-so-popular Ikea Lack Side Table ottomans to work as a coffee table and a place to put your feet up.
     2 Lack Side Tables - $16 ($8 each)
     2 yards (I think) Ikea Sofia Fabric - $16
     Foam Camping Pad (Home Depot) - $20
     Batting - $10
     Total = $62

That finishing touch pulled the room together to what it is today...

So how does that tally up?

We completed the whole room for under $500!

If you haven't already, check out the rest of the photos from yesterday's post.

Right Where You're Supposed To Be

Some times I have a hard time believing that.  Like right now, when I'm lagging on blogging, swamped with school work, trying to stay on top of bills, attempting to fit in time for networking and job search opportunities, and wishing I was already the other side of this leap from one career to another.  So I'm telling myself this and perhaps someone else out there needs to hear it today also...

Thank goodness I can look forward to time with my parents this weekend for Fathers Day and my dad's birthday.  Being around those you love always helps!

In other news, the power jack on my lap top completely broke the other day so I took it apart and replaced it (thanks to this video), which worked great! The only problem is now it can't find the operating system.  So I'll be working on that as well as homework for a bit.  Hopefully I'll be back to you guys with some more exciting design stuff next week. For how here's a little clip of my life these days.

Elevations and details for my lighting class are done! Next up is a design board for project "Handsome Elegance."  Stay tuned for inspiration images, lighting selections, and the like.

Three Tips I Learned of Late

1.  I got excited when I read Centsational Girl's awesome trick for fixing white-out windows in a photo.  How, you ask, does it work?  If you've got a tripod you take two photos in the exact same position varying the aperture so that one is over-exposed with a bright interior (the window will look white) and the other makes the outside visible (the interior will be dark).  Then layer both images into Pixlr or Photoshop and use a layer mask to bring the outdoor image through.  Check it out!

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2.  If you loose your cell phone and don't have another to call it, you can go to http://www.wheresmycellphone.com/ and your computer will call it for you.  I hope I remember this when I need it! (Source)

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3.  And a positive reminder...

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Learning to Photograph Interiors

Hi friends! Well I told you it was coming up, but I didn't tell you when. My birthday was this past weekend and it was lovely. After a fabulous evening at my friend's beautiful wedding, Frank and I made our way north to spend some time with my parents. Not only did I get to have I delicious brunch by the lake with the people I love most, but I also got a present that I'm super excited about... well, I'll be getting it in the mail to be exact. Soon to be on its way is my brand new Canon EOS Rebel T3i ... And I can't wait!

I've bookmarked a few links about photography that I'll soon be opening back up to educate myself on how to take awesome interior photos.  Here are a those links for those of you who are also newbies in the photography world:

Ten Basics for Better Home Photography

Snap Even More Photography Tips

Shoot Fly Shoot

NYIP's How to Photograph Interiors

Tips On Framing Interior Photography Shots by Scott Hargis

Hopefully in the next few weeks, I'll be snapping away at my mom's TV room that I've been meaning to share with you guys (you can see snippets of it here and here) and not long after that, the finished Noah's ARC Design Challenge space.

Three Tips I Learned Of Late

I thought I'd share in the hopes that someone else out there might be as excited about these little tips...

1. The easiest way to iron your sheets is when they're on your bed. It seems so obvious! But for some reason I've been in the dark about this. Thanks to The Nester, who's doing a Christmas photo shoot today (or maybe already did it), and her post about a past photo shoot, I feel like an idiot who's been enlightened... A little embarrassed but also grateful!

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2. Lands End sells home decor and furnishings... nice stuff too!  My dad has gotten Lands End catalogs for YEARS and I've only ever thought of them as a resource for the outdoorsman.  Who knew they carried all sorts of rugs, pillows, bedding and much more?!  ...Kirsten over at 6th Street Design did!  Thanks for the tip about alternate places to buy home accessories.

Sources: Wool Cable Dhurrie Rug / Damask Table Runner

3. Live the width! Thanks Centsational Girl for this little reminder! One can never have too many positive reminders about life.

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