I quit freelancing as a web and graphic designer after about 8 years and have been working in-house on a marketing team as a graphic designer ever since. The question at hand here is… do I regret it? If you don’t know my complete back story, you can watch this video I posted several years ago all about why I quit freelancing to begin with!

In my last video, I received some questions in the comments and a few via email asking for an update on my decision and how things were going. I appreciate the questions and have been thinking about replying to them… for years…  and after all this time, I am excited to say that I finally have recorded a response video! I’ve linked it below for you to watch. I will also share some additional thoughts here as well.

Where I’ve worked as a graphic designer since going in-house

When I first went in-house, I landed a gig as a full-time contract graphic designer at a software company here in Portland, Oregon that lasted a year and it turned into a full-time salary position. Overall that experience was positive, I learned a lot and was given a ton of opportunities. When it was time to move on, I spent a few months toying with the idea of going back into self-employment – I worked on some plans to monetize The Creative Roundtable with my co-founder Jena, but it didn’t work out for various reasons. We still run a meetup group (6200+ members) and run a weekly accountability meeting for a small group of folks.

During that period, I taught a few classes at the Portland Art Institute. It was challenging, humbling and a lot of hours and hard work – but I fell in love with it. I loved not only teaching students and seeing them grow, but I loved how much I learned from it too. They didn’t have enough classes for me to go full-time, so I ended up taking a position as a graphic designer for another software company here in town which I stayed at for almost 3 years and ended up being promoted to their creative manager. While working at that job, my now-husband opened up his BBQ food cart, Bark City BBQ. If you can’t see a trend forming yet… it is that I can’t seem to get away from the world of entrepreneurship! I left my creative manager position and now work at my third software company here in town and am their senior graphic designer.

What going in-house as a graphic designer has taught me

Going in-house has taught me more than I could have ever hoped. I know that sounds cheesy, but when I was working for myself all those years out of college, I was craving connection and learning from others. No coworking space or coffee date with a friend was going to give me what I needed in that area.
It has taught me how to:

• Meet my co-workers where they are at. Everyone has a different working style and I believe in seeing people for who they are and where they are at to build a strong team.
• Collaborate and share creative thoughts with others without feeling less than or full of self-doubt.
• Stretch the limits of design within the constraints of brand guidelines.
• Be a better marketer.
• And so much more.

Going in-house has honestly answered those questions I had before about “What does it mean to be on a marketing team?”. I personally love digital marketing, so I have really enjoyed being immersed in the marketing world as opposed to working at an agency where I most likely would have a different experience.

Do I regret quitting freelance?

The answer is no. I absolutely do not. Is being an in-house designer for everyone? No. But it has been for me and will be for a while. I honestly don’t want to go back into service-based design work – it isn’t for me anymore. I would rather have fun with my website, blog and YouTube channel and work on growing this than chasing down clients and hoping they pay me what I am worth (not all clients are so bad! I am just being cynical.). That is just where I am at in my creative journey and I am honoring it! If you have clarity on where you are, I suggest you do the same and honor it!

If I am so happy as an in-house graphic designer, why I am starting a blog?

I’ve been in-house for almost 5 years now and in all honesty, I have the itch to make my own sh*t again! When Michael (my husband) and I decided to venture into owning a food truck here in Portland, Oregon, it filled up my entrepreneurial brain and I had so much fun helping with the business plan, writing PR pitches, designing the brand package, designing the website, launching the social media and everything in-between. Don’t get me wrong, our work at the cart is not done yet and there is always more to do – but it has become more manageable for me over the last 6 or so months. There just isn’t as much for me to do anymore, which is a positive! It means we are doing pretty good! (Unless someone knows how to get us on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives… we are dying to get on that show!)

I just don’t think I am made for the life where I relax all weekend long… ever since I was younger, I was always spending my free time on my laptop either learning how to make something or actually making something. I turn 34 next week (as I write this, which is in advance, my birthday is February 13th) and I know that isn’t old – but I am not getting any younger. So I have decided to take my life into my own hands and tell myself I AM WORTH FOLLOWING MY PASSION. I AM WORTH CREATING THE THINGS I WANT TO CREATE. And that is what you are witnessing today.

I’ve always had the want and desire to create my own space on the internet and now is the time for me to do that!

Thank you for coming along with me on my journey.

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I appreciate you taking the time to be here with me today and I’ll see you in my next post!

Remember, be kind to others – it’s important!

Jehn