Need some advice - 49 and I'm probably past it!

[HappySonHappyMum]

Have been working as a Graphic Designer for a small design consultancy in London for 27 years. My boss is nearing retirement age and in the next three years he will close the business and I will be unemployed. I know I need to start thinking now about what I could do next to be prepared. I would love to carry on doing what I am doing but I am under no illusions that design is a young persons game - even though I have the qualifications and experience. Realistically, if I interview I will be seen as old and fat, I won't fit in with all the young, nubile, fresh out of Uni candidates and I don't think anyone will employ me - I just don't have the right 'look'! I don't have the confidence to go it alone - although I could. The whole process of doing it on my own petrifies me. Advice please for either retraining, ideas for a different direction and help. I know I need to be proactive but I have no idea where to start!

@whereeverilaymycat I'm almost scared to tell you my salary - as I know I'm massively underpaid. I know my boss has taken advantage of my goodwill and loyalty towards the people I do work for. I'm absolutely terrible at discussing money - consciously avoid it and haven't had a pay rise in years. I earn £32k. Which is peanuts for what I do - especially as I know how much my boss invoices the work I do for! Just admitting that is shameful :(

Nothing to be ashamed of, a salary is a salary and if you've been happy then that's a factor.

But saying that, you could work half the year freelance and earn the same, so keep it in mind as an option. Wishing you lots of luck, it's scary making a change after a long time. Just don't sell yourself short. I'm the worst one for it, but half the battle is in the mindset I'm sure.

@HappySonHappyMum hi! Do you mind me asking how are you getting on job wise these days? You must be coming up to three years now so I guess your boss is about to close the business and retire?
I ask as I am a graphic designer with 25 years experience, mid forties and trying to plan my future too… did you do the instructional design course? Did you go freelance? Would love to hear.

This thread was such a positive experience for me. It made me think about myself and invest in myself a bit more. Personally I’ve lost over 7 stone in weight and feel much better about myself. Job wise I am still working for the same employer. He was going to retire and give the company to me at the end of last year but decided he couldn’t step away in the end but has offered me a profit share until he does. It still scares the hell out of me to actually take over eventually but I know that the upheaval that my current clients will face if they go elsewhere will probably mean they’ll continue working with me! Even if they don’t though - I have saved enough money to give it a go. And if it all goes tits up a bit of time to decide what comes next! I think being 50 is the perfect storm - kids becoming independent, menopause hitting, parents aging and needing more care. It all felt a bit overwhelming but I’m determined to be positive now and I’m pleased I’ve focussed on my health which I know will be beneficial come what may. I hope things go well for you 😊

Oh that’s all such lovely news! and well done on losing seven stone, that’s absolutely amazing and very inspiring. Yes I think this age is a tough one - my kids are now teenagers & I’m realising it’s time to start focussing on myself - though my career has always played second fiddle to the kids, my confidence feels pretty low, and the design industry feels a tricky one to be in.
Am so glad you are getting ready to take on the business, that’s such a great opportunity. What’s the name of the company?

Id love to see your portfolio OP. I'm in a similar but opposite position..I'm 45 and been in marketing for years and would love to pursue graphic design ( I have a degree in it but never lead to anything) I'm so done with marketing and I absolutely love working in Adobe.

@Geogaddi interesting to hear this as sometimes I feel a bit done with graphic design and wonder if marketing role would be better! 😂 Can I ask what’s putting you off staying in marketing?

Graphic design wise - design agencies themselves are not the easiest industry to break into in later in life because unfortunately they can be quite ageist & competition is fierce, also small design agencies really struggle with budgets/profits so they pay pretty low salaries to juniors, so it might involve a big pay cut if you did get in. However, I think your marketing experience is a HUGE valuable skill so maybe you could do a sideways step into an in-house Brand manager role where your marketing expertise is valued but you also get to use Adobe to do some design? I know an ex-colleague who went from a graphic designer at an agency to become an in-house Brand manager and they don’t do as much design but still do some, and they also do general marketing - they have a high salary so it’s been a big step up money wise from just being a graphic designer.
Also there is nothing to stop you from starting to do freelance graphic design in your time to start building up a portfolio… the arrival of AI has caused the smaller freelance jobs to disappear a bit (and clients can do their own smaller design jobs with Canva etc) but maybe through your Marketing contacts you could build up a few clients…? having a decent portfolio is really important when trying to get design jobs so anything you can do will help - even if it’s working for free or for next to nothing just to get an example logo & brand project to show on your portfolio website.