In 2018, at the age of 38, I walked away from a corporate career as a senior software developer. I had never taken an art class, never studied design formally, and never had a portfolio to show. But I knew one thing—I wanted to reboot my career and build a life as a graphic designer. The problem? No one hires a designer without experience, and I had none.

As I’m writing this, my spell-check tells me that “unhireable” is not a word. I’d like to respectfully disagree. That’s exactly what I was. At least in the graphic design industry. 

So, I did the only thing that made sense: I built my own path. And that path led me to create my own company.

For the next four months, I treated learning like a full-time job. I dove into design software, studied other artists’ work, and most importantly—I started creating. Since I had no real clients, I made up my own.

• I designed logos and branding for fictional companies.
• I created marketing materials for imaginary political candidates.
• I built online menus for restaurants that didn’t exist.
• I mimicked professional designers to learn techniques, then adapted them to develop my own style.

But even with a portfolio, breaking into the industry was tough. So in 2019, I took matters into my own hands and founded Five Towers Design Company, my own creative studio. If no one would hire me as a designer, I would hire myself.

If you’re an aspiring designer, illustrator, or creative, here’s the truth: This is a show me industry, not a tell me industry. No one will hire you because you say you’re passionate. They’ll hire you because you have the work to back it up. If you don’t have a portfolio, build one. If you don’t have clients, create projects for hypothetical ones.

And if the thought of making enough work to build a portfolio feels overwhelming, then this career might not be for you—because the reality is, you’ll be creating for the rest of your life.

No one is born with a pencil in their hand. I didn’t go to art school or have the advantage of formal training. But I was willing to outwork anyone to build a career doing what I love. I made the leap, did the work, and proved that creativity isn’t about where you start—it’s about how much you’re willing to put in.

So, if you’re on the fence about becoming a designer, start creating. Start now. Don’t wait for approval, don’t wait for the perfect idea. Just make something.

Your future self will thank you.