A little about me:
I'm a qualified Industrial Designer. I studied for 4.5 years to get my piece of paper, which is now sitting somewhere on the bookshelf in the spare room. I really sohould get a frame for it. I live with my girlfriend of two years, in a two bedroom 1st floor flat not far from the city centre - a stone's throw from Victoria Park Racecourse, for those who want to stalk me. I work for a global packaging design (aka box) company, as a designer-slash-button pusher-slash-paper monkey. But more abuot that a bit further down.
I love to wield my cameras, and take shots of stuff. I have a range of different sites you can see my stuff on - check the links on the right. I love my music loud, heavy but with a bit of a melody too. Fav bands include:
Dream Theater
Cog
The Butterfly Effect
Karnivool
Japunga
Slipknot
Tool
Sunk Loto
Fear Factory
Something For Kate
Soulfly
My Past Work Life:
My previous job was as an Industrial Designer for a local company that produces metal, gold and landmine detectors for sale around the world. Their technology was first rate, but most of the products it was house in were, quite honestly, shit. The quality and design were second rate trash. I had this dream of being able to make a real impact in their new range of products, but everywhere I turned, bullshit managers and idiotic business decisions got in the way. I stood up for myself, and ended up being "made redundant" - the easy way to sack someone you don't like. I had the opportunity to make their product the best on the market within my reach, and they ripped it away. More about that later too.
I was in a position where I made a difference in how our department ran, how we handled and controlled our information and how we interacted with other departments. I know more about the company's product lines than most people. I had skills up the wazoo, and was about to start training in new areas. I was in a position to transform their range into true world-leading products. That might sound a little up-myself, but I really believe if I'd stayed there, I could've made my mark. The last range of products I was working on (due for release three weeks after I was frog-marched out) was a great start, and a fantastic learning experience. But it was the range-topping products that were slated for upgrades that I was itching to get my hands on.
Alas, it was not to be. I was made redundant while off sick for three days. By 9am the following Monday, I'd been to work, been told and was back home unpacking a box of my things with a really odd feeling in my stomach. Five weeks later I started a new (my current) job. I like the fact I landed on my feet, and not my arse.
My Current Work Life:
I've been in my current job for a year, a week and one day. I'm already starting to wonder if I'm in the right job. the amount of poo that get's flung at me is worse than my previous job. Day in day out there's another drama that's given to me to sort. Other departments who can't handle their workload, or who aren't able to do the job right. Each day lurches into the next.
Two weeks ago, I literally had to stop for five minutes so I could remember what day of the week it is. That's not a good sign.
This job was advertised five days after I lost my previous job. Five weeks later I started. It was the best first job interview I'd ever had. I answered every question, could give examples for every situation they threw at me and clicked with my now-boss. It was an all-new industry with new rules and standards to learn. I threw myself into the 10-hour days and loved it. Then the monotony of the industry hit me, and it's been a gentle slide to this point ever since.
I love working with the other guys in my office - we look out for each other and are never afraid to help the others out. But the nature of the job, and the company, are such that the expectation for damn-near perfection are just really grating on me. I don't sleep properly (an alarming similarity with my old job when I was overloaded), I don't have the energy I used to and after work, I rarely want to do anything but sit in front of the box and recover.
My photography has all but gone into hibernation. I don't have any real new shots to show off anywhere. The last big shoot I did was at my friend's band DVD recording. Admittedly, I've also been developing a website for them (soon to be released). So that's been keeping the creative juices flowing. But other than that, I just don't have the push to do it right now. So many things in my life (all work-related) feel not right anymore, and I don't quite know where to go from here.
I have two weeks of holidays booked for October, and I want to use them to unwind, start breathing again and regather my thoughts about my career. And where I want to go from here. The thought of working for myself is tempting, but it needs a lot of ground work yet. Maybe it's time I start on that ground work...
I'm a qualified Industrial Designer. I studied for 4.5 years to get my piece of paper, which is now sitting somewhere on the bookshelf in the spare room. I really sohould get a frame for it. I live with my girlfriend of two years, in a two bedroom 1st floor flat not far from the city centre - a stone's throw from Victoria Park Racecourse, for those who want to stalk me. I work for a global packaging design (aka box) company, as a designer-slash-button pusher-slash-paper monkey. But more abuot that a bit further down.
I love to wield my cameras, and take shots of stuff. I have a range of different sites you can see my stuff on - check the links on the right. I love my music loud, heavy but with a bit of a melody too. Fav bands include:
Dream Theater
Cog
The Butterfly Effect
Karnivool
Japunga
Slipknot
Tool
Sunk Loto
Fear Factory
Something For Kate
Soulfly
My Past Work Life:
My previous job was as an Industrial Designer for a local company that produces metal, gold and landmine detectors for sale around the world. Their technology was first rate, but most of the products it was house in were, quite honestly, shit. The quality and design were second rate trash. I had this dream of being able to make a real impact in their new range of products, but everywhere I turned, bullshit managers and idiotic business decisions got in the way. I stood up for myself, and ended up being "made redundant" - the easy way to sack someone you don't like. I had the opportunity to make their product the best on the market within my reach, and they ripped it away. More about that later too.
I was in a position where I made a difference in how our department ran, how we handled and controlled our information and how we interacted with other departments. I know more about the company's product lines than most people. I had skills up the wazoo, and was about to start training in new areas. I was in a position to transform their range into true world-leading products. That might sound a little up-myself, but I really believe if I'd stayed there, I could've made my mark. The last range of products I was working on (due for release three weeks after I was frog-marched out) was a great start, and a fantastic learning experience. But it was the range-topping products that were slated for upgrades that I was itching to get my hands on.
Alas, it was not to be. I was made redundant while off sick for three days. By 9am the following Monday, I'd been to work, been told and was back home unpacking a box of my things with a really odd feeling in my stomach. Five weeks later I started a new (my current) job. I like the fact I landed on my feet, and not my arse.
My Current Work Life:
I've been in my current job for a year, a week and one day. I'm already starting to wonder if I'm in the right job. the amount of poo that get's flung at me is worse than my previous job. Day in day out there's another drama that's given to me to sort. Other departments who can't handle their workload, or who aren't able to do the job right. Each day lurches into the next.
Two weeks ago, I literally had to stop for five minutes so I could remember what day of the week it is. That's not a good sign.
This job was advertised five days after I lost my previous job. Five weeks later I started. It was the best first job interview I'd ever had. I answered every question, could give examples for every situation they threw at me and clicked with my now-boss. It was an all-new industry with new rules and standards to learn. I threw myself into the 10-hour days and loved it. Then the monotony of the industry hit me, and it's been a gentle slide to this point ever since.
I love working with the other guys in my office - we look out for each other and are never afraid to help the others out. But the nature of the job, and the company, are such that the expectation for damn-near perfection are just really grating on me. I don't sleep properly (an alarming similarity with my old job when I was overloaded), I don't have the energy I used to and after work, I rarely want to do anything but sit in front of the box and recover.
My photography has all but gone into hibernation. I don't have any real new shots to show off anywhere. The last big shoot I did was at my friend's band DVD recording. Admittedly, I've also been developing a website for them (soon to be released). So that's been keeping the creative juices flowing. But other than that, I just don't have the push to do it right now. So many things in my life (all work-related) feel not right anymore, and I don't quite know where to go from here.
I have two weeks of holidays booked for October, and I want to use them to unwind, start breathing again and regather my thoughts about my career. And where I want to go from here. The thought of working for myself is tempting, but it needs a lot of ground work yet. Maybe it's time I start on that ground work...
