The Career Pivot That Wasn’t: Why No Skill Is Ever Wasted
Danford College Reception Desk
We often talk about career pivots as if we are closing one door to open another.
When I finished my Bachelor’s in Industrial Design, I didn’t realize that the years I spent studying ergonomics, production plans, and spatial layouts were actually laying the foundation for my future as a Graphic Designer.
Later, after moving to Melbourne and completing my diplomas in Graphic Design, I felt like I had "switched" paths. I thought my ID degree was a past life—a valuable experience, but separate from the pixels and typography I was now obsessed with.
Then came the new campus project at Danford College.
Danford College Campus
The Moment the Two Worlds Collided
While working as an in-house Graphic Designer at Danford, the college underwent a massive move to a new campus. My initial brief was what you might expect: design the visual identity for the physical space, create the window frostings, and handle the signage.
But as the project progressed, something unexpected happened.
The project required more than just 2D graphics. It needed someone who understood how people move through a building. Because of my background in Industrial Design, I found myself back in the world of floorplans, campus layouts, and furniture design.
Reception Desk Design
I ended up designing the reception desk and helping make critical decisions on how the furniture and graphics would interact to create a cohesive environment. Beyond the design itself, I also had the chance to work directly with production teams, like carpenters, directing them on the technical plans I provided. It was a great opportunity to manage the process from the initial drawing to the final build, and it reminded me how much I value working alongside different professionals to bring a project to life.
Reception Desk production process
Why Thinking in 3D Changes the Design Process
That project was a wake-up call. I realized that my "pivot" wasn't a departure; it was an evolution.
In today’s market, a brand rarely lives only on a screen. It lives on a coffee cup, a shipping box, a storefront, or a banner hanging in a website's hero section that needs to feel "real."
Because of my Industrial Design roots, I don’t just design logos; I design systems. When I approach a graphic piece, I’m subconsciously asking:
How does this brand scale into a physical space?
How will this lettering look when it’s fabricated in 3D and placed under specific lighting?
How does the user interact with this touchpoint in a real, physical environment?
Whether I’m working on a packaging project or a brand identity, I’m thinking in both pixels and centimeters. I’m considering the material, the production plan, and the ergonomics of the user experience.
Looking Ahead: Bridging the Gap
After three rewarding years with Danford College, I am feeling more inspired than ever. My time there showed me how much more we can achieve when we stop looking at different design fields as completely separate things.
During my first two years working in-person at the office in Melbourne, I practiced the high technical standards of the industry. This last year, working remotely from Bogota, has taught me the value of agility, independence, and the importance of clear communication.
As I look toward the next chapter of my career, I’m excited to continue exploring this intersection. I’m ready to embrace new challenges where digital beauty meets physical reality, and where I can use my full "ID + GD" toolkit to solve complex problems.
My career path hasn't always been a straight line, but every lesson I've learned along the way has been worth it. I’m looking forward to sharing more about these "new horizons" very soon.
