Welcome to another edition of Dear Boom, our advice series where the creative community helps solve the industry’s toughest problems. This week’s dilemma involves a group that is often underserved when it comes to design advice articles: those who are stuck.
“I’m a mid-weight designer with a somewhat unusual path into the industry,” our anonymous contributor writes. “I didn’t come through the usual channels and I never really had a strong mentorship or a big-name studio on my resume. There was a lot of advice online for graduates or creative directors, but very little for people in the middle. I wanted to level up, but I didn’t know what to focus on or how to make the next leap.”
If you’re nodding in agreement, you’re not alone. The middleweight stage is uniquely challenging: you’re past the junior stages but not yet the senior stages, and the path forward can be frustratingly unclear.
Here’s what our community has to say. You can read the full discussion and add your own thoughts on our Instagram .
Question the premise
First, the whole concept of being “stuck” is worth challenging in and of itself. As art director Kirsten Murray said: “Another thing that’s stuck in these types of games; that is, we’re stuck in the past. Our progression as designers has nothing to do with our titles. Your progression will come from learning new skills and solving bigger, more complex problems and building confidence as you go.”
Kirsten’s advice is refreshing and practical. “You’re writing to Creative Boom because you’re motivated to make it happen. But the path isn’t clear. The first step is to write down what career success looks like for you, and where you want to go next. Do you want to work for yourself? Get a promotion? Or land a job at a well-known studio? Once you know what you’re working for, seek out the people who can help you get there. The guidance you’re looking for may take a DM to find.”
Designer Mandy Horton, who herself entered the industry in an unconventional way—earning a fine arts degree, then working as a print production coordinator, then an artist, then a designer—agrees. “I think the feeling of being a ‘mid-weight’ designer can be so different depending on who you work for, who you are, your goals and how you want to grow,” she said. “Middle-weight jobs in arts and culture are in this way It’s different than working in a business.
“If you feel stuck, the question is: What are your goals?” she continued. “Is it more money, or more challenges in your day-to-day work, or different clients? Or want a better work-life balance? There are many ways to do it, but there’s no right path, and everyone is different.”
Unconventional
Others reject the idea that “unconventional” roads are a disadvantage. Artistic director Lucy Elliott, a “former middleweight” who also takes an unconventional route, emphasizes this point. “It’s your strength, there’s so much extra to bring to the table,” she argued.
“My advice is to actively explore where you want to go,” Lucy continued. “Bring your experience, speak up, and join the conversation with senior team members or colleagues. Listen, and learn. It takes some confidence and it may feel uncomfortable at first, but you’ll find that going the extra mile really gets noticed and gets you where you want to be.”
Graphic designer Dave Jones advocates focusing entirely on your work. “Experience helps, but ultimately it depends on your portfolio,” he stresses. “Don’t worry too much about your experience level or the positions on your resume. If you’re a good designer, you’re a good designer. Focus on your portfolio; that’s how you’ll get the best work and clients.”
However, strategic brand designer Shakeel Mohamed has a warning. “The advice is reasonable, but not based on my experience,” he said. “I’ve had so many interviews where they told me ‘we love your work’ or ‘you blew us away,’ only to lose the position because of a lack of experience in a specific field or company type. I hope that changes soon, but I don’t think having a great portfolio is enough anymore.”
Tactical advice
Graphic designer Richard Vickers offers some tactical advice to agency personnel. “Look at your seniors and ask yourself: What are they confident about doing that you’re not so confident about right now? Then practice on those elements.”
Logo designer and branding expert Brandon Moore adds, “It really helps to work with people who are better than you. Even if it means putting together a team of a few people and creating your own project, it’s a way I’ve learned more and faster than teaching myself. Especially if you don’t even know where to start. Working on a project with other people can give you a sense of how they think and work.”
It’s also worth asking if your environment is the problem. As illustrator Inma Hortas says: “Whether you work in a company or an agency, your weight should grow with your responsibilities and the decisions you are involved in. If you are not given room to grow, sometimes you have to accept it. If you are consistently undervalued, then you are not in the right position.”
Inma points out that this also applies to freelancing. “When growth stalls, it usually means there’s a misalignment with clients. Finding your people makes a big difference. For me, confidence comes from knowing what works for me and what doesn’t, knowing my boundaries, and knowing why I do what I do. It’s a bit like dating. You try, you learn, and you enjoy the process as much as possible.” At the same time, she adds: “Always protect your junior mentality: That’s how growth never ends, in my opinion.”
long term perspective
What’s remarkable about this discussion is that it clearly dispels the myth that there is a “right path” from middleweight to senior. The industry likes linear narratives: from graduate to junior; intermediate to senior. But in reality, most careers are messier and more interesting than that.
In short, the non-traditional route doesn’t hold you back; it gives you a perspective that traditionally trained designers don’t have. The challenge is not to fix your past, but to become aware of your future. Define what success means to you, seek out people who challenge you to improve, and don’t stay in any place that consistently underestimates you.
Most importantly, remember that growth isn’t always vertical. Sometimes it’s sideways, backwards, or in directions you didn’t know existed. The only way is really To be trapped is to stop being curious.
