There is a popular book entitled, Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow: Discovering Your Right Livelihood. Many find this book to be the inspiration they need to leave a successful job they do not enjoy and take a risk on a career they will relish. While the premise of the book is inspiring the reality is not all leaps to new careers necessarily result in prosperity.

Those in the design industry certainly understand the concept behind the premise of this book but are also willing to remain in a career they enjoy whether or not the money eventually follows. For these individuals the love of the job is more important than the monetary compensation. This is the mark of a gifted designer.

We all have responsibilities. Rent has to be paid, car payments met, credit card bills repaid and food needs to be purchased. Money doesn’t buy love and love doesn’t buy material things creating a frustrating paradox for many designers. So, how do talented designers take care of basic necessities while pursuing a career they love? If their design career doesn’t pay enough to fulfill basic needs, the simple answer is to take on a second job. It may be tiring, it may interfere with free time and it may not be fun work but in the end, if it enables you to continue your dreams in design, it is always worthwhile.