Master Plan

Posted by Justin Fox on 29th January 2010

11 years ago I wrote a Master Plan:
http://www.justinfox.com.au/tintin/me_plan.html

Attitude? Loads of it! The funny thing is that I still stand and live by most of the things I wrote in that plan today.

I still refuse to be a design slave. In some ways I feel like I’ve been there, done that with design and maybe commercial design work has finally killed the artist in me.

I still love meeting clients. I talk well and I know how to inspire confidence, it’s the middle part of the job that I hate the most. And usually, at the end of the job I feel used.

Lately I’ve been thinking about my future (lots). I figure that if I quit being a graphic designer my income stops. I’ve been looking for a way to create a business which lives on without me, something stable and easily sustainable, a bicycle shop perhaps, or to meet a money Buddha who will magically turn all my community projects (ie: passion projects) into money making projects.

More than ever I want to work for myself on my own projects and I'm coming to the realisation that graphic design was perhaps just a stepping stone for me. If I look back at my achievements, the marks I've made on the wall have not come from my graphic design skills but from the communities I've founded and nurtured.

INfront’s re-launch has been emotional for me and it’s been a huge start to my year. I’ve always wanted to run INfront with people. I’ve always wanted someone to take the reigns and treat INfront as their own and that’s exactly what Damien and Zann have done.

I’ve yet to find people to help me get over the line with my cycling community (www.bikesmoveus.com.au) as well as my automotive community (www.jdmstyletuning.com) but I’m sure they’re out there. Finding them is essential to the success of my revised master plan.

Comments

1. By robertconnelly on 01st February 2010 @ 9.02 AM

I think Mr Sagmeister has the answer.

http://www.ted.com/talks/stefan_sagmeister_the_power_of_time_off.html

2. By peteshand on 15th March 2010 @ 2.49 AM

Haha I definitely can relate to the idea of being a 'design slave', and as a young designer I'm weary of falling into something so structured. Right now I work a flexible 3 day week which is pretty nice.

Simon Waterfall is an interesting dude who jumps from one thing to another, and does really well with it!

3. By Luke on 17th March 2010 @ 2.21 PM

I love your master plan.

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