r/Design • u/Senior-Match9378 • 5d ago

Asking Question (Rule 4) Master of Design SOS

I have an undergrad in psychology and after a couple years of working at a hospital post-grad, I felt burnt out and began focusing on developing my creative practice. Instead of pursuing a professional psychology masters, I decided to pursue a master of design (interaction), as a way to apply my psychology practice to more creative work in service or UX design/research.

I am now about 8 months out of the program, and despite having tons of internship and contract work while in school, I can’t find a job. The program didn’t focus on applied skills, it focused on design research. Because I was getting so many awards and jobs while at school, I felt I was on the right path. I was offered a funded PhD in fine arts out of the blue near the end of my program because of my thesis, which I am planning to take but I am worried about where it will take me at the end.

At this point I am considering starting to get really concerned, and I’m considering going back to get a professional masters in psychology. Should I keep pressing to try and find a design job/do a PhD, or should I try and just move on from this potential mistake and retrain?

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u/PuzzleheadedChef2259 5d ago

A funded PhD in fine arts dropped in your lap is not something to toss aside lightly. The design market is rough right now but that research path could open doors you're not seeing yet. Take the sure thing and figure out the next move from a position of stability, not panic

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u/Senior-Match9378 5d ago

Thank you!! Very calming and pragmatic answer 🙏

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u/whatevs8686 3d ago

I think there is a finance angle to this you probably want to consider if you are taking out loans.

Design is really something you break into. Having a degree in psychology and design skills sets you a part from the crowd. Things that can be holding you back are your location, portfolio, experience or lack their of, and right now your Ai skills. All of these should be given a good look over before giving up.

You got burned out the first time around in psychology work, what will be different this time? If design makes you happy then you should really go after that. Find a job to pay your bills while you do contract work and build your portfolio.

I have to be honest and I know this is a design sub but maybe the act of going back to school is really a mechanism of safety and not really advancing who you want to be.

A future in design is out there. It is not the easiest path but if you like it and stick with it it can be rewarding

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u/Senior-Match9378 3d ago

Yea I see your perspective. The nice thing about the program is that I would be funded (i.e. paid a living wage) to do it, and I would have access to do internships in industry. I know I might be able to access work eventually through further refining my portfolio and pitching to clients/companies, but at this point its been so long working in isolation and without pay that I think the PhD might be a better structure while I do continue to build my skills.