Elena

Q%What did you think you would end up doing before your studies? 

A%I always wanted to work creatively, but I never expected to end up in the design sector – that was and still is a surprise. 

Q%What difficulties did you have when you started your career? 

A%I’m actually still in the middle of starting my career, as it’s only been a few months since I graduated. One of the biggest challenges with the “Integrated Design” degree course is that you deal with many different areas – but I didn’t find my personal niche in the Bachelor’s degree. I’m still looking for it. 

Q%What went better than expected/ what worries were unfounded? 

A%I was able to continue my job, which I started towards the end of my studies, because the project was still running – that was a very good transition for me. And I realized that others have more confidence in me than I sometimes think myself. This worry about being underestimated was definitely unfounded.

Q%What were your fears after graduating? 

A%Especially financial worries. The change from BAföG recipient to sole earner was and is pretty scary. The question of which direction to specialize in remains, but I’m now approaching it with more curiosity. 

Q%What surprised you the most after your studies? 

A%What surprised me the most was that my fears and worries were shared by many other graduates. Many feel similar after the Bachelor’s degree as they did before. This shared feeling can provide security.

Q%Do you feel financially secure? 

A%Not completely. My current job still has about three months to go, but I know that I want to go in a different direction in the long term and start a Master’s degree next year. That means I’m falling back into “student life” financially, which is of course an uncertainty factor. I’ve always noticed how differently privileges are distributed among students – how much financial security influences how you feel and can develop during your studies. 

Q%Is your work financially valued? 

A%My work is valued financially because I am getting better at communicating my value clearly. Nevertheless, it is often a challenge to make outsiders understand how much work is behind supposedly simple designs. At first glance, these often seem simpler than they actually are in practice. What is particularly striking is the lack of understanding of how much time goes into the design process, which means that the time spent is often not sufficiently recognized. 

Q%Which of your works are you particularly proud of? 

A%To my bachelor’s thesis. Although this thesis offers little monetary sustainability, it has enormous personal value for me. It has helped me to come to terms with my family history, and that gives it a deeper meaning for me that goes far beyond the financial aspect. 

Q:What advice would you give students about starting their careers? 

A%It very much depends on what safety net you have. If possible, I would recommend looking for financial security early on, even if it is only temporary. At the same time, you should also take your time to really find out where you want to go. Above all, don’t be afraid to keep learning and find your place in the often very capitalistic design world.