We understand that many of our readers are still in design school, dreaming of that exciting first job after graduation. And some of our members are only in the pre-stages of merely contemplating a career in our crazy industry. However, we’re leaving a group out, but we’re savvy enough to know that they’re there. Who are they” A group less vocal: practicing design professionals who are a tad bit bored and / or dissatisfied with their current firms or situation, itching to expand their horizons. We know you, we hear you, and we sympathize with you. This article is for you.

Side work. This short phrase either is whispered, uttered only when clearly out of earshot of the office, or simply not mentioned at all. Some compare it to having an affair on one’s significant other. An Interior Designer we interviewed actually used the words, “Yes, I am cheating on my husband.” However, she quickly added, “But I am not the first in our firm.” In other words, most everybody is doing it.

Like a true affair, doing work on the side is occasionally talked about, sometimes tolerated, yet rarely ever encouraged. But let’s be honest here – most of the time it’s performed after hours or on the weekends, and it’s never discussed. Why” Because it’s frequently against company policy. Of course the fear is that one will neglect the work in one’s firm while concentrating on personal projects. A valid concern by employers, yet it doesn’t have to be the case.

We asked one Architect whether or not his employer is aware of side work. He responded with an emphatic NO: “They frown upon doing side projects, and I could definitely be fired. I really do not think that they would completely mind because the type of work I do is really not in competition with them, but it is just company policy. Besides working in direct competition, they do not want people to work on the side because the company would not want your side job to interfere with your regular work time.”

So what’s the motivation to tread in such dangerous waters” To use affair analogy just once more, let’s ask the questions: Why do designers stray” What do side projects do for them that the firm’s 9-to-5* employment doesn’t necessarily offer” As it turns out, several things…

* Note: Please don’t be fooled into thinking typical design jobs are 9-to-5. The term “9-to-5” just sounds good because it’s so common, and thinking of the 1980 eponymous movie makes us giggle. We’ll talk typical work schedules and overtime in future articles…

Financial reward

Reality check: If you are looking to get rich, the fields of interior design and architecture are probably not the way to go. Not that it isn’t possible. It’s just a bit harder to achieve what we would consider “wealth” in these fields than in other professions like medicine, law, etc., especially when you are working for someone else.

Side work allows you to earn some extra cash for that down payment on a new car, your child’s college fund or that well-deserved vacation to Bali. Since you are your own boss, you can set your own fee structure: an hourly rate, a fixed project fee, or a percentage mark-up on goods if the projects is more item oriented. (Note: We here at PLiNTH & CHiNTZ have even been known to work for food and wine or to exchange our consulting services for other services such as graphic design or photography. Do what works for you.)

One determined Architect we know explored many different areas of the design industry to find interesting ways to branch out: “I do some Residential remodeling projects and ground-up Residential projects. However, doing contract drawing is a good way to gain additional experience, as well as to earn some extra money. I also do some drawing for a furniture manufacturing company. The company is small and often needs help with their shop drawings.”

The advantage: When your employer bills you out at $75 an hour, much of that amount goes to paying firm expenses and overhead. When you bill yourself out at $75, it’s all yours.

The disadvantage: You’ve got to keep up with collecting your own fees from your clients and figuring out your own taxes. Basically, you must force yourself to deal with money, and not everyone does that comfortably.

Career opportunities

In addition to pocketing a little extra cash, many look to side work to broaden their experience in the profession. An Architect who has been with his current firm for about four years is doing just that: “I really want to focus on Residential design. Working on smaller Residential projects on the side is giving me more confidence. I do some Residential work in the office but typically the scale of work is different.”

Obviously, the most natural type of side work is Residential. Family and friends are frequently asking you for your advice anyway, so why don’t you start getting something in return for a change” If you can impress your family and friends – those commonly most critical of you – then you can probably impress most anyone. Encourage loved ones to recommend you to their family and friends so that you can develop some “real” clients. As one Interior Designer mentioned, “My current residential clients approached me because they are familiar with my work.” How” Through word of mouth. As we always say… you never know who knows whom, so take advantage of The Grapevine.

Commercial side projects happen as well, especially in Retail. Friends are opening a store, can’t afford to hire a firm and seek your help. Ditto for Hospitality: small restaurants, salons, bed & breakfasts and the like. This is your chance to branch out on a small scale. Add some variety to your one-track portfolio. Who knows – you might find that you enjoy doing the new work better than the old. Plus, if it’s good enough, maybe others will see it, seek out your services and away you go on a whole career path.

Of course, what gets sticky is this: A client – with whom you work closely during your job with your current employer – approaches you directly, asking you to work for them outside of the realm of your firm. That’s a tough call, and we are not going to begin to tell you what to do. Each set of circumstances is going to be different. We will say this, however… If the client is approaching you because you truly have a good rapport and work well together, it might not be a bad thing. On the other hand, if you sense the client is suggesting this idea either in attempt to get cheap services or to get back at your employer, you probably want to decline. Furthermore, if you’ve signed some sort of non-compete clause, definitely study it to find out on what kind of shaky legal ground you might be standing. There’s no use in getting fired or sued over a project if it ultimately won’t do much to further your career or make you some good money.

Emotional satisfaction

Despite the appealing nature of extra cash or a better job, it seems that simply having more satisfying work drives many creative types to seek out side projects. “I am burned out on the type projects I work on with my firm,” admitted an Interior Designer who has been with her current employer for almost 10 years.

A Project Architect we spoke to agrees: “It can be much different than your everyday job, so the extra work won’t burn you out as much. However, the downside to working on the side is working ALL of the time.” He admits, though, that the constant stream of work may build up your confidence enough to conjure thoughts of striking out on your own: “There are only so many hours in the day, and you can only do too much. It is hard to turn [the extra work] down, and I usually try to delay the start if possible, or I recommend jobs to friends. The downside of doing side work is burnout. You really have to work a lot, and sometimes you feel like that is all you do. However, once the extra paychecks roll in, it is hard to say no. I do want to branch out on my own someday, but the timing has to be right, and I need to make sure that I have enough work to really support myself adequately.”

Even though one Senior Designer is extremely busy working for her current firm, she realizes the emotional value in doing work that she can call all her own: “I have declined one project because of my schedule, and I don’t plan to do that again. A proverb a friend sent me explains so well the feeling we encounter as we grow as professionals: ‘And the day came when the pain to remain tight in the bud was greater then the risk it took to bloom.’ I am ready to bloom and believe in myself.”

We couldn’t have said it any better.

Respect yourself in the morning.

In any case, the utmost discretion is a given, and you absolutely, positively cannot let your extracurricular projects interfere with your everyday job obligations. An Interior Designer we know is extremely aware of these important points: “It [my side work] has not interfered with my performance. Sometimes you have to do what it takes to get where you ultimately want to be. I love Residential work, and I want to work for myself. I knew I would need a base to go out on that limb.”

When we dug a little further, we discovered that this designer is getting it right: “I have my own office and library established at home. When I’m working during the day, there may be a moment when I see something and think ‘that is what I am looking for’ for another project, but that type of multi-tasking is the nature of the job. I am sensitive about working on my private work on my own time.” Words to live by.

A happy medium can be achieved, and that’s what we’re advocating here. PLiNTH & CHiNTZ is not about lying, cheating, stealing, destroying relationships or failing to fulfill one’s commitments. Those principles go against everything we’re trying to achieve here. On the other hand, we do support creativity, career growth, personal satisfaction and mutual understanding. These are the values we strive to encourage, and we hope we are doing so.  

Do you have comments about this article or do you want to add an anecdote about your own personal experience” We welcome the comments. Email us at contact@plinthandchintz.com.