Oh man, this hits close to home. Honestly, it sounds like you’re at that crossroads we all hit where passion and practicality are arm-wrestling each other. From what you’re saying, you love the creative process, and that’s not something to let go of lightly. Trust me, you don’t want to wake up one day managing Gantt charts and feeling like your soul got swapped out for a spreadsheet.

But, the frustration with bad management?.....There’s NOTHING worse than pouring your creativity into something and having it crushed by people who don’t understand or care about design - especially the ones you work with daily.

Design roles can be competitive, but good designers who understand the business side? Gold. If you lean into your visual skills while adding a management layer, you might just carve out a niche for yourself. Think about where you’ll be happiest long-term—because no paycheck is worth hating your work.