Colours of Graphic Design

BY CHRIS SORICHETTI

What does a designer do when SHIT GOES sideways????????????????????

2021 has been interesting. January continued with us working remotely and getting through a global pandemic, and then February came. February started to show that there was light at the end of this endless tunnel, but for me, that light burnt out very quickly. Super Bowl night (Feb 7th), I got a meeting invite from upper management of the company I work for. The subject of the meeting was ‘update’. I saw the invite early Monday morning and immediately felt a pit develop in my stomach.

I knew what it was. Meetings like this don’t happen, something was wrong. It turns out I was being let go.

Seven years of pushing the envelope and driving innovation all came crashing down. I was told that I don’t fit into the restructure and that my services were no longer needed. It was the typical bullshit that corporations throw at you without telling you the truth. So now what? What’s next? Where am I getting my income? Who is paying for the food on our table, the roof over our head? Everything went dark and panic set in.

Personally speaking, I was having a great year. I was working out daily, I was eating better and I was spending more time with my family. I’ve lost weight, felt positive, had some great projects on the go and things were looking up. So how do I keep this momentum, how do I keep this drive going? Honestly, I am not sure if I know.

The day after it happened I opened up my contacts and immediately shared what happened. Family, friends and professional contacts all reached out. Some had leads, some did not, but all had positive words to share. All words of positivity came shooting at me; “One door closes and another opens”, “There are better and brighter things for you” and so on. Some of my

best friends, however, have yet to reach out. It’s amazing how events like this show you who has your back and who doesn’t. I believe those doors will open and that there is something better out there, but when will it happen?

I immediately jumped online and updated my resume. I hit all the socials and updated where I needed. My LinkedIn is up to date and I’m searching online job boards daily. Anything I can think of, I’ve done it. A few weeks have passed and so far there are tons of leads, but during a worldwide pandemic, options are scarce.

While on my hunt, an old friend reached out and we talked about what happened. He’s in the online world and offered some advice, as well as some web space free of charge. This was an amazing offer and given I haven’t spoken to him for at least 15 years, a total surprise. Now during my hunt for full-time work, I can focus my skills on refining my digital design skills, get some UI/UX design

They get their ass in gear, stay focused, don’t stop and don’t let other people take charge of their life.

under my belt and get my name out there. Until now, I’ve been a solid print guy, but this will allow me to develop new skills in the digital world. It is growing daily, so it’s about time I hop on board and learn as much as I can about it and expand my knowledge. Honestly, frustration has been at an all-time high and most of it has been kept to me, but this has allowed me to have something else to focus on and positively use that energy. It’s given me a purpose to complete a site that allows me to show off my work and gain some customers through online channels. And who knows, I may be able to develop a new set of skills and gain some new clients along the way.

I don’t think I’ve come to the realization yet, but hopefully while reading this, it’s helped you realize that life can have some sharp curves in the road. It’s up to us to navigate through them and stay on track. Get your ass in gear, keep focused, don’t stop and don’t let people take charge of your life. Life has funny ways of telling you things sometimes, but it’s up to you to figure out what the message really is.

You are in charge of what is over the next hill, around the next corner and through the next door.