Where’s Nate?

TL;DR: I’ve been busy, it’s been weird.

My job at West Elm has taken up a lot of my time. I sell furniture and do some mild interior designing for customers. The people are good, the customers are good, and when not, they’re interesting. I’ve learned a lot about user needs in furniture, and fallen in love with many pieces which I hope to one day afford. (I certainly can’t at this wage!) Clearance-priced candles and pillow covers have still kept my employee discount from collecting metaphorical dust.

Glancing at my 11x17 paper and Copic markers sends anxiety through my body and I can’t fully explain why. I haven’t sketched in months. I’ll continue sketching when it calls, just not now. I know in this life I cannot help but design.

I had to split up with my partner. It’s been rough but we’ll both be better off. I strongly believe that after the grieving we can maintain a genuine friendship. I don’t have to lose my best friend just because we’re incompatible as life partners. In this realization, both him and I have found some peace. I’m starting therapy next week.

My desk setup has seen some fantastic upgrades in the year since I last showed it to you. I may be writing an update post with brand-new photos and everything— Keep an eye out!

My current academic plan is to pursue a Bachelor’s of Individualized Studies from my college. I’d get to choose three focuses to combine into one custom major, though only one of them can be outside of the Liberal Arts college. Product Design is a shoe-in for that one focus. As for the other two, I’m considering Technical Writing and GLBT Studies. One has good career implications while the other is just for fun. Both are fitting for who I am and what I’m good at. In theory, I could even graduate in Spring of 2024, which would be fantastic, but necessitates that I take 16-17 credits per semester. I may not be capable of that but I’d love to be.

An extra semester wouldn't kill me, though I’d like to leave Minnesota sooner rather than later. I truly adore the weather here between May and September. The other months leave me miserable, no matter how much I try to reframe them in my mind. I’ve lived here all my life yet it’s unsustainable for me to stay in the long term. (If you have recommendations for warmer US cities that aren’t entirely dystopian or exorbitant, let me know. I need options!)

Never done designing,

Nate