Finding your place in a saturated industry

Lessons I've learnt in the design industry and why I won't be battling to get to the top

I started writing this piece as an outlet and a way to clear my head, not expecting it to turn into a guide that actually helped me move forward. At the beginning of the year, I hit a wall - the quiet kind. The slow crumble of clarity and purpose that can happen when you’re working in a creative and social media-heavy industry. The kind where everyone seems to be doing what you’re doing, but louder, faster and more of it.

The more I spoke to colleagues and friends, the more I realised I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. So, instead of simply venting behind closed doors, I thought, why not shape this into something constructive that might help you, too, if you’re feeling the same? Or simply offer a place to come together and know you’re not alone.

This article is a reflection on that time, and everything I’ve learned since becoming a colour consultant. Not just about how to survive in a saturated space, but how to stay yourself in it. These lessons aren’t about hustle or hacks, they’re about the inner shifts that helped me reclaim joy, direction, and identity in my work again. I’m no business coach or psychology expert, and this won’t resonate with everyone, but it has certainly helped me. And for full transparency, I’m still working on these every day.

And breath… | Photo by Dario Di Maggio

Lesson One: Every market is saturated, but that’s no reason not to try.

Here’s what I think: there’s room for all of us. Whether you work as a colour consultant, an interior designer, a photographer, an artist (or anything else for that matter)…there are so many of us, and I truly believe there’s room for all of us.

When I discover a new colour expert or consultant whom I admire, once upon a time, I’d have probably felt a pinch of envy at how good they are. I’d have compared myself to them, agonised over how many more followers they have or what achingly cool projects they’re working on (hello social media). But now, when I discover new colour experts, I reach out. I want to get to know them, their studio, their style and their story. Don’t get me wrong, not everyone is receptive, but most people are, and in doing so, I’ve made some amazing friends in the design industry. We support and lift each other; we collaborate and recommend each other. And it’s really bloody lovely. Because isn’t an industry that collaborates, so much nicer to be part of than one that competes?

I know this won’t be right for every industry (or every person), but for me, this shift in mindset has led me on a path that leads with kindness rather than fear. I want to work with other consultants and designers, not against them. I want to learn from them, alongside them, and slowly shift any sense of competition to connection and collaboration.

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Lesson Two: Redefine what success means to you and find your own pace in a world that rewards hustle.

A couple of years ago, I landed my dream job. It was my first role in the colour and design industry, and it was the launching pad for my career. You only need to ask my partner to know that I was full-on ‘career comes first’ in those initial years. It wasn’t until that role was very quickly and unexpectedly taken away that I realised I was just a number. I wasn’t as irreplaceable as I’d believed, no matter how hard I worked, how much praise I received or how much I cared. This was a quick-fire lesson for me that everything you’ve worked for or depended on can change in an instant. Life isn’t just about what we do or how successful we become, and success certainly doesn’t equal happiness. There’s a whole lot more out there.

That experience shifted something for me. It made me realise that my value isn’t tied to my job (and that’s true for all of us). It also made me realise that climbing the career ladder and hustling isn’t for me. I don’t want to put my career before my relationships, or myself, for that matter. There’s a world outside of work. This doesn’t mean I don’t want to grow or achieve or that I’m not ambitious, it just means I’ll do it at my own pace, on my own terms, and I won’t be battling to get to the top.

I still believe our work is important, but I also believe it doesn’t have to be everything, and letting go of that pressure to be 'the best' might just make space for more joy and dare I say it…happiness.

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Lesson Three: Your ideas might be borrowed, but your voice and your story is yours alone.

One of the main reasons I started slowly feeling lost and in turn writing these thoughts down was that I repeatedly found myself in a position where people with more exposure than me were leaning on my expertise, asking for free advice, taking my words and sharing them with a wider audience. I’m only human, so of course it felt disappointing and just a little bit (very) frustrating. But after some thinking and talking to lovely designer friends, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s okay. Ideas, especially in design, will circulate. At the end of the day, we’re all talking about the same things, aren’t we?

But it’s how we say it and why we share it that matters. It’s our approach, our depth of knowledge, and how we translate that into a project that makes us unique. And that’s something no one else can replicate.

While someone might borrow your ideas, they can’t evolve them the way you can. Creativity and knowledge aren’t static; they grow and refine over time. And the one most important thing that no one else can replicate? You.

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Lesson Four: Find your why and let it guide you

Earlier this year, I read Miranda Hart’s book I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You, where she shares the personal tools that have helped her manage her mental health (if you love Miranda Hart, this book is a must). One chapter explores the concept of ‘our why’ (inspired by Simon Sinek’s Start With Why - another fab read if you haven’t already!). It’s about uncovering the deeper reason behind what we do, beyond job titles, salaries, or expectations.

For me, knowing my ‘why’ felt like finding a compass. It’s not about having your dream job or standing at the top of your industry. It’s about aligning your actions with your values. Whether you’re in a role you love, a stepping stone job, or even something that feels far from your aspirations, your ‘why’ gives purpose to the path you’re on.

In a saturated industry, where others may be doing similar work, saying the same things, or seeming ten steps ahead, your ‘why’ becomes your anchor. It helps you stay on your path, rather than veering off course chasing someone else’s version of success. It brings clarity, resilience, and authenticity to what you do, even when things feel overwhelming or competitive. One of the biggest things that struck me about knowing your ‘why’ is that if you lost your job tomorrow or your business idea, product launch, or new service offering didn’t go to plan, it’s okay, because you can carry out your ‘why’ in more ways than one.

Ultimately, your ‘why’ makes you you; it's yours. And that’s what gives your work meaning, no matter where you are in your journey.

I’m still finding my way, still redefining what success looks like, and still learning to make peace with the ebb and flow of it all. But these are the lessons that helped me reclaim a bit more of myself. If you’re in a similar spot, I hope they help you too, or at the very least, offer a bit of comfort in knowing you’re not alone.