'Have I missed the boat at 40?' Tips on dealing with ageism in creative jobs

Creative Boom's "Dear Boom" advice series tackles ageism in the creative industry, addressing concerns from a 40-year-old reader considering a career change into design.

The article explores both sides of age bias in creative fields, featuring insights from designers, illustrators, and industry professionals who share their experiences with career changes at various life stages. While acknowledging that ageism exists and can create real challenges—from reduced freelance opportunities to structural hiring biases—the piece emphasizes that maturity often brings valuable advantages including confidence, life experience, and clarity of vision.

• Mindset matters more than age: Industry professionals stress that enthusiasm, energy, and great ideas open doors regardless of age
• Experience is an asset: Career changers bring valuable transferable skills and life perspective that younger professionals may lack
• Find the right environment: Seek out companies and collaborators who value skill and passion over youth demographics
• Resilience is essential: While challenges exist, passion and continuous learning can overcome industry stereotypes about age