What would I do if I don't do design
Is what you are currently doing now your dream job? Do you wish to do something else if you get the chance?
When COVID-19 struck in 2020, many people faced the unfortunate reality of losing their jobs. During that time, I found myself reflecting on my career and asking, What if I weren’t a designer anymore?
That period of uncertainty allowed me to realize that I had another viable career path: event management. With my experience in hosting and organizing various types of events, I recognized that I could pivot to this field if needed. Here’s how my CV or resume might look if I were to pursue a career outside of design:
Resume as Event Management
Event Director
UXVN Community - https://www.uxvn.org/
2017 - now (6 years)
Organize annual International events ranging from 200 to 600 attendees.
Manage events budget and sponsorships
Led cross-functional teams to execute events flawlessly
Oversee event promotion and marketing efforts
Manage on-site tasks to ensure proper execution
Coordinate all aspects of the event, including logistics, budgets, staffing, and vendor management
Collaborate and manage communications with international speakers
Creative Director, Event Producer Manager, MICE
Red Spirit
2013 - 2017 (4 years)
Creative Direction, Event Planning, and Execution for the Client's activation campaign (online and offline)
Create and organize production deliverables, including media, video, audio, stage, visual, and brand collaterals.
Manage on-site tasks to ensure proper execution by the full team
Source vendors and negotiating contracts
Work closely with account executives to maintain client and brand expectations
Work with clients and brands: Unilever (AXE, Clear, Clear men, Rexona); Sony (Sony Vaio, Sony Xperia); Kinh Do (AFC); Cambodia Angkor Air.
Portfolio:
AXE Apollo campaign (Unilever):
With aim of finding the second Vietnamese to space, we hold the national final round of the competition, which includes 3 challenges.
Triathlon Challenge
Gravity Challenge (Hon Mun Island, Nha Trang)
Aerial Challenge (Hon Hong Islet, Phan Thiet)
REXONA Men – Adventure Sport Map
The main idea is to create a map of adventures and extreme sports in Vietnam. Our task is planning and executing the itinerary, including beautiful places and fascinating out-of-beaten path places to explore and where to play the extreme sports
Event Specialist (Contract), MICE
Cedar Marketing
01/2013 -06/ 2013
Produce event collaterals
Manage guest list and on-site check-in
Sourcing vendors
Manage event schedule, conference schedule
Work with MC and DJ to produce an event party for 250 guests.
Side project
Mystery Hunting – https://www.facebook.com/MysteryHunting/
2010 - 2013 (3 years)
This program is a cultural and exploring adventure for students to discover beautiful and historical places in Vietnam, travel like- no-others.
Successfully organize 6 consecutive events in 3 years, each event consists of 150 - 200 participants
Creative direction for the Mystery Hunting program (www.mysteryhunting.com).
Event script and storyline. Build event challenges (physical activities, puzzles)
Create event tools (treasure box, hints)
A second career
I came across an insightful article in Harvard Business Review titled “Why You Should Have at Least Two Careers”. It perfectly encapsulates what I’ve been doing since the beginning of my professional journey.
It’s not uncommon to meet a lawyer who’d like to work in renewable energy, or an app developer who’d like to write a novel, or an editor who fantasizes about becoming a landscape designer. Maybe you also dream about switching to a career that’s drastically different from your current job […]
But the answer isn’t to plug away in your current job, unfulfilled and slowly burning out. I think the answer is to do both. Two careers are better than one. And by committing to two careers, you will produce benefits for both.
Subsidize Your Skill Development
As highlighted in the article above, the key is to subsidize your skill development by leveraging your current expertise.
“My corporate job paycheck subsidizes my record-producing career. With no track record as a producer, nobody was going to pay me to produce his or her music, and it wasn’t money that motivated me to become a producer in the first place — it was my passion for jazz and classical music. Therefore, I volunteered so that I could gain experience in this new industry. My day job not only afforded me the capital to make albums, but it taught me the skills to succeed as a producer.”
Similarly, my career in Design and User Experience (UX) has allowed me to focus on enhancing the experiences of attendees, speakers, and organizers involved in events I helped plan. While most of my event organization and management projects were not as financially rewarding as my main design job — and often required me to pay out of pocket or sponsor events myself — the rewards were never monetary. Instead, they came in the form of meaningful connections, friendships, and partnerships formed through hosting these events.
Most importantly, this experience expanded my professional network, enhanced my perspective, and directly enriched my work as a Designer.
Benefits back to my main career
Over the years, my efforts in organizing UX events and building community trust have also positively impacted my primary career. For instance, one of the founders of a prominent corporation in Vietnam recognized my passion for UX through my work with UXVN and invited me to join the company. This opportunity allowed me to elevate UX practices within the organization and establish a more user-centered approach to the product development process.
Of course, I also gained greater recognition as one of the leaders in UX in Vietnam. This visibility had a significant ripple effect: it opened doors to more job opportunities. Interestingly, I rarely had to proactively reach out to talent acquisition teams. Instead, I frequently received messages about open roles directly in my inbox.
The More I Gain, the Greater the Responsibility
Increased recognition comes with heightened responsibility. Being known for something means living up to those expectations. As my visibility has grown, so too has the scrutiny I face.
With greater popularity, I’ve come to accept that criticism is inevitable. In every organization I’ve joined, people have looked at me with a critical eye, evaluating whether I truly live up to the reputation that precedes me. Recently I heard that there is still negative feedback about me in my previous company that I have worked with. It occasionally weighs on me and amplifies feelings of imposter syndrome.
It’s Not Two Similar Jobs, It’s Two Distinct Careers
This isn’t about taking on a second job that mirrors your primary one. Many designers, for example, balance a 9-to-5 design role with freelance work at night. While this might seem like a practical way to earn more, it often leads to burnout. Having two jobs in the same field can double your workload and stress without offering a meaningful escape or balance.
On the other hand, pursuing a different career alongside your primary one can provide balance and even help you rediscover creativity. It’s an opportunity to step away from the routine of a 9-to-5 job and explore freedom, inspiration, and fresh perspectives through another passion.
When I did my offline and activation event, I got the chance to travel to many different places in Vietnam, and met with so many different people. They are from tourist companies, local people in some remote areas, drivers, KOLs, and writers. All of them have different experiences and that enriched my life experience. This would benefit me in a way that I might not expect from the beginning.
Everyone is not the same
However, I wouldn’t recommend this practice to everyone. As I’ve highlighted before, the more you gain, the more responsibility you take on. Balancing two distinct careers requires careful management, and if you’re unable to handle the demands effectively, you risk not excelling in either role. This path isn’t for everyone—it requires discipline, clear priorities, and a willingness to embrace challenges without compromising the quality of your work.
But if you find yourself pursuing something similar, my advice is to commit fully and give it 100% of your effort. See it through to the end; don’t leave things unfinished. Push yourself until you achieve remarkable results. Stopping midway not only limits your growth but also prevents you from gaining the experience and rewards that come from seeing a journey through to its conclusion.
Cool! How about maintaining these two careers for the next UXVN event? LOL