What happens when you bring career conversations beyond the classroom? You discover that the next generation of designers has some pretty big questions about what comes next.
This October, The Brand of You hit the road for a Texas Tour! Three universities, three different audiences, and plenty of thought-provoking conversations about careers, confidence, and the unpredictable journey from student to professional.
Our stops included Texas Tech University in Lubbock, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio.
We came to share what we've learned from our own career journeys. We left inspired by the curiosity, ambition, and thoughtful questions of the students we met along the way.
First Stop: Texas Tech University — The Career You Can't Plan For
We kicked off the tour at Texas Tech's Design Expo, surrounded by interior design students, faculty, and industry professionals.
Our message? Your career probably won't go according to plan. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
We challenged students to think beyond landing that perfect first job. Because a career isn't a straight line from graduation to success. It's a collection of experiences, relationships, decisions, surprises, and sometimes spectacular detours.
We shared seven career truths that don't always make it into a college syllabus, including the myth of the perfect job, the inevitability of change, and the importance of creating a path that reflects who you are and not someone else's definition of success.
And we asked students a simple question: Who here has a plan?
Of course, having a plan is a good thing. But knowing how to adapt when that plan changes? That's where the real growth happens.
Next Stop: UTSA — Connected by Design
Our next stop was UTSA, where we joined the IDSA + WIA Connected by Design Career Development Series.
This session gave us an opportunity to turn the conversation around and hear what was on students' minds.
And they did not disappoint!
Some of their questions included:
If every student's portfolio disappeared today, what would still make someone hire them?
What's one thing employers notice in the first five minutes that students don't realize they're communicating?
What's a career truth college students don't want to hear but absolutely need to hear before graduating?
What's the biggest way talented students accidentally hold themselves back?
How can a mistake early in your career become one of your greatest advantages?
These are the kinds of questions we love.
They go beyond technical skills, portfolios, and job interviews. They get to the heart of professional identity, self-awareness, confidence, and the human side of building a career.
And they remind us why we started The Brand of You in the first place.
Final Stop: University of the Incarnate Word — Connecting the Dots
We wrapped up our Texas Tour at UIW in San Antonio, continuing the conversation about the many possibilities a career in design can offer.
One of the ideas at the heart of The Brand of You is that your education is a starting point, not a destination.
An interior design degree can open doors to careers students may not even know exist yet. And the experiences, interests, and relationships they develop along the way can lead them in directions they never anticipated.
We encouraged students to stay curious, look beyond traditional career paths, and recognize that their unique combination of skills and experiences is what makes them valuable.
Because sometimes the most exciting opportunities are the ones you didn't know to look for.
What a wonderful way to close out our Texas adventure!
Let's Keep the Conversation Going!
Are you planning a career event on your campus?
We've got stories, lessons learned the hard way, and a whole lot of enthusiasm for helping students navigate what's next. Bring us to your campus, hand us a microphone, and let's get students talking, thinking, and imagining the possibilities ahead. No boring lectures. No perfect-career formulas. Just real conversations about real careers.
And yes, we promise to make it fun!