Episode 9: Losing Your Job and Designing a New One with Dyonne Fashina

Synopsis

Being laid off from a job you love can be a tough. It especially hurts when it’s in the career field you’ve always wanted and dreamed about succeeding. It’s even worse when it happens twice.

In this episode, host Greg Martin talks with Dyonne Fashina about what she did after losing two corporate jobs in the interior design industry. She now owns and runs her own design firm called Denizens of Design, and in many ways the drive, inspiration and concept was driven out of losing her job.

In this episode, the two talk about what its like to work for a big firm versus your own firm in the design industry, they share stories about being laid off (Greg was laid off too in 2010) and the benefits and challenges of a job done on your own terms, your own way.

Key Takeaways

  • What its like working in the design industry, for several big companies on large projects

  • Compare and contrast of the big firm life versus working on small projects and teams

  • Dyonne’s schooling and how she decided on a path in the interior design world

  • Shared experience of being laid off - the “insult”, the challenge and the “opportunity”

  • Greg shares his experience of being laid off in 2010

  • Challenges of starting your own business, finally making money and being on your own

  • Video (see below) created by Found Her Products and Kelsey Blake

Dyonne’s Background

  • Current owner and principal at Denizens of Design

  • Past jobs in interior design at Stantec and Quadrangle

  • Degree from Western University in Visual Arts and a Bachelor of Interior Design from Ryerson Univeristy

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Episode 10: Caring About Workplace Mental Health with Michael Stroh

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Episode 8: Social Media, a Lifestyle and a Business with Ariel Niu