Recognized, Yet Unsure

Hello again! 

Since I left you with a bit of a cliffhanger last time, in this post I’ll be sharing what it takes to succeed in a competition organized by one of the most recognizable and valuable brands in the world. 

Okay, jokes aside, I still don’t have a formula for success. But today’s topic is very much about what success feels like. And to not completely let you down, I’m now allowed to include a couple of photos of my project, as the competition has officially come to an end. 

 

Here is a photo of the small leather bag I designed, inspired by the traditional splint basket next to it. Below that, you can see a collection of bag charms I created, each inspired by different symbols of fortune from various cultures. I would love to dive deeper into the inspiration and design process, but unfortunately, 400 words only take you so far. 

Instead, I want to talk about what success feels like, and all the other emotions that often come along with it. 

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that I often feel like I could have done better when looking back at my own projects. For example, I was hesitant to attach any photos of the Louis Vuitton project because, for a moment, I thought it wasn’t worth sharing and might even disappoint readers. And yet I know for a fact that the project is good, because of the success in the competition.  

This conflicting feeling is called imposter syndrome, and I’m guessing many of you are familiar with it. 

For me, other emotions that have surfaced alongside success include the fear of failure and the pressure to always achieve more. Writing some of these thoughts down feels a bit silly, and I worry it might come off as complaining. But at the same time, I know these feelings are valid and I am allowed to experience them without feeling shame.  

I’ve been fortunate to work with incredibly talented designers early in my career. I’ve interned with a team that has won numerous design awards, and most recently, I was recognized in the Louis Vuitton design competition. I’ve had opportunities and success that many of my peers haven’t yet had, and this has created a sense of pressure that I must always succeed, and that I can’t afford to fail. 

Sometimes, I’ve even felt like I shouldn’t talk about my projects, because I didn’t feel I deserved the recognition even though it was my own work and effort that led to it. 

These are the thoughts I’ve been processing lately. I’ve learned to recognize and challenge them, but I wanted to share them here in case any of you have felt the same way.

I would love to hear if any of you have experienced these feelings and how do you deal with them. Please share your thoughts in the comments.

To wrap up this post (and this blog), I want to remind you that if you’ve ever experienced these feelings, you’re not alone—and you are studying at one of the best schools in the world. That in itself is an incredible achievement, and you should be extremely proud of yourself. 

Best, 
Lassi