I too have to put in a word for Jason for puttin' it out there.
Jason,
A couple of words of advice from someone in the design profession:
1.) Know your market. Last week, I had a strange woman approach me from the sidewalk as I sat at an intersection with the top down, and say "I just want to tell you that I think this is the most beautiful car on the road." This week, 2 women at the same intersection: "Oh my God, look at that car!" (I had to ask "What about the driver?") Georg Kacher from Automobile Magazine: "It's gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous." A later issue of Automobile: "...it has so much style. Every move it makes is delicious". Road and Track: "The new Thunderbird succeeds both as a heritage piece, and as a design in its own right." I could go on. If your taste is so far off from the norm as to think that it's hideous, you're going to be selling your designs to a vanishingly small market. That's ok. The market for Art Films, Joan Baez CDs and hagus is small too. As long as you can make a decent living and enjoy your work. Just know your market.
2.) Develop a thick skin. As you can see from this post, if you want to put your vision out into the world, you're going to take some hits. Doesn't matter if you're Michaelangelo. You will take hits. Don't be afraid to learn and improve, but stay true to your vision and believe in yourself.
It takes courage to put your work out in a public forum, and to dare to defend it. Keep doing it. As time goes on, you'll develop more finesse at it. Best of luck.
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