We take a dive into the practice of design from a parenting practitioner’s perspective. This episode is for you if you have kids or are thinking about having kids or your curious about the term work life balance. We will look at how parenting impacts the design process. 

Guest Summary

Megan Plante is a A&D Marketing Manager with OFS. She is a mother of two and has started a social media account called Mothers of Design, also known as MOD Squad. MOD Squad's vision is to create a voice and recognize that mothers in design exist. She strives to normalizing parenting by creating events around parenting and design. In this episode, Megan and I are going to take a dive into parenting, being a practitioner, and honing our voice of what feels right as a practitioner with a work life balance.

Whether or not you have a family that you're currently living with, or you're thinking about starting a family. We will look at what it means to have a work life balance within the context of a modern day design practice. 

In this episode we asked Megan:

• What led you to starting MOD Squad?
• What have you been hearing and feeling in the design industry from working parents?
• How do you think the profession has shifted since parents are working from home?
• There are parents in the workplace, then there are mothers in the workplace, how are mother's brains wired and how does that impact the workplace? 
• Do you think the 9-5 is realistic for parents?
• What advice do you have for the younger you when thinking about having kids in the design profession?

 “We as practitioners have to remember that working is a relationship. We have a relationship with our job. A relationship means there is a give and take. It is not a constant take. That is not a relationship.” - Elizabeth

“You're going to come across other ways of thinking, other relationships, other people, other upbringings. You are also going to come across people that have a very narrow mindsets, and I think no matter what, honor what is in you. Listen to your inner voice and what it is telling you to do. Be true to yourself.” - Megan

If you are a parent and practitioner that is seeking a work life balance we would love to hear what has worked for you. Please share elizabeth@milelongtrace.com. We want to hear from you and help build this profession together.

Make sure to follow us https://www.instagram.com/milelongtrace_podcast/ and tag a fellow designer that comes to mind when you listen to this episode. 

Till next time keep designing yawl.