How This Designer Made an Unusual Career Switch
*This is part of AD PRO’s Designer Takeover, in which working designers are contributing stories to the site. Here, Contour Interior Design’s Nina Magon opens up about her how she switched her career path, and made it work. *
I have always had a real affinity for design, even though my background is in a field that involves numbers and real estate. I graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Economics and Finance. But while I was pursuing my degree I made sure to also study fashion, because I needed a creative outlet. And at the time, I thought fashion was the only one available.
I opened up my own high-end lingerie store once I graduated. I spent two years working long hours in the retail business, and realized that my attention was gravitating towards the design of my retail space, rather than on the lingerie itself. I became obsessed with how product and furniture placement could increase sales, and I would always rearrange the store trying to find the best space planning to enhance my customer’s experience. I will never forget that day when I closed down my store with the realization that real estate plus fashion equaled interior design! It was at that moment that I decided to go back to school to do my post-graduate studies in Architecture and Design at The Art Institute of Houston, and I haven’t looked back since.
Thinking back on my childhood, it makes sense that I ended up in the design industry. I remember how much I enjoyed replacing and repurposing furniture in my bedroom, and around my parent’s house. I loved reading Architectural Digest and admiring the pretty interiors when I had time to unwind. Working in this industry has given me the opportunity to travel the world to create one-of-a-kind environments, and encourage people to live with stylish. I have found my niche, and I thank God for that every day.
