Is 27 Too Late to Switch to Industrial Design?

Hi everyone,

I’m 27 and recently got admitted into the MFA Industrial Design program at Rochester Institute of Technology. I have a Bachelor’s in Automotive Design (graduated in 2021) and currently work as a Lead UX Designer at Infosys.

I’ve been frustrated with the limited job opportunities and high competition in automotive design, so I decided to transition into industrial design. I’m excited about this new path but a bit uncertain about starting over at this stage. My skills in sketching, 3D modeling, and UX design seem transferable, but I’m wondering how to position myself in this new field and stand out.

Do you think 27 is too old to make this career shift? Have any of you transitioned to industrial design later in life? How did it go?

I’ve also attached my automotive design portfolio for review. Any feedback on how I can refine it or pivot it towards industrial design would be incredibly helpful.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ohfvuoQq4M5yCDSRulF0bgXu7LlAx7Ow/view?usp=drivesdk