I would like to think of this blog post as a sort of ‘road map’ for new UX designers. I have outlined some of the studios that I have come across during my research. I have also given a quick overview of the different frameworks within which UX can operate in the industry. In addition, you will find a brief overview of what I think you, as a new designer, can do to get your career on the move!

I have spent the past six months navigating the murky, unexplored territories searching for my first industry job. I have been looking high and low for all things digital design, UX and anything close. During this process, I have been compiling a list of interesting and innovative companies that I have come across. It’s never an easy undertaking to take that first step into the dark unknown, but once you take that leap, you will begin to figure out the landscape and things will start to come together.

Let me give you a brief overview of the UX design industry; there are two frameworks for jobs within UX design; in-house or agency. An in-house UX team will work on their own product(s), while an agency will take on projects from companies that do not have their own design team. A UX position with an in-house team can be satisfying for those who like to see a project through to the end. In this setting, you can work with the project until it’s released, and it is often possible to continue improving on the product after its launch. Agency work will have a quicker turnaround and a much faster pace than an in-house team. The in-house team will have more time to work on their product but will have much more red tape associated during the project, including, additional funding, more user research, etc. My advice would be to gain a good understanding of the experience that you are going to get out of the position that you’re applying for.

During my job search, I have been applying through indeed, glass door, Linkedin, etc… although these platforms are incredibly useful; I have generally found that by emailing my interest directly, I have received more interest and conversation around my application. My advice is to email prospective employers, regardless of whether specific roles have been advertised – people appreciate you reaching out and are generally more than happy to give feedback on your work, if not otherwise in a position to hire you at that time. Over the past six months, I have been pleasantly surprised by the responses from different people within the industry, who have taken the time to talk to me and offer feedback on my work. The knowledge and learning that I have gained from meeting and speaking with various professionals in the field has been incredibly encouraging. It has helped me to develop my understanding of the industry, as well as providing me with a strong understanding of the kind of designer that I hope to become.

If you’re trying to get into design, without any previous industry experience, it may take a bit longer than you would like, but don’t get disheartened. It may take six months, it may take a year. All I can say is that you just have to stay positive and keep applying for jobs. You should keep working on your own personal projects and keep going to UX/design meetups. You should try to get to know as many people within the industry as possible because it will be these actions that will get you noticed. Most importantly, these contacts may be your future colleagues – learn from them and be confident! Remember, you have ideas and skills that they can learn from too.

Here is the list of design studios that I have come across over the past six months. It includes in-house and agency. The list is not entirely exclusive to UX design, as there are also some marketing/advertising and graphic design shops included that also dabble in the field of UX. I hope this can be of some helpful guidance to those of you starting out in this field.

Good luck!!