Season 2 | Episode 12 | Corey Pontz and Jennifer Edwards

This season is all about designers’ transitions from school to the working world – but what about graduates who went on to give back and become educators? In this episode, we chatted with Dylan Ball about his journey from school to work… and back to school again, this time as a Computer Technology teacher. In the process, Dylan shares what he learned about building professional skills at design school, spotting red flags in a potential employer, and honing in on what line of work brings you joy. 

From LinkedIn networking to rejections in the interview stage, job hunting isn’t easy – take it from Vash Persaud, who sat down with us to talk about her transition from school to her fellowship at AdFellows. In this episode, Vash breaks down how her support network at school led to opportunities in the professional world, her experience working at a design fellowship, and why you should always explore new connections (even if they don’t lead straight to jobs.) Tune in as we explore the world of building a professional presence after school.

“The path to your career is not exactly straight.” These are Madison’s words as she describes the process of getting her job at Merje, from sending out countless applications to getting her position and diving into the world of environmental design. In this episode, Madison offers advice on pursuing mission-driven work, negotiating salaries, navigating client critiques, and approaching job applications with confidence. 

We’ve spoken with many designers who pivoted careers and jumped between jobs in their first years after graduation, but what about graduates who find a good fit on their first try? Nick has been with Think Company since he was hired there out of school, and he chalks it up to discovering a passion for UX as Abby’s student in his senior year. Join us as we talk about how to negotiate a salary, what makes a strong UI/UX portfolio, and why you shouldn’t be nervous about not knowing your design passion during your college years.

What happens if you land your dream job fresh out of college… but you’re already working somewhere else? We spoke with Frank White, Graphic Designer at Comcast Spectator, about his work designing for the Philadelphia Flyers and the process of transitioning between jobs after school. Leaving a job just a few months after your hire date is widely accepted in the design world, but it can still lead to some intimidating conversations. In this episode, we talk about navigating that transition and overcoming fear so you can land a job you love.

Join us for a conversation with Anmol Dhamrait as she recounts her career adventure from undergraduate and graduate school to internships, project management and more. In this episode Anmol offers advice on balancing work and education, staying open minded in your career path, and the value of bringing a design background to the business world. Aspiring (and current) art directors, project managers, and leaders will want to tune in to this one!

Starting out as a designer can mean constantly moving between jobs, working styles, and design specialties – and Sam Cush is exemplary of this shifting landscape, with a laundry list of experience in everything from printmaking to biotech. We sat down with Sam to talk about the journey to their current role at J2, from internships to freelancing to jumping between full-time jobs. Stick around for Sam’s input on how to advocate for yourself as a professional designer, knowing when it’s time to try a new job, and how to build (and leverage!) your network in school and beyond.

The new season of Design Together is geared toward designers in the early stages of their careers. The topics covered include the shift from academic life to the workforce and the various challenges and triumphs accompanying this transition. We've coined this season "Starting Out." Our first guest is Allie Osipov, a Senior Designer from WebMechanix. Graduating in the throes of the pandemic meant unique challenges for Allie’s job hunt after school. In this episode, we hear about Allie’s experience searching for a good career fit, how she balances work and play, and why you should never be afraid to ask questions in the professional world.

Ever wonder what it is like to work at an award-winning small design studio? Join us for a chat with the founder of SK Designworks, Soonduk Krebs, and senior designer Georgiana Constantinescu. We discuss their workflows, making deadlines, their favorite projects, and most importantly what not to wear to an interview at SK Designworks. 

Join us for a chat with Rachel Elnar, David Carr-Berry, and Elysia Syriac, the team behind Adobe Creative Jams. A typical Jam includes training bootcamps, keynote speakers, a design challenge, and judging and feedback. Producing a Creative Jam is a ton of work, but this team makes it look easy. Find out what is in their secret sauce (hint: it's out of this world).