↵

Ask DN: How to shift from agency work to Product Design?

over 8 years ago from Erick De La Rosa, Designer

  • Will BakerWill Baker, over 8 years ago

    Start designing products!

    The popular route to take these days is the ol' unsolicited redesign (ugh), but if you have some code chops, the best thing you can do is dream up and build your own stuff. It doesn't have to be some elaborate web or mobile app—you can make some pretty compelling static pages that demonstrate UX and UI savvy with just HTML and CSS.

    And any interactions you don't have the chops to demonstrate with code (say you're designing an iOS app and can't develop it), you can just mock up in AfterEffects or whatever.

    Every product design role I've had, I've gotten on the merits of my personal projects. Every product designer I've hired, I've hired on the merits of his personal projects. When you're just starting out in a field, it's less about what you've shipped and more about what you want to ship.

    12 points
    • Patrick SmithPatrick Smith, over 8 years ago

      Thanks Will just for the extra motivation for my own side projects! That’s cool that it could help me find work too as well as the fulfilment of making them, seems like a smart gamble.

      1 point
    • Julian LloydJulian Lloyd, over 8 years ago (edited over 8 years ago )

      Apps could be viewed simply as a collection of flows… and I think it could be as simple as demonstrating one (or three) well designed flows to show off product design chops.

      For example, you could try:

      • Creating an account and inviting friends
      • Writing and leaving a review
      • Making a purchase
      • Etc.

      Even basic flows, if you nail them—design, interaction, art direction, clean code—could be very impressive.

      2 points
      • Daniel FoscoDaniel Fosco, over 8 years ago

        Great advice, I should push more for doing these small flows and experiments myself.

        0 points
      • Erick De La RosaErick De La Rosa, over 8 years ago

        This is great, I never thought of it in that way. Seems much more approachable when you are only thinking about a particular flow vs a whole application.

        Thanks!

        0 points
    • Erick De La RosaErick De La Rosa, over 8 years ago

      Thank you! That last part really has me feeling better about the whole thing. I love to work on my side projects , but am always skeptical that potential employers wouldn't see too much value in them.

      1 point