Deciding Where To Work As A Product Designer

Have you always dreamed of working with a close-knit group at a startup? Or landing a job at your favorite company—big or small? Depending on where you end up working, your job as a UX designer could be different!

Generally, there are 5 or more different types of organizations/companies where product designers are typically in high demand.

Startups and small businesses

Startups are new businesses that want to develop a unique product or service and bring it to market. Small businesses are privately owned businesses with few employees. A lot of UX designers are excited to start work at startups or small businesses because they can see the impact of their work more quickly and develop a broader range of skills.

Big companies

At a big company, like Google or Microsoft, you’re likely to work in teams on a specific project. Lots of UX designers want to work at big companies with the people who developed some of the most well-known products in the world. UX teams at larger companies tend to be more compartmentalized by specialization, making it easier for you to become an expert in one particular area of UX design.

Design agencies

A design agency is a one-stop shop for visual brands, products, and services. Working at a design agency can be similar in some ways to working at a small business or startup, except you have multiple companies as your clients. Many agencies tend to work on a broad range of products, so you can explore many kinds of styles and approaches to UX design.

Advertising agencies

A lot of UX designers work at advertising agencies, which are teams of creatives hired by clients to build marketing campaigns. Sometimes called “creative technologists,” these designers work to create ads for brands using UX principles. This is a great option if you’re open to learning some interesting skills outside of a core UX design role.

Freelancers

You can also work as a freelancer ie you work as a self-employed UX designer hired by clients for your services. Being a freelancer gives you a lot of freedom, and it’s a great way for new UX designers to gain experience in the field and add work to their portfolios.

Deciding where to work

Everyone’s goals as a UX designer are different, so think about what’s most important to you when choosing a place to work. Consider questions like:

• Do you enjoy a lot of structure and processes, or do you like to define your own work and schedule?
• Do you value working on a big team, or are you more comfortable working alone?
• Do you want to focus mainly on UX design, or are you interested in broadening your skillset?

Considering your career goals and how you work best will help you start to figure out the kind of company that might be the best fit for you. Good luck!