Post-graduation

Go further

When you participate in Designation, you become part of a worldwide Designation alumni network. After it ends, we’ll work with you to make sure you find a career path in digital design that provides a lifetime of learning.

Siri Preston

“Each phase of the program thoughtfully builds upon the next so that when it comes to the end of the program you feel confident and knowledgeable in your new field. You leave knowing what you don't know and having a really good idea what role or area in UX/UI you want to focus on in your career.”

Siri PrestonUX Designer, Periscope

Career mentors

Shortly before graduating, each designer is matched 1:1 with a professional designer who serves as their mentor. Mentors are an invaluable bridge for all designers between Designation and their first professional job. If you’re interested in becoming a career mentor, visit the Volunteer with us page.

Kim Dobe

“Designation provides a wealth of tools and resources for launching a design career. If you are proactive throughout the program and truly commit to the tasks at hand, you will leave with a solid body of work and an incomparable skill set.”

Kim DobeUX Designer, bswift

Frequently asked questions about life after graduation

  • What’s the average salary for Designation graduates?

    We’ve found that graduates earn an average of $60,000–$65,000 in their first year after finishing the program. This number varies greatly due to location—it goes up to an average of $95,000–$100,000 for graduates in San Francisco, for instance, but also down to an average of $40,000–$45,000 for graduates in cities like Omaha. It also varies by industry, company type, company size, cost of living, and several other factors.

    For graduates who work as freelancers, contractors, or interns, the average hourly rate is $35–$50. 

  • Does Designation guarantee a job after the program?

    A graduate’s employment is based on a large number of factors both external (the health of job market in their city of choice, entry- and low-level design jobs available) and internal (how quickly they can finish their portfolio after graduation, their drive to get a job quickly, how engaged they become in their local design community, their willingness to network and research to find openings). All of those factors contribute to a designer’s ability to get a job that will be fulfilling and challenging. But they also mean every graduate’s job search is a fundamentally unique experience, and one that must be undertaken by the graduate themselves.

    We can, however, guarantee that we give every designer in the program what they need—skills, tools, experiences, portfolio-quality projects, and a drive to continue learning—to be truly competitive in the design industry. It’s up to the graduate to use it all.

  • How long does it take to get a job after the program ends?

    We’ve found the average length of time is about three months. That means some graduates will get a job quickly—even in the final weeks of the program—and others will take more than three months. 

Take the leap

Join an upcoming cohort and make the best change of your career.

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