[IxDA Discuss] Disillusioned Junior Designers

[Dave (Heller) Malouf]

The only thing I would like to add to this thread is that ...

1. Job hunting skills should be included in any IxD cirriculum. What 
does this mean?
I think the obvious stuff is how to present a portfolio ... shoot, I'm 
still learning this.
But also how to interview your interviewer. Jared Spool in helping me 
think about a recent spat of interviews said, "First sell yourself, and 
then have them sell you." ... I think this is relevant regardless of sr 
or jr.
I think screening your upcoming work environment needs to be added to 
this skill set in today's design landscape, but part of this is 
analyzing deeply what type of environment you like and work well in.

2. Mentors, Mentors, Mentors
The best candidates I have seen lately are the ones that have deep 
mentors (or any mentors) in their on going life that is not tied to 
their job. Great to have Mentors at your job, but better in a way to 
grow a resource pool of mentorship and peership outside of your direct 
work environment.
I think that Josh's suggestion about starting and finding an IxD 
face2face group is really a big part of this. I would not have the deep 
pool of Mentors and peer connections that I have today if it were not 
for the work I do with IxDA. Of course there are other orgs and other 
means of finding mentors, but this one just stands out to me.


As to the state of the design environment in general, I'm not sure I 
agree with this total disillusionment. I have a lot of disillusionment 
in my current employ and have been generally frustrated upon entry in my 
last positions, but I think that the tide is turning in many 
organizations. There are still many more bad places than good places, 
but I am confident that we are moving in the right direction.

I also agree with Josh that "evangelism" should not be part of any 
junior designer's roles.

-- dave