In this section, you'll find information on the job market, the skills you need for the job market, how to set up a portfolio, how to start networking, and what qualities an ideal job market candidate might possess.
Job Market
The job market for jobs like interaction designer, UX designer, product designer, and/or UI designer is highly competitive and most likely will remain so for some time. In short, not all students in this degree will find jobs in this field even though we believe we're teaching students a solid set of transferable skills.
Why is a job market that was “hot” in the 2010s more competitive in 2024? It is complicated and multi-factored. It has to do with a mix of high interest rates, less spending across many business sectors, business apprehension and curiosity regarding AI, how many people want to get into these jobs, years of bootcamps pumping out under-qualified job applicants, and geopolitical unrest. This link (March 2024) does a good job of fleshing out a point of view on why the job market is tight.
When will the job market get better? No one can definitively tell you, but markets go in cycles, and we know there will still be need for interactive systems and screens (and people to design them).
Skills
What skills should an interaction designer have to be competitive on the job market? In short: it depends on the job description. We break down skill sets into two major categories: UI design skills and user research/synthesizing skills. Our best students excel in both areas.
UI design skills
Students applying for jobs where daily tasks are focused mostly on UI design and prototyping need strong information architecture, screen layout, prototyping, and visual design skills. Classes to focus on: IAD2100, IAD3150, IAD3230, IAD4150, IAD4200, IAD4230, TCOM3046.
Skills include: fast and precise prototyping (including utilizing grid-based layouts like an 8pt grid, auto layout, styles and/or variables, motion design, knowledge of the design/dev handoff), information architecture, visual design (brand identity, color theory, composition, iconography, typography), psychological theories of screen design, and some front-end development (html, css, javascript).
User research/synthesizing skills
Students applying for jobs where daily tasks are focused on making sense of and applying research, need to possess user research and/or synthesizing research skills. Classes to focus on: IAD3000, IAD3300, IAD4000, TCOM3046, TCOM4120, TCID4700.
Skills include: affinity mapping, applied ethnographic research, contextual research, knowing and being able to apply design methods (e.g., GDD, Lean UX, Sprint), evidence of the ability to design research protocols, information architecture, journey mapping, personas and/or user stories, task analysis, wireframing, the desire to ask “why,” and usability testing (including A/B testing, heuristic evaluation, and card sorting).
Portfolio
The portfolio is a key document to aid in the transition from student to professional contexts. It should reflect your professional identity (i.e., your applicable job titles) and evidence the skill sets you want for foreground. The portfolio is a unique document that gives potential employers a look at your abilities, thought processes, and teambuilding skills.
Students should nurture a portfolio throughout their time in the degree and not just at the end. To that end, students have an opportunity to work on a big, bold team-based interaction design project in IAD3000 (Interaction Design I). Additionally, we offer other classes designated to produce portfolio-worthy projects (IAD4000, IAD4150, IAD4230, TCID4120, TCID4700). In the Resources section below, there are portfolio examples from previous students.
Do students need to talk about process in their portfolios? (Depends, it is a real UX job, a UX theater job, or UI design job?) Do students need to write a lot or a little? How important are images? Unfortunately, there are a lot of opinions about what should go into a portfolio and no real consensus.
That said, at minimum, portfolios should include:
- Effective evidence of the skills that backup your professional identity.
- Class projects (a balance of team & individual), internship recaps, contest recaps, freelance work, and/or personal work.
- Effective information architecture (the portfolio is a design object in and of itself).
- Clear, pithy explanations of your process (i.e., the reasoning behind the decisions you made).
Networking
In addition to completing an internship, students may also prepare for the post-college transition by networking with a community of other designers. This process can be started by signing up with the Interaction Design Association’s (IxDA) local Atlanta chapter. They use MeetUp as their organizing platform. The local chapter has meetings all the time and is a great way to start networking. We have found that students who network (and get internships) are more likely to get good jobs right out of college.
There are a lot of other networking events that fall under the larger umbrella of UX or product design. Some are good, some are less so -- use your best judgement. In the Resources section below, you'll find more networking resources.
Ideal Job Candidate?
What qualities might an “ideal” job candidate possess? These traits are a direct reflection of the best students to have graduated from this program:
- Has curiosity regarding how systems work, a strong attention to detail, and utilizies effective time management strategies.
- Has a strong command of their skill sets. (These skills are clearly displayed in their portfolio and confidently explained during the interview process.)
- Has evidence of work done outside of class in their portfolio. (Consider the CCSE Hackathon, the UI/UX Club & Hatchbridge Design-a-thon, or any freelancing web design and/or development projects.)
- Has completed at least one relevant internship before graduation.
- Takes time to attend face-to-face networking events in their field.
