Design Job Search: Strategy & Tactics

4.9 (9)

·

2 Weeks

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Cohort-based Course

Cut months off your job search. Target the right companies, write unforgettable case studies, & build a portfolio that can't be ignored

This course is popular

3 people enrolled last week.

Previously at

Airbnb
DoorDash
Salesforce
Palantir
Haas School of Bus.

Course overview

Land the design job that's right for you—in any job market

As an experienced designer, you need your next role to keep your career momentum on track. These days, finding and landing that right next role can take many months—but it doesn’t have to.


Having hired hundreds of designers, including for companies like DoorDash, Airbnb, & Palantir, I’ve seen what companies are desperate for—but just not finding—in designer after designer.


In Design Job Search: Strategy + Tactics, we'll work together to position you as exactly what companies are looking for.


From how to write world-class case studies to polishing overlooked details that make your portfolio perfect, you’ll learn dozens of tactics I’ve used to get offers from the most reputable tech companies in the world.


As one student put it: “Ryan’s approach is a rare, truthful & invaluable resource for designers who want more than just a job—they want a successful career in design. Take this course if you’re looking for a clear, actionable guide to stand out in a market that’s become increasingly templatized. You spend countless hours helping companies grow—now it’s time to invest in your growth.”


If you want to stand out from the competition, find the right next opportunity, get in front of leading companies, and land a better design job faster, this course is for you.

Who this course for

01

Experienced Senior to Principal ICs who are considering a change or actively seeking roles that align to their long-term career goals

02

Experienced Managers, Senior Managers, & Directors who want to make sense of new market conditions and position themselves accordingly

03

*NOT* for early-career or aspiring designers. This course is for folks with at least 5+ years of full-time experience as a designer

What you’ll get out this course

A winning strategy for the roles you should be targeting

Designers often apply too broadly to too many jobs. Avoid burnout by targeting the right companies where your application is more likely to succeed.

An MBA-level understanding of business factors that affect hiring decisions

Gain a deep understanding of how factors like business stage & ROI-based decision making shape what companies look for. Learn to position & communicate strengths & skills—and describe your work's outcomes—in relation to the company's goals.

Polished case studies that land & win interviews

In class, we'll review and dial-in your case study stories with hands-on feedback on your portfolio website and on-site portfolio presentations. Learn what notes to hit, and what mistakes to avoid.

A career & job search course designed just for Designers

Applying to design roles is unlike anything else. We have to build perfect portfolios, explain the value of Design to non-designers, and are judged on project criteria that we don't have full control over.

Live hands-on instruction & real-time 1:1 feedback

We'll go beyond lecture & frameworks, actively working through exercises together in real-time. Every step of the way, Ryan will help you dial-in your strategy and deliverables to accelerate your job search.

This course includes

4 interactive live sessions

Lifetime access to course materials

85 in-depth lessons

Direct access to instructor

9 projects to apply learnings

Guided feedback & reflection

Private community of peers

Course certificate upon completion

Maven Satisfaction Guarantee

This course is backed by Maven’s guarantee. You can receive a full refund within 14 days after the course ends, provided you meet the completion criteria in our refund policy.

Course syllabus

Week 1

Apr 12—Apr 13

    Apr

    12

    Day 1: Build your Design Career Strategy

    Sat 4/124:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)

    Foundation: Identifying your goals, needs & strengths

    16 items

    Job Market: How companies are hiring differently

    13 items

    Strategy: Building your approach to beat the market

    11 items

    Apr

    13

    Day 2: Master Design Job Search Tactics

    Sun 4/134:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)

    Design Materials: Polishing the quality of your portfolio projects

    5 items

    Design Materials: Storytelling for Portfolios & Case Studies

    18 items

    Design Materials: Effectively presenting your work

    8 items

    Search Tactics: Finding & applying to roles

    15 items

    Handling Offers: Making sure opportunities are right for you

    8 items

Week 2

Apr 14—Apr 20

    Apr

    16

    PM Office Hours for strategy feedback & portfolio critique

    Wed 4/1610:00 PM—11:00 PM (UTC)
    Optional

Week 3

Apr 21—Apr 22

    Apr

    22

    AM Office Hours for strategy feedback & portfolio critique

    Tue 4/225:00 PM—6:00 PM (UTC)
    Optional

4.9 (9 ratings)

What students are saying

This course is incredibly insightful. It provides a well-rounded perspective and various resources and frameworks from business stands I've never considered for my job search and career journey. I am so glad I took the course, and I will definitely come back to review the recordings multiple times.

Ting

March 2025

Sr. Product Designer

Thoughtworks

Ryan does an excellent job level-setting the competitive landscape for designers who are looking to assess where they would like to go next in their careers. Finding work in this market is competitive. His deep-dives into portfolio presentation from structure to craft is something ANY designer should take this course for whether you are looking for work now or not. Take this course now! Your future job searching self will love you for it!

Jayson

March 2025

Designer

ex USDS, McKesson, Designit, Cooper Interaction Design

This course gave me practical frameworks to strategize my career path and plan my next steps with clarity. More than job search advice; it helps designers define goals, map opportunities, and take action. Highly recommended for anyone looking to make informed career moves.

Matt

March 2025

Product Designer

Self

Whether you’re thinking about a long-term Career Strategy or you have an urgent need to transition roles in the short term, this course is both relevant and highly valuable. It provides a deep understanding of the current job market, backed by actionable tactics and frameworks you can apply immediately. I especially appreciated the balance between expert-led lectures and interactive workshops, which encouraged new ways of thinking through hands-on exercises and discussions. Ryan brings great energy and empathy to the experience. Always ready to address any questions, whether from the group or individuals.

Alix Martínez Martínez

March 2025

Group Digital Manager

Miro

I highly recommend this course to anyone who is struggling to find a job or wants to change jobs.

Kaia (not available at 10th-15th)

March 2025

Product Designer

Early AI startups

As a designer, one of the most important things you can do is learn how to establish who you are. Most of the advice you’ll find online focuses more on becoming an influencer than on shaping the career you truly want. If you've taken any of Ryan's business-driven courses, you already know he's one of the few designers out there willing to share real methodology—not just hype. His approach is a rare, truthful and invaluable resource for designers who want more than just a job—they want a successful career in design. Take this course if you’re looking for a clear, actionable guide to stand out in a market that’s become increasingly templatized. You spend countless hours helping companies grow—now it’s time to invest in your growth.

Karina

March 2025

Lead Product Designer

Tropic

A pattern of wavy dots

Join an upcoming cohort

Design Job Search: Strategy & Tactics

April 25

$599

Dates

Apr 12—22, 2025

Payment Deadline

Apr 12, 2025
Get reimbursed

Meet your instructor

Ryan Scott

Ryan Scott

Learn to get hired from a designer who's built a world-class career

For 20-years, Ryan has run multiple businesses, taught thousands of designers, and designed some of today’s most recognizable products. His background as a design leader and entrepreneur gives him a unique insight into the design industry's recent shifts. 


As a candidate, Ryan successfully landed roles at top Silicon Valley firms like Palantir, Salesforce, DoorDash, & Airbnb. Having earned his MBA from U.C. Berkeley's Haas School of Business, Ryan has taught his unique frameworks and techniques to 350+ students on Maven, helping designers achieve their career goals despite a challenging market.

Learn tactics Ryan used to pass interviews & get offers at leading tech companies

Through his top-rated Maven courses, Ryan has helped 4,000 designers accelerate their careers

Through his top-rated Maven courses, Ryan has helped 4,000 designers accelerate their careers

Course schedule

8-hours of live hands-on workshop

  • Saturday: Design Career Strategy

    10:00am - 2:00pm PT

    Build an effective career and job search strategy with business lessons, Ryan's proprietary career frameworks, and hands-on exercises.

  • Sunday: Design Job Search Tactics

    10:00am - 2:00pm PT

    Learn & practice key tactics to encourage inbound leads and make your outbound efforts more effective, including revising your portfolio case studies and avoiding common messaging mistakes.

  • Two bonus Office Hour sessions

    Wed 3/12 @ 3pm + Tue 3/18 @ 10am PT

    Drop in for career strategy feedback or portfolio critique after you've had time to implement the learnings from our workshop.

Free resource

Free lesson: How to Accelerate your Design Career in 2025

The design industry is changing faster than most designers can keep up, leaving designers at all levels uncertain about their careers. Not having a career strategy is not an option anymore. Today, I’ll share lessons from my MBA to explain what’s changing about the Design industry, why it’s been turbulent, and how to achieve your career goals in today’s market. Learn to:

  • Understand the business forces changing the Design industry
  • Avoid career traps set by the current market
  • Build a strategy to move your career goals forward

Get this free lesson

A pattern of wavy dots

Join an upcoming cohort

Design Job Search: Strategy & Tactics

April 25

$599

Dates

Apr 12—22, 2025

Payment Deadline

Apr 12, 2025
Get reimbursed

$599

4.9 (9)

·

2 Weeks