Design Job Search: Strategy & Tactics

4.8 (10)

·

2 Weeks

·

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.

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

Immediate job search transformation

You don’t have time to waste. In just two days, this weekend workshop will help you level up your portfolio, case studies, and job search strategy—fast. Then, keep up your momentum with two optional office hour sessions.

Unique storytelling prompts & templates

Get Ryan's personal storytelling framework—and prompts that help you decide what details to keep or cut—so your case studies stand out and can’t be ignored by recruiters and hiring managers.

Clarity on what’s holding you back

Tired of rejections with no feedback? Learn exactly where your applications may be falling short, and where to focus, to start landing more portfolio reviews and job offers.

Personalized feedback from an Airbnb Design Lead

Work closely with Ryan—a former Airbnb Design Lead whose work was regularly reviewed by Brian Chesky—to perfect your portfolio & case studies. Learn what to hit, what to avoid, and how to present your work like a top-tier candidate.

Learn alongside hiring managers and design leaders

Taught live and attended by designers ranging from Senior ICs to VPs, grow your network and get thoughtful feedback from experienced peers, design leaders, and hiring managers.

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

4.8 (10 ratings)

What students are saying

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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

4.8 (10)

·

2 Weeks