We've spoken with many designers who pivoted careers and jumped between jobs in their first years after graduation, but what about graduates who find a good fit on their first try? Nick has been with Think Company since he was hired there out of school, and he chalks it up to discovering a passion for UX as Abby's student in his senior year. Join us as we talk about how to negotiate a salary, what makes a strong UI/UX portfolio, and why you shouldn't be nervous about not knowing your design passion during your college years.

The new season of Design Together is geared toward designers in the early stages of their careers. The topics covered include the shift from academic life to the workforce and the various challenges and triumphs accompanying this transition. We've coined this season "Starting Out." Our first guest is Allie Osipov, a Senior Designer from WebMechanix. Graduating in the throes of the pandemic meant unique challenges for Allie's job hunt after school. In this episode, we hear about Allie's experience searching for a good career fit, how she balances work and play, and why you should never be afraid to ask questions in the professional world.

Starting out as a designer can mean constantly moving between jobs, working styles, and design specialties – and Sam Cush is exemplary of this shifting landscape, with a laundry list of experience in everything from printmaking to biotech. We sat down with Sam to talk about the journey to their current role at J2, from internships to freelancing to jumping between full-time jobs. Stick around for Sam's input on how to advocate for yourself as a professional designer, knowing when it's time to try a new job, and how to build (and leverage!) your network in school and beyond.