2024 Design Job Market: Why Standing Out from the Crowd is Key to Securing Employment

The UX/UI design job market has been growing at an exponential rate in the last couple of years. Where terms like ‘graphic design’ and ‘sketch’ used to be the main buzzwords in the industry, these have now been replaced by phrases such as ‘user experience’ and ‘figma’. However, with a growing job market, came a growing number of people looking to pivot into this relatively new area. This year we are seeing just how competitive the UX/UI market is becoming, therefore it’s imperative that we give all of our students the knowledge and experience needed to stand out amongst the others trying to make their mark in the industry.  

Some very common questions we have been getting recently are around the state of the market and how we can still help people launch their design careers. There are a number of key areas to look for in a course provider to ensure they will give you the tools to stand out from the crowd and land a role: 

• Real World Project Application

Picture the scene: a hiring manager is faced with 100 applications for a UX/UI Designer role. What is going to make them stop and really take a look at yours? One thing that will really make you stand out is any real client experience you have as this will show that you not only have the knowledge of the design process, but have stakeholder management experience as well. 

Across all of our courses at Experience Haus, you will work on a live client brief that can then be used as a portfolio piece. You will work as part of a small design team, which you can expand upon in your job applications, showing any times where you had to lead the team and also any challenges you faced as a team. 

• Learning in small classes

Asking a question in a class of 60 can be a nerve wracking experience, especially if you think everyone else is following along just fine and understands everything that is being taught. The reality is, they probably don’t but that they’re too nervous to ask a question  in case they then look stupid in front of their classmates! When mastering any new skill, you want to learn in a safe environment that allows you the opportunity to freely ask questions and to have 1:1 time with your instructor for any areas that you might be struggling with. For this reason our courses are capped at 8 students for in-person courses and 12 on online courses, so our instructors have time to check-in with all students and also everyone feels comfortable asking as many questions as they like. 

• Support After the Course

 It is important to choose a provider that is going to help build your career even after your course has finished. At Experience Haus we offer an array of alumni exclusive events, portfolio reviews, interview advice and even discounts on any future courses students want to do with us. One of the most exciting things about Experience Haus is that we sit within luxury design agency Matter of Form. In collaboration with them, we build out sessions for our alumni from portfolio building, up to storytelling and presenting. All of the designers at Matter of Form have been in our student’s shoes so know all too well what they’re going through. By getting help and advice from the design team, our students get an idea of what the future could hold for them. 

In 2024, it has been more important than ever for up-and-coming designers to give themselves all the tools they need to stand out against others looking to break into the design industry. By choosing a provider that can offer them real client experience, a small class to learn in, and future support even after they have their course certificates, they’re giving themselves the best chance to land that first role.