Sending everyone home to work was a catalyst for people to reexamine not only how, when, and where they work, but why, resulting in deep, structural changes to employee expectations. While some jobs have been lost and many others created, a lot has changed—resulting in what organizational psychologist and educator Anthony Klotz coined as “The Great Resignation”. Quitting has basically become the new national pastime and many are leaving the 9-to-5 model behind. Seemingly gone is the idea of ‘a job for life’, replaced with ‘a job for now’. In this tight labor market, companies are racing to compete with each other for qualified knowledge workers like us. And that in turn has created a climate for designers to have more leverage and options than at perhaps any other time in recent history. With hybrid work models becoming the new norm—in which fully in-person and remote work are two ends of a fluid spectrum of options—the notion of what a successful “career” looks like is effectively evolving.

While most people associate “the future of work” with the redesign of the physical office or the development of emerging “work-from-anywhere” models centered on employee wellness, we’ll explore the inevitable next wave of creative entrepreneurs. Whether you’re looking for full-time, part-time, freelance, or contracting opportunities, this class will walk you through the entire career design journey—from learning how to communicate who you are (and your “brand”) publicly to what to expect during your first 90 days at a job. Various themes that we’ll examine together will also act as a useful bridge between your Communication by Design (Fall) and Leadership by Design (Summer) courses.

As designers, there’s no better time to be doing what we’re doing. We’re living in a time where it’s more critical than ever for people and organizations to know who they are, what they stand for, and what they’re here to do. This program is invested in your growth and evolution as a leader in your craft and seeks to empower you as you start—or continue—designing your career. Maybe this time should actually be called the “Great Awakening” or “Reimagination.” Which is to say, there's something deeper at the heart of this historic moment of reflection: a collective redefinition of success.