Aligning Your Design Portfolio to Your Values

In my previous article, I critiqued my design portfolio. Now, I’m looking for companies that seem like places that may be a good environment for Affective Design, a concept I learned about from MIT.

To make my shortlist, companies needed well-crafted job descriptions — those that went beyond generic templates to genuinely articulate what they were looking for.

Here are the companies that stood out and why:

• Thalamus: Their values — bravery, imagination, and collaboration — align closely with my own. This shared value system makes them a strong candidate for my focus.
• ZocDoc: They provide a clear description of their audience’s problems and how the role addresses them. However, since they’re seeking a principal designer, which is beyond my current level, I’ll need to set them aside for now.
• Cribl: Their modest and authentic job description, including the inviting phrase “Bring your whole self,” reflects a genuine and approachable company culture.
• Atlassian: Despite past rejections, Atlassian’s transparency with pay ranges and their compelling company story keep them in my consideration. Their simplicity in job descriptions and openness are appealing, even if it means facing rejection again.
• Ethos: Their encouragement to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement shows flexibility and vulnerability. Although the need for a San Francisco office presence is a drawback, their approach is noteworthy.
• SourceGraph: Their use of emoticons and structured timelines for new hires shows a fun yet organized work environment. Their clear expectations impressed me.

Next Steps

Based on my evaluation:

• Thalamus stands out for its alignment with my values
• SourceGraph for its clear planning
• Cribl for its genuine approach.

In my next post, I’ll focus on tailoring my portfolio to resonate with Thalamus, SourceGraph, and Cribl, creating a compelling case for why I’m a great fit for their teams. If you see something you like in these companies, you should apply too! Our world is not a zero sum game and I’m only competing against my self-doubt. You deserve it just as much as me. Good luck!

Caveat: I used ChatGPT to content edit this article.