UC Davis Design alumni follow a variety of exciting paths upon
graduation. Some go directly into further graduate study. Others
obtain design positions in different fields including visual
communications (digital, environmental and print), interiors,
fashion, textiles, exhibition, and product (lighting and
furniture) and sustainable design. In recent years our alumni
have been employed as designers by companies including:
Apple
Disney
Lululemon Athletica
Pottery Barn
Gap, Inc.
Vanity Fair
Whole Foods
In addition, alumni have become entrepreneurs through freelance
and commissioned work in many related design areas. Check out our
Alumni pages to see what Design grads are doing
now.
This career resource guide provides an opportunity to explore key
areas of the major, and the related occupations, careers and
internships. The guide also provides resources for exploring
occupations.
Design students are strongly encouraged to supplement their
Design coursework with internships in design firms, museums, and
design-related businesses. Visit our Student Internships and Jobs
board to see current postings for Design majors at the
ICC. Students who have junior or senior standing may be
eligible to receive DES 192 internship units.
You might want to approach your professors for letters of
recommendation. Professors get lots of these requests, and they
are very time-consuming—they’re not a casual task. For most
applications, letters of recommendation are critically
important to your success (they’re not just generic quick
character references, but detailed assessments tailored for each
student and each position). So follow these guidelines carefully,
and be prepared and proactive:
UC Davis provides opportunities for employers to recruit summer
interns and recent graduates, through job postings and
on-campus recruiting. Employers may participate in campus career
fairs or set up campus visits to recruit students at other times.
Please see the UC Davis Internship and Career Center Employers link for
complete details.
The ICC’s Liberal Arts student advisers are available to help you
with general questions about resumes, cover letters, interview
techniques, etc. There are drop-in
hours on the 2nd Floor of South Hall.
