Slides from a talk I gave on 9/1/2013 about starting a design career in San Francisco. SF can be a tough place to be a successful designer. I wanted to share what I've learned about relevant meetups, events, tips for creating a design portfolio and resources to take a deeper dive.

1. STARTING A
DESIGN CAREER
IN SAN
FRANCISCO
Megan O’Rorke
GA Instructor, Designer in Residence
9/1/2013
Tuesday, October 8, 13

2. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
MEGAN O’RORKE
• UX Designer since 2006, experience with big companies and SF startups
• Worked with GA at the start of UX classes in SF in 2012
• www.linkedin.com/in/meganororke
• megororke@gmail.com
• @leggomymego
Tuesday, October 8, 13

3. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
RELEVANT MEET UPS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

4. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
• Funders & Founders, Startup Digest, Bootstrappers Breakfast, SF New Tech
• IXDA meetup.com/IxDA-San-Francisco, BayCHI baychi.org
• Designers and Geeks meetup.com/designersgeeks
• Lean UX meetup.com/Lean-UX-San-Francisco
• CASCADE meetup.com/cascadesf
MEET UPS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

5. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
• Interaction 13
• SXSW Interactive
• Tech Crunch Disrupt
• Angel Hack, Signal Fire
• Start Up Weekend Bay Area
• iOS Dev Camp, BeMyApp Weekend
CONFERENCES/HACKATHONS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

6. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
• Y Combinator
• Techstars, Kicklabs
• 500 startups, YetiZen
• Hub ventures, AngelPad
INCUBATORS/ACCELERATORS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

7. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
• GA, Dev Bootcamp
• SV Forum, Founder Institute
• Designers and Geeks
• Startup Grind
• Parisoma
• Failchat
CLASSES/TALKS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

8. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
DESIGN PORTFOLIOS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

9. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
THINKING THROUGH THE DESIGN
Deliverable System Assets
Version 5 published July 24, 2009 by Nathan Curtis (nathan@eightshapes.com) 67 of 136
Persona, Data Driven
Key Characteristics
[Key Charactieristic]
[Key Charactieristic]
[Key Charactieristic]
[Key Charactieristic]
[Key Charactieristic]
[Key Charactieristic]
[Key Charactieristic]
[Key Charactieristic]
Goals
[Goal}
[Goal}
[Goal}
[Goal}
Questions
[Question]
[Question]
[Question]
Influencers
[Influencers]
[Influencers]
[Influencers]
Applications
[Applications Used]
[Applications Used]
[Applications Used]
[Applications Used]
Frustrations & Pain Points
[Frustration and Other Issues]
[Frustration and Other Issues]
[Frustration and Other Issues]
[Frustration and Other Issues]
[Frustration and Other Issues]
[Frustration and Other Issues]
[Frustration and Other Issues]
PHOTOGRAPH
[Name]
[Role or JobTitle]
[Age]
“[Representative Quote] Am qui te tat velit in endit
dionsent ad dolor iustin ex et ing eugiamet, quiscilit
irilis nosto conse consequat.”
[DescriptiveText] Am qui te tat velit in endit dionsent ad dolor iustin ex et ing
eugiamet, quiscilit irilis nosto conse consequat augue veliquis alit alismod tat,
commodolorem eugue min.Ipit el dolor augait il dolor at in ute consectet vel ulput
alit accum veliquat in ver sim ea feugait aliquatum aci ex euismodolore et lorem
euipis dolendre feu facin ute magnisl eum dunt ut praestrud doloreet prat,i ex
euismodolore et lorem euipis dolendre feu facin.
El dolutat vent wis nibh erilisl iusci tie consenit praesed ming exercil ut wisisis
exeraes tiniam, sim dolutpa tueraestrud mincilit, sequis ad doluptatinim zzril ipit
autatisit ulla faccummodio conse deliquatet.
Con velisi bla consenit, velent iurem volorem deliquat nulputat laore del ullaorem
eugiatue dolor iureetum dolenim eu feuguerci et venim do er adit aliscilit ad
minciduis num dunt landrem eugiam do doloreet, con henisci pismod.
Mincidunt atie diatue commolortio diat, sisci bla auguera esequat ipit lor sed tis
exero odit nisciniamcon utem eum quis ad tatuerc ipismodolor iriureriurer sum ip
eu feugait erciniat prat venit prat ad doluptatue volorem delessectem veliquip et
dolore conse miniame tumsandre vendre conullamet iriliquisi bla feugait ullamco
nsectetummy nonsequip enim nos do
1
2
3
4
5
Knowledge Activities and Interest
[KnowledgeCateg.]
[KnowledgeCateg.]
[KnowledgeCateg.]
[ActivitiesCateg.]
[ActivitiesCateg.]
[ActivitiesCateg.]
[ActivitiesCateg.]
[ActivitiesCateg.]
[ActivitiesCateg.]
[ActivitiesCateg.]
[ActivitiesCateg.]
[ActivitiesCateg.]
Lifecycle:
Jan Jul Dec Month
Credit:ToddWarfel,messagefirst.com
Deliverable System Assets
Version 5 published July 24, 2009 by Nathan Curtis (nathan@eightshapes.com) 68 of 136
Persona Detail
ReplaceWith
Persona Photo
[Spectrum Name; e.g. Income]
[Spectrum Name; e.g. Age]
[Spectrum Name; e.g. Internet Use]
[Spectrum Name; e.g. Cost Sensitivity]
[Spectrum Name; e.g. Health Conciousness]
[Persona Name]
[Persona attribute]
[Persona attribute]
[Persona attribute]
[Persona attribute]
[Alice is...nderat quamenis aut volesti omnis estius.
Abore comnimet iunt la qui occum vent lab id quosti
aruptasimint venime modi con nusaperi od enia int
volente dolupti berovit iorectat officitio es peratqui
quos qui aut quam, corerch illest, sin cus sitem as sant
audae essequi diciisint utecto bla dolupiendi alique]
[Alice is...nderat quamenis aut volesti omnis estius.
Abore comnimet iunt la qui occum vent lab id quosti
aruptasimint venime modi con nusaperi od enia int
volente dolupti berovit iorectat officitio es peratqui
quos qui aut quam, corerch illest, sin cus sitem as
sant audae essequi diciisint utecto bla dolupiendi
alique] Fugitatiur reperferum dolent, eaqui net quo
ea quaspere, imolori osaped ut aut harumque in
nia et ma quae nia dolut rero et quibustion num
voluptatesti qui dit acerum, si remo omni volliti
doles es magnis nobitat iorempor as quid magnatus
sitasit que eaquisci ipsuntemque nem hillaut eum
in pedit lab ipsam volupta debis sum voles si que
laborpores quae. Nam sit ute nonsed qui que pliciti
ntiatur magnatiur, omnis et abore voluptati consedi
psandia dollore simoditas et alitates magnatq
uatusdae. Genis dentia doles sapicabor re rerciist est,
core volore doluptaspere non res ea nem volecta
tinus, ius ime aped ut evellorrum que rest, offici
consequis esciur sumet quia sin pa aut pre eossecae
aut aut modi ut apere estius adi conempos evelitate
elicide non nusdae eos experep reriassum faccabo.
Ihil iunt, omnis niscimaxim qui rerum latium faceres
sequi tesequideri doluptinto totae nist, siminventium
[Alice is...nderat quamenis aut volesti omnis estius.
Abore comnimet iunt la qui occum vent lab id quosti
aruptasimint venime modi con nusaperi od enia int
volente dolupti berovit iorectat officitio es peratqui
quos qui aut quam, corerch illest, sin cus sitem as
sant audae essequi diciisint utecto bla dolupiendi
alique] Fugitatiur reperferum dolent, eaqui net quo
ea quaspere, imolori osaped ut aut harumque in
nia et ma quae nia dolut rero et quibustion num
voluptatesti qui dit acerum, si remo omni volliti
doles es magnis nobitat iorempor as quid magnatus
sitasit que eaquisci ipsuntemque nem hillaut eum
in pedit lab ipsam volupta debis sum voles si que
laborpores quae. Nam sit ute nonsed qui que pliciti
ntiatur magnatiur, omnis et abore voluptati consedi
psandia dollore simoditas et alitates magnatq
uatusdae. Genis dentia doles sapicabor re rerciist est,
core volore doluptaspere non res ea nem volecta
tinus, ius ime aped ut evellorrum que rest, offici
consequis esciur sumet quia sin pa aut pre eossecae
aut aut modi ut apere estius adi conempos evelitate
elicide non nusdae eos experep reriassum faccabo.
Ihil iunt, omnis niscimaxim qui rerum latium faceres
sequi tesequideri doluptinto totae nist, siminventium
facerum fugia cum recatium sitate ipis sum volum
doluptis modipsapid quam,
Secondary Scenario
Primary Scenario
Goals
[Want to accomplish...]
[Want to accomplish...]
[Want to accomplish...]
[Want to accomplish...]
[Want to accomplish...]
Pain Points
[Things that suck]
[Things that suck]
[Things that suck]
[Things that suck]
[Things that suck]
Projects & Initiatives
[Things/Stories]
[Things/Stories]
[Things/Stories]
[Things/Stories]
[Things/Stories]
Credit:WillEvans,semanticfoundry.com
Deliverable System Assets
Version 5 published July 24, 2009 by Nathan Curtis (nathan@eightshapes.com) 78 of 136
Comparative Feature Grid
Credit:IzacRoss
[Comparison description ostin utpatinci blaortio
del endre doloreros dipit acin ullamet aliquisl
illaore euis dolore velenis del utem dolor
suscinis do exero od ex ex et il irilit alis adio
odolobo rtisis dolore con vel il irit iurer ad mod
dolortie]
Task Result
Incomplete
Complete with Difficulty
Complete without Difficulty
Tasks
1 [task description]
2 [task description]
3 [task description]
4 [task description]
5 [task description]
6 [task description]
7 [task description]
[Design Alternative 1 Name] [Design Alternative 2 Name]
[Design Alternative Screenshot] [Design Alternative Screenshot]
A B C D E
Participant
A B C D E
Participant
Deliverable System Assets
Version 5 published July 24, 2009 by Nathan Curtis (nathan@eightshapes.com) 82 of 136
Criteria.Two-by-Two
Description
Ommy nosto eriurer ciduisim
dolorem ercip ex eraesse elenibh
elisit velit nos nullan utat. Ut utet
aut ipsummy nonsequat, venibh
ea corercilisit ad erit volore delis
augiat velit voloreet, sit amet lum
ad min utetuercilit autating ea
consed dio odigna conullu tpatum
incincil utatis adiat, volore dignibh
ex eu feumsandre corem incing
erostrud tin vulla ad et loborem
zzrit vel er at dolore vulput luptatio
delestie min henim nisit lut
volorper sectet, si.
AttributeAttribute
Attribute
Attribute
Site
Site
Site
Site
Site
Site
Site
Site
Site
Site
Site
Site
Site
Tuesday, October 8, 13

10. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
PORTFOLIOS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

11. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
PORTFOLIOS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

12. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
PORTFOLIOS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

13. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
AGENCY VS STARTUP
VS FREELANCE
Tuesday, October 8, 13

14. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
PROS AND CONS OF
WORKING WITH RECRUITERS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

15. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
• Creative Group
• Aquent
• 24/7
• Vonchurch
• Giant
RECRUITERS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

16. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
UX DESIGN IMMERSIVE
Tuesday, October 8, 13

17. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
Tuesday, October 8, 13

18. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
YOUR BODY AS SEEN BY YOUR BRAIN;
THE CORTICAL HOMUNCULUS
Tuesday, October 8, 13

19. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
DISCOVERY, DEFINITION OF
Tuesday, October 8, 13

20. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
DISCOVERY, DEFINITION OF
An analysis of the problem space.
★ It gives us an opportunity to find out where people have had pitfalls or
successes, and to learn from other people’s experience.
Tuesday, October 8, 13

21. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
DISCOVERY, DEFINITION OF
An analysis of the problem space.
★ It gives us an opportunity to find out where people have had pitfalls or
successes, and to learn from other people’s experience.
In-class exercise
★ I want to make something that lets people follow content.
Tuesday, October 8, 13

22. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
DISCOVERY, DEFINITION OF
An analysis of the problem space.
★ It gives us an opportunity to find out where people have had pitfalls or
successes, and to learn from other people’s experience.
In-class exercise
★ I want to make something that lets people follow content._
You or
Us?
Tuesday, October 8, 13

23. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
DISCOVERY, DEFINITION OF
An analysis of the problem space.
★ It gives us an opportunity to find out where people have had pitfalls or
successes, and to learn from other people’s experience.
In-class exercise
★ I want to make something that lets people follow content.______
For how
much?
By
when?
_
You or
Us?
Tuesday, October 8, 13

24. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
DISCOVERY, DEFINITION OF
An analysis of the problem space.
★ It gives us an opportunity to find out where people have had pitfalls or
successes, and to learn from other people’s experience.
In-class exercise
★ I want to make something that lets people follow content.______
For how
much?
By
when?
On what
platform?
Is this the first?
_______________
You or
Us?
Tuesday, October 8, 13

25. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
DISCOVERY, DEFINITION OF
An analysis of the problem space.
★ It gives us an opportunity to find out where people have had pitfalls or
successes, and to learn from other people’s experience.
In-class exercise
★ I want to make something that lets people follow content.______
For how
much?
By
when?
On what
platform?
Is this the first?
______________ _______
who?
how many
people?
what kinds?
_
You or
Us?
Tuesday, October 8, 13

26. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
DISCOVERY, DEFINITION OF
An analysis of the problem space.
★ It gives us an opportunity to find out where people have had pitfalls or
successes, and to learn from other people’s experience.
In-class exercise
★ I want to make something that lets people follow content.______
For how
much?
By
when?
On what
platform?
Is this the first?
______________ _______
who?
how many
people?
what kinds?
...and?
find, consume,
comment, collect,
use, feel...?
______________
You or
Us?
Tuesday, October 8, 13

27. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
DISCOVERY, DEFINITION OF
An analysis of the problem space.
★ It gives us an opportunity to find out where people have had pitfalls or
successes, and to learn from other people’s experience.
In-class exercise
★ I want to make something that lets people follow content.______
For how
much?
By
when?
On what
platform?
Is this the first?
______________ __________
where does the
content come
from?text?
what kinds?
_______
who?
how many
people?
what kinds?
...and?
find, consume,
comment, collect,
use, feel...?
______________
You or
Us?
Tuesday, October 8, 13

28. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
• Designer fFnd designerfund.com
• Hackathons quora.com/San-Francisco-Bay-Area/What-are-the-hackathons-
taking-place-in-the-Bay-Area-during-2012-13
• Incubators angel.co/incubators, www.forbes.com/sites/tomiogeron/
2012/04/30/top-tech-incubators-as-ranked-by-forbes-y-combinator-tops-
with-7-billion-in-value/
• Startup job sites like startupjobs.com & Co-working locations
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Tuesday, October 8, 13

29. INTRODUCTION TO STARTING A DESIGN CAREER IN SF
• Startup Digest startupdigest.com
• Stay in the loop on upcoming workshops and classes: generalassemb.ly
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Tuesday, October 8, 13