Why So Many Designers Are Struggling to Get Hired

The design field is quietly cracking and few are talking about it honestly.

In a recent poll we conducted, 67% of designers said they are actively looking for a job. Just 20% reported being in a full-time design role, while 11% are freelancing. Only 2% said they’ve moved out of design entirely. These numbers are worrying but they don’t surprise anyone who’s spent time in the current job market. Something isn’t working.

And it’s time to ask the hard question: Where is the disconnect?

1. Oversupply of graduates, underprepared for industry

Design education has exploded over the last decade. More schools. More graduates. More portfolios.

But most graduates enter the industry with little real understanding of how it works. They know the tools, they can render, they can make things look good but they’ve rarely been taught to solve problems in context. When hiring managers see hundreds of portfolios that look the same generic products, vague concepts, surface-level thinking it becomes clear: We have more designers than design thinkers.

2. Portfolios aren’t telling the right story

A polished mockup isn’t enough anymore. What’s missing in many portfolios is:

• Clear thought process

• Problem-solving approach

• Real-world constraints (cost, user need, material limits)

• Distinct point of view

Instead, the same templates and styles appear again and again, influenced by what trends on social media. The result? A sea of safe, similar work that doesn't show why someone should be hired.

3. Companies want too much, offer too little

Open any design job listing and you’ll often see:

• 3+ years experience for junior roles

• Mastery of 4–5 tools

• Strong business sense

• Proven impact on user growth or revenue

• And all for a low starting salary

The demand is sky-high. The compensation? Often disappointing. Companies are hesitant to train, quick to reject, and rarely offer feedback.

What we’re seeing is a mismatch—junior candidates being judged by senior expectations.

4. Education and industry are not in sync

Many design institutions still focus on aesthetics over systems. Process books are often afterthoughts. There’s little exposure to client communication, timelines, budgets, or team dynamics.

Meanwhile, the industry has moved on. Roles are more hybrid. Teams are more cross-functional. Companies expect designers to understand business, research, writing, and strategy skills rarely covered in depth in school.

Without structured internships, mentorship, or real-world projects, most students graduate into a professional world they were never prepared for.

5. Mentorship exists—but isn’t scalable

The truth is, designers don’t just need jobs.They need guidance.

They need to learn how to build stronger portfolios, how to present their thinking, how to navigate feedback, and how to grow. But most mentorship happens informally, in pockets. There are no widespread systems that ensure every young designer gets support.

And in a market saturated with applicants, even the most talented are left guessing.

So, who’s at fault?

It’s not one group. It’s a loop of disconnection:

• Design schools are graduating students unprepared for real jobs

• Companies are demanding job-ready talent without offering training

• Designers are presenting polished work with no substance

• The entire system is saturated and misaligned

What can actually fix this?

We don’t need more trends. We need restructuring.

• Education must evolve—less about tools, more about thinking, constraints, and collaboration

• Employers must invest in mentorship, not just recruitment

• Portfolios must go deeper—into the ‘why’, not just the ‘what’

• Designers must stop copying and start questioning

• Schools and companies must collaborate to build relevant programs

If 67% of designers are jobless, it’s not just a hiring freeze. It’s a sign that design, as a system, is broken at the entry point.

And unless we realign how we teach, hire, and grow this number won’t change.

At NIWWRD, we believe good design isn’t just about products it’s about systems. This one needs rethinking.

We’re listening. Share your story, insight, or frustration with us.