Japan Design Career Launchpad

Join other talented designers from around the world for an online program to explore the potential of a design career in Japan.

Register Your Interest
Street in central Tokyo
About the Program

The First Step Towards a Design Career in Japan

This online program is designed to be a first step for UX professionals curious about a move to Japan - helping you understand if it is the right choice for you and identify the specific steps to take to make it happen.

Japan is a unique place to work in design and has a growing UX job market. The low cost and high standard of living is making it a popular choice for engineers from around the world - but what about designers and researcher?

The barrier to entry to the UX industry in Japan is higher than engineering - with more Japanese language requirements and cultural differences. We created this program to help you understand these challenges and decide if it is the right choice for you.

Learn What It Takes: From job market trends to language requirements, visa information & salary expectations, you'll get all the hard to find information about working in Japan.
Expand your network: The small cohort size allows you to meet other talented designers from around the world who are keen on working in Japan and work together on achieving your goal. You'll also meet Japanese and international designers working in UX in Japan.
Understand the Best Places to Work: We take you through the top companies to work for in Japan that hire foreign designers/researchers and introduce you to current employees. We'll also help you explore outside the box ways of coming to Japan, such as by coming as a student or establishing a business.
Optional Closing Event in Tokyo: Those keen to come to Japan can meet us in Tokyo for a final session and celebratory dinner at the end of the program.
Pilot Program Launching Soon!
Japan Design Career Launchpad

Program Content

The program takes 4-5 weeks to complete, with one 90 minute live online session, followed by a reflective homework exercise each week.
Content is under development and subject to change.
Module 1: Welcome & Goal Setting 👋
Get to know your cohort with Japanese icebreakers. Get an overview of the design job market in Japan and reflect on your interest in Japan to create a personalized goal to focus on during the program.
Module 2: Japanese Design & Research 🇯🇵
Learn how cultural differences impact UX design & research in Japan through case studies and comparisons of apps & web services in Japan. Understand how this impacts a designer's day to day work.
Module 3: Working in Japan as a Designer/Researcher 🧑‍💻
Meet UXers working in Japan and learn about their careers and experiences. Spend time in breakout sessions to get to know them better and ask specific questions and advice on your personal goal.
Module 4: Companies, Salaries & Visas  📈
Get the hard to find information about the best companies to work for, what sort of salaries to expect, the visa situation and outside of the box ways to come to Japan, such as entrepeneurship.
Module 5: 1on1 Mentoring Session 🙋‍♀️
Reflect on the program so far and get tailored advice about talking the final steps to achieve your goal. We can also connect you to local recruiters or employees of companies you are interested in.
Final Workshop & Dinner in Tokyo🗼(Optional)
You can choose to visit Tokyo for a final face to face session and completion dinner in Tokyo with other members and organizers. This is optional and requires an additional fee.
Woman working on computer

FAQs

Who is this for?
The program is designed mainly for those working in the design industry abroad who are interested in moving to Japan. Students and those working in other industries are welcome to join the program, but will likely face difficulty getting design jobs in Japan with no relevant work experience. PhDs with Japanese language ability may be eligible for research roles with no prior work experience.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
No - the program is provided entirely in English, and the local designers you will be speaking with also speak English. That said, if you are serious about moving to Japan, learning Japanese is a great idea!
Will I get a job?
This program is designed to help you learn more about working in Japan and plan your move. We provide guidance about how to apply for jobs and connect you with companies, but cannot guarantee that you will land a job as a result of the program.
I'm a student - can I still attend?
Yes, please register your interest. Job hunting in Japan is very different for students, so if we receive enough interest from students, we will create a tailor made curriculum for students.
What time are the sessions?
This is currently TBD. We will choose a day/time based on the preferences of waitlist participants. Sessions will be recorded for those unable to join live.
How many people will join?
This is our inaugural program, and we plan to limit it to only 10-15 participants.
Will I learn design skills?
No, this is not a design course. It is for designers to learn how to plan & execute a move to Japan.
How much does it cost?
The pilot program will be available to those who have registered their interest at an affordable cost. Sign up to be the first to know.

Take the First Step to a Career in Japan!

Pilot Program Launching Soon

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