A career brief
A clear direction, supported strengths, and a specific next-step question.
Merritt / Career collection 001The Design
The Design
Career Story
Workbook.
Make the contribution behind your work easier to see. Turn your projects into a clearer portfolio, professional profile, and interview story.
$39 USD · Introductory price
One-time purchase. Single-user PDF license. Personal advisory is sold separately.
A practical first step for your next chapterWhat you will createLeave with work
Leave with work
you can use.
Guided exercises help you move from a list of experience to a story someone else can understand. Complete a first pass in a focused session, then return to refine it.
Three project stories
Your contribution, decisions, evidence, and learning made explicit.
A portfolio map
A sequence that gives each project and page a useful purpose.
Your introduction
A concise professional story and a stronger resume statement.
A 30-day plan
Focused edits, feedback, and conversations to move the work forward.
One method.
Different stages.
Late-stage students & graduates
Use studio, thesis, competitions, or work experience to show your thinking, iteration, and learning. No built project is required to begin.
Emerging professionals
Explain what you personally delivered, where you received support, and which responsibilities you are ready to develop.
Mid-level practitioners
Make ownership, coordination, design judgment, and delivery visible through specific decisions and evidence.
Senior professionals & creative leaders
Articulate the scope of your responsibility, the decisions you shaped, and how you enabled others to do good work.
Inside the workbookA considered process.
A considered process.
A clearer story.
Original Merritt exercises, four clearly labeled fictional examples, fillable worksheets, and a reusable one-page career brief. Designed for digital use or printing.
- 02–06Direction & evidence
Choose your route, define your next move, and select the projects that support it.
- 07–13Project stories
Learn the five-part story method, explore examples for four career stages, and draft your own.
- 14–17Portfolio & professional voice
Plan a sequence and translate the same evidence into captions, resume statements, and an introduction.
- 18–22Practice & action
Rehearse the conversation, assess opportunities, create a plan, and review your material.
- 23–24Your next step
Choose optional personal support, understand the workbook license, and explore further reading.
Try the approachSee what’s inside.
See what’s inside.
Start with the sample.
The free preview includes five selected pages: the cover, how to use the workbook, career-stage routes, the project-story framework, and a worked student example.
Prefer a smaller first step? Explore the free portfolio checklist.When a second perspective helpsBring your draft.
Bring your draft.
Refine it together.
The workbook is useful on its own. If you want personal feedback, your completed brief and selected project stories can make an advisory conversation more focused.
Personal advisory is a separate service and is not included with the workbook.
A few useful answers
Before you begin.
Can I purchase the workbook now?
Yes. Begin checkout on this page, then use My download in this same browser after payment confirmation. Save a local copy of your PDF.
Is it useful if I am still in school?
Yes. The student route uses clearly labeled academic and relevant work experience. The workbook helps you explain decisions, iteration, and contribution; it does not teach technical design skills or replace your education.
Does it include a consultation or portfolio template?
It is a self-directed workbook with exercises, examples, and a portfolio planning worksheet. It does not include an InDesign template, individual feedback, a consultation, or a guaranteed employment outcome.
Can I complete it digitally?
The full workbook has 35 fillable fields. Download and save a local copy. Use a PDF viewer that retains form entries, or print the worksheets and write by hand.
How will I access my purchase?
Begin checkout from this page. After payment is confirmed, use My download in the same browser to save your PDF. An essential cookie remembers access; keep a local copy of the workbook.
Can I share the blank workbook?
The purchase is a single-user license. You may share your own completed worksheets with a trusted reviewer or adviser. Resale and redistribution of the blank workbook are not included.