Layoff-Proof Your Design Career: A 90-Day Plan

Most designers prepare for a layoff the day they get one. By then you have a week to gather evidence of your work, no time to rebuild your network, and a laptop that's about to be switched off. The fix is boring and cheap: spend 90 days now so you never scramble later.

Days 1 to 30: get your evidence out of your head

Create one document called "Impact log." For every project from the last 18 months, write three lines: the problem, what you did, and what changed. Add numbers where you have them and honest estimates where you don't.

Then do two things people forget:

• Export screenshots and files you're allowed to keep. Check your contract and your company's confidentiality rules first, and never take anything proprietary.
• Save copies of positive feedback, performance reviews and kind messages from colleagues.

Days 31 to 60: warm up your network

Make a list of 20 people who know your work: former colleagues, managers, engineers, PMs. Message five each week with something specific, such as a link, a question, or a thank you. Do not ask for anything.

Add a conversation with two recruiters you trust. Tell them you're happy where you are and want to understand the market. That sentence opens doors without raising any alarm.

Days 61 to 90: make yourself interview-ready

Update your portfolio with the strongest two projects from your impact log, written around decisions and results instead of screens. Refresh your LinkedIn headline and about section. Practise telling each project in two minutes and in ten.

Then build a small cash buffer if you can. Even one extra month of expenses changes how you negotiate your next role, because you're choosing instead of rescuing yourself.

Know your rights in Ireland

If you work in Ireland, learn the basics before you need them. Statutory redundancy is generally based on two weeks' pay per year of service plus one extra week, for employees with at least 104 weeks of service, with a weekly pay cap that changes over time. You're also entitled to a minimum notice period that depends on length of service. Check the current rules on citizensinformation.ie and read your contract's notice clause, because many contracts give more than the statutory minimum.

What this plan really does

It doesn't make a layoff less painful, but it makes it shorter. After 90 days you'd have an impact log, a warm network, a current portfolio and a bit of runway. Most designers who lose a job without those things spend months rebuilding them while worrying about rent.

You can do the first 30 days in your lunch breaks. Start with the impact log today.