Free live group sessions for designers
Workshops, AMAs, portfolio teardowns and working sessions hosted by hand-picked design mentors on Hop by Design Buddies. Most are free. Grab a seat with a free account, get a calendar invite, and show up.
Thu, Oct 1, 9:00 AM PT
Navigating Stakeholder or Upper Level Leaders Vibe-check Interviews (last round)
with Matt Karakilic
The final round with a VP or exec isn't testing your skills anymore — it's testing whether they'd want you in the room. I'll walk through what that interview is actually evaluating, how to read the room, and how to hold your own with someone more senior than any interviewer you've faced yet. Drawing on hiring at Director level myself. For anyone with a final-round exec interview coming up. $10 to join — not about the money, it's a skin-in-the-game filter so the room is people who'll actually show up and work. Once 5+ people have signed up, all proceeds from that session go toward one free 1:1 coaching session with me, which I'll give to whoever's signup answer shows the clearest "here's exactly where I'm stuck." I'll announce it at the end.
$10 · up to 20 seats · 60 min
Fri, Oct 2, 9:00 AM PT
Mock Interview + Feedback
with Matt Karakilic
Sign up with the role and level you're interviewing for and I'll pick 1–2 volunteers for a live mock interview — portfolio walkthrough, "tell me about a time," and the questions that actually trip people up — with direct feedback on delivery, not just content. Feedback stays open to the whole room, so even if you're not picked you'll hear what actually lands and what doesn't. For anyone with an interview coming up or applications in flight. $10 to join — not about the money, it's a skin-in-the-game filter so the room is people who'll actually show up and work. Once 5+ people have signed up, all proceeds from that session go toward one free 1:1 coaching session with me, which I'll give to whoever's signup answer shows the clearest 'here's exactly where I'm stuck.' I'll announce it at the end.
$10 · up to 20 seats · 60 min
Wed, Oct 7, 9:15 AM PT
Ask me anything: Ask a Hiring Manager
with Stepheni M.
I've hired high performing teams at a few different companies. Bring your questions about getting hired as a designer. I'll answer as many as we can get through in 45 minutes: how I got here, what I'd do differently, what I look for when hiring, whatever is useful to you. Come with one question ready.
Free · up to 20 seats · 45 min
Wed, Oct 7, 4:30 PM PT
Working Session: Improve Your Case Study
with Karen R.
Let's improve your case study. This will be an active working session for a small group where we'll give feedback, then we'll work on it, then review the changes made. The goal of this session is to help provide you with direction, ways to improve, and some design buddies to help you get unstuck! Audience: This is for students (in last year of university ungrad program or last year of masters program), recent grads, or those who have 1-3 years of experience in design. Case Study: You must have a case study that you have done some work on. It doesn't have to be 100% polished or finished, but you need to have the base images for your case study and the story / process on it already on your portfolio. Format (times are approximate) - Intros (2-3 min) - Quick presentation (5-10 min): Contents of an effective case study - Case study review (5-8 min each): Each person gets feedback from the group - Working Time (25 min): You'll work on your case study. Feel free to ask for feedback. - Group review (15 min): We'll review the changes everyone made. -Q&A & Wrap Up (remaining time) Note: This is the first time I'll be running a session with this format so it's a bit experimental. If people find it helpful, I'll run it again in the future.
Free · up to 3 seats · 75 min
Thu, Oct 8, 9:00 AM PT
Design System Friends
with Matthew J. Galley
Casual chat about Design System in the age of AI. An opportunity to share strategy, tactics and knowledge related to design system creation, management, and application with the help of AI. Come learn from peers and fellow practitioners, ask questions and share.
Free · up to 10 seats · 45 min
Thu, Oct 8, 10:00 AM PT
AI 101: Intro to AI for Designers
with Stepheni M.
Roles across the board are being impacted by AI, but not necessarily in the "AI is taking my job" kind of way. Chances are you will need basic AI literacy in your design career. Join me learn the basics. Here's what we'll cover: - AI Buzzwords: What the flip does "RAG layer" mean? And other words you don't want to admit you don't know. - The three best places to use AI in your design process. - How to talk about AI on your portfolio. (And one thing to avoid.) - Q&A: Bring me your questions and I'll share what I know.
Free · up to 20 seats · 45 min
Mon, Oct 12, 3:30 PM PT
Working Session: Improve Your Case Study
with Karen R.
Let's improve your case study. This will be an active working session for a small group where we'll give feedback, then we'll work on it, then review the changes made. The goal of this session is to help provide you with direction, ways to improve, and some design buddies to help you get unstuck! Audience: This is for students (in last year of university ungrad program or last year of masters program), recent grads, or those who have 1-3 years of experience in design. Case Study: You must have a case study that you have done some work on. It doesn't have to be 100% polished or finished, but you need to have the base images for your case study and the story / process on it already on your portfolio. Format (times are approximate) - Intros (2-3 min) - Quick presentation (5-10 min): Contents of an effective case study - Case study review (5-8 min each): Each person gets feedback from the group - Working Time (25 min): You'll work on your case study. Feel free to ask for feedback. - Group review (15 min): We'll review the changes everyone made. -Q&A & Wrap Up (remaining time) Note: This is the first time I'll be running a session with this format so it's a bit experimental. If people find it helpful, I'll run it again in the future.
Free · up to 3 seats · 75 min
Tue, Oct 13, 9:00 AM PT
Most important interview: Navigating Recruiter Screening Calls
with Matt Karakilic
The recruiter call is the first filter, and most people either under-prepare for it (treating it as "just a formality") or over-prepare the wrong things (recruiters aren't evaluating craft, they're evaluating fit and story). We'll cover what recruiters are actually listening for and how to not get filtered out before you reach a human who can actually assess your work. $10 to join — not about the money, it's a skin-in-the-game filter so the room is people who'll actually show up and work. Once 5+ people have signed up, all proceeds from that session go toward one free 1:1 coaching session with me, which I'll give to whoever's signup answer shows the clearest "here's exactly where I'm stuck." I'll announce it at the end.
$10 · up to 20 seats · 45 min
Tue, Oct 13, 10:00 AM PT
Freelancing vs Contracting What's The Difference?
with Laura Szumylo
We’ll break down the differences between freelance and contract UX work, what those differences mean for you, and the mindset you need to bring to each type of role. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to approach and evaluate these opportunities as part of your UX career.
Free · up to 10 seats · 45 min
Wed, Oct 14, 4:30 PM PT
Hackathon: Getting Started with AI to Build Solutions
with Karen R.
A hands-on hackathon for designers who want to stop reading about AI and start using it. You don't need to be technical, and you don't need a fully-formed idea walking in. This is a low-stakes, high-energy 90 minutes to get your hands on AI tools and actually make something, not just watch a demo. What we'll do: - Quick setup + presentation: We'll get everyone's tools ready, then run through a short, practical primer on getting started with AI, what's out there, how to think about it, and how to get moving fast. - Team up (2-3 people): Pair off into small teams. No need to come with a pre-formed group or idea. Build: Pick your users, the problem you want to solve, describe the value it will provide, and then build a out a small working prototype. The goal isn't polish, it's momentum. - Show & tell: Each team shares what they built and what they learned, including what didn't work, which is often the most useful part. Who it's for Designers who are trying to get a little more experience with AI tools. Curiosity is the only prerequisite. Experience level: You should have a Claude account, ChatGPT account, or some other tool you can use to build a prototype with. You don't have to have experience prototyping, but it will help to have tried using one of them.
Free · up to 23 seats · 90 min
Fri, Oct 16, 9:00 AM PT
Go Freelance: The First 90 Days
with Matt Karakilic
What actually changes when you leave full-time employment — pricing your first projects, finding and vetting clients, and the mistakes that sink most new freelancers in year one. Including how to position yourself when you have the skills and the leads but not the years-of-experience résumé employers expect. This is for designers seriously considering the leap, not just curious about it. $10 to join — not about the money, it's a skin-in-the-game filter so the room is people who'll actually show up and work. Once 5+ people have signed up, all proceeds from that session go toward one free 1:1 coaching session with me, which I'll give to whoever's signup answer shows the clearest 'here's exactly where I'm stuck.' I'll announce it at the end.
$10 · up to 20 seats · 45 min
Tue, Oct 20, 9:00 AM PT
Landing Senior Design Roles
with Matt Karakilic
Senior roles get evaluated differently than IC or junior ones — it's as much about how you talk about impact and ownership as it is your portfolio. We'll cover how to position your experience, what "senior" actually signals to a hiring panel, and where most senior-level candidates undersell themselves without realizing it. $10 to join — not about the money, it's a skin-in-the-game filter so the room is people who'll actually show up and work. Once 5+ people have signed up, all proceeds from that session go toward one free 1:1 coaching session with me, which I'll give to whoever's signup answer shows the clearest "here's exactly where I'm stuck." I'll announce it at the end.
$10 · up to 20 seats · 45 min
Tue, Oct 20, 3:00 PM PT
Design Buddy Discussions - AI Topics
with Karen R.
Casual discussions about how AI is shaping design practice, tools, processes, hiring, and whatever else is on everybody's mind. Come with challenges, questions, or just to say hi, and us buddies will chat it out! If you've got topics about Design Systems, be sure to check out Design System Friends hosted by Matthew J. Galley!
Free · up to 10 seats · 30 min
Fri, Oct 23, 9:00 AM PT
Land Your First Design Job
with Matt Karakilic
What actually gets a junior or new-grad application past the filter — resume framing, what a first portfolio needs (and doesn't), and how to talk about projects when you don't have "real" work experience yet. For students and recent grads applying now. $10 to join — not about the money, it's a skin-in-the-game filter so the room is people who'll actually show up and work. Once 5+ people have signed up, all proceeds from that session go toward one free 1:1 coaching session with me, which I'll give to whoever's signup answer shows the clearest 'here's exactly where I'm stuck.' I'll announce it at the end.
$10 · up to 10 seats · 45 min
Tue, Oct 27, 10:00 AM PT
The Importance Of Having A UX Niche
with Laura Szumylo
In this session, you'll learn how focusing your niche can help you find better opportunities and be more memorable. We'll talk about why having a niche matters, how to figure out yours, and how to understand the market.
Free · up to 10 seats · 45 min
Mon, Nov 9, 3:30 PM PT
Working Session: Improve Your Case Study
with Karen R.
Let's improve your case study. This will be an active working session for a small group where we'll give feedback, then we'll work on it, then review the changes made. The goal of this session is to help provide you with direction, ways to improve, and some design buddies to help you get unstuck! Audience: This is for students (in last year of university ungrad program or last year of masters program), recent grads, or those who have 1-3 years of experience in design. Case Study: You must have a case study that you have done some work on. It doesn't have to be 100% polished or finished, but you need to have the base images for your case study and the story / process on it already on your portfolio. Format (times are approximate) - Intros (2-3 min) - Quick presentation (5-10 min): Contents of an effective case study - Case study review (5-8 min each): Each person gets feedback from the group - Working Time (25 min): You'll work on your case study. Feel free to ask for feedback. - Group review (15 min): We'll review the changes everyone made. -Q&A & Wrap Up (remaining time) Note: This is the first time I'll be running a session with this format so it's a bit experimental. If people find it helpful, I'll run it again in the future.
Free · up to 3 seats · 60 min
Mon, Nov 16, 3:30 PM PT
Working Session: Improve Your Case Study
with Karen R.
Let's improve your case study. This will be an active working session for a small group where we'll give feedback, then we'll work on it, then review the changes made. The goal of this session is to help provide you with direction, ways to improve, and some design buddies to help you get unstuck! Audience: This is for students (in last year of university ungrad program or last year of masters program), recent grads, or those who have 1-3 years of experience in design. Case Study: You must have a case study that you have done some work on. It doesn't have to be 100% polished or finished, but you need to have the base images for your case study and the story / process on it already on your portfolio. Format (times are approximate) - Intros (2-3 min) - Quick presentation (5-10 min): Contents of an effective case study - Case study review (5-8 min each): Each person gets feedback from the group - Working Time (25 min): You'll work on your case study. Feel free to ask for feedback. - Group review (15 min): We'll review the changes everyone made. -Q&A & Wrap Up (remaining time) Note: This is the first time I'll be running a session with this format so it's a bit experimental. If people find it helpful, I'll run it again in the future.
Free · up to 3 seats · 60 min
How group sessions work
A mentor sets one time and a room of seats. You grab a seat, it lands on your calendar, and you join live on Google Meet. No recordings by default and no AI notetakers, so people talk freely. Prefer 1:1? Browse the design mentors.