Deep Work Studio
Working at Deep Work
Skills and Roles
Tools & Resources
Quick start guide
The documentation is heavy. This should give you a brief overview how to get started right away.
This guide should be a simple outline how to get started working at Deep Work. It is not a replacement for the knowledge base and the rest of the documentation. Please read the individual pages and ask us directly if you have any questions.
Currently, there are more contributor applications than there are projects to work on. Unless you know someone from the current team personally, you will most likely have to wait for new collaboration opportunities to emerge.
Shadowing is more likely possible if the Experts on the team approve you.
1. Join the Deep Work Discord
The first step is to join the Deep Work Discord. As you join, most channels will be hidden from you and only unlocked once you sign the Collaborator Typeform below. It asks you a few basic questions and to sign a contract to make sure you don't damage client relationships. Read the #start-here channel for an overview of the most important channels.
2. Attend our weekly Community Hangout
Every Wednesday our community meets up to have an open conversation about anything that's currently happening and get a chance to talk to each other. There is no structure, so feel free to join and ask any questions.
You will find the weekly hangout in the Community calendar: https://bit.ly/3gZ1kk8
(Or announced 1 hour before the start in the #discussion channel)
The hangouts will usually take place in this Gather Town: https://gather.town/i/TGheRuP5 Password: deep
3. Sign the Collaborator Typeform
Before you can immerse yourself in client-facing Deep Work projects, you need to sign an agreement and leave a few details about yourself. This will create a portfolio document and make it easier for others to see if you are a fit on a project.
4. Shadow on a project
Shadowing on a project is one of the best ways to get involved in client work at Deep Work. It will help you find an Expert you trust and understand the expectations and quality standard of work.
The easiest way to learn fast is to observe a project by shadowing. It's unpaid, but gives you a glimpse into the design process and the creative decision making of a particular project. In order to shadow on a project, choose one from the list of the active projects:
And scroll all the way up to the first message, which contains all details you need to be aware of. If you want to participate in the workshop sessions, fill out this Typeform and mention the name of the Expert in charge of what you would like to shadow.
The typeform also appears in the first message of a new project channel:
If they don't respond or don't add you to the project it is possible that the client prefers to stay anonymous. You can also drop a message into the internal channel to ask if you can shadow.
Please be kind, sometimes Experts are busy.
5. Collaborate on a project with smaller tasks
If you haven't shadowed on a project before or haven't spoken to an Expert previously, the chances of being selected for work are very slim. We highly recommend shadowing on a project first and meeting an Expert before signing up for work.
Collaborating on a project is the first step to gather real project experience. Depending on how much you help, the Expert you work with will decide on your payment. You can collaborate with a User Researcher, a Product Designer, a Facilitator or a Creative Director.
First, please make yourself familiar with the Skill Progressions and try to estimate which level you are at.
Next, find a project you are interested in from the list of internal-channels (see above) and apply as a Collaborator through the same Typeform as above. Depending on your skillset and whether you're a good fit for the project, an Expert will ping you and invite you to all relevant calendar events.
The Experts on the project decide who to work with. Please don't be discouraged if you don't get selected. Experts always check who to work with based on their previous efforts and contributions, so it can also be helpful to provide evidence for good work in the past that fits the topic of the particular project.
After completion, you will receive feedback on your work and can start working on the next project. More details are outlined in the Buddy System section.
6. Solve bounties
Bounties are small tasks which almost anyone can do but which will improve Deep Work as an organisation. They sometimes have to do with content management on our website, writing documentation, articles, social media, doing research and more. Bounties can be created by anyone and found in the #bounties channel. The payment depends on the difficulty and is either in cash or tokens.
7. Create an internal project
Internal projects can emerge from a conversation you had on the community call or an idea from a workshop. These can result in defining a new role or even department within Deep Work, or simply a small project you would like to practice your skills on.
Community projects are an excellent way to practice facilitation, product design or user research skills. There is no paying client, the topics are always chosen by the community and making mistakes is part of the plan.
Read more on how to start an internal community project:
8. Collect capabilities to become an Expert
Once you have been vetted by an existing Expert, you can apply as an Expert yourself.
Make sure you have filled out the Collaborator Typeform (same as above) before you start this. The next time you apply for a project, select all tasks (or at least the required ones for the Expert role).
This project you will work on will be like a trial run. Once you successfully completed it and have proven that you can take full responsibility of the outcome, your Expert will give you an Expert role (for your chosen domain) in Discord.
This will unlock more channels and you will be able to take full responsibility of the next project and paid your full rate, as agreed on with the Creative Directors.
9. Work as an Expert or progress to become a Creative Director
As an Expert you will be notified for your interest with each new signed project. Make sure the Creative Directors know your hourly rate (or a flat rate on a 4h work day) and what you prefer to work on.
Explore the Skill Progressions to see what you need to learn in order to become a Creative Director. If you can provide a unique combination of skills not represented at Deep Work, you can also reach out to the Creative Directors to create your own skill tree.
Last modified 2mo ago
Copy link
Contents
1. Join the Deep Work Discord
2. Attend our weekly Community Hangout
3. Sign the Collaborator Typeform
4. Shadow on a project
5. Collaborate on a project with smaller tasks
6. Solve bounties
7. Create an internal project
8. Collect capabilities to become an Expert
9. Work as an Expert or progress to become a Creative Director