Innovation designer Review

My experience on the IBM Graduate Scheme has been shaped by both amazing people and unexpected challenges. I have a lot of respect for IBM, its history, and the talented colleagues I’ve met through CE. There is a genuine culture of collaboration, and the people here are a real highlight.
However, as a design graduate, the path has not been straightforward. I joined the scheme expecting structured development and clear opportunities to build my design craft. Instead, I’ve often found myself having to work hard to secure the kind of training and project exposure that should form the foundation of a design-focused role. The opportunities that have been available have sometimes leaned more toward tech-sales or pre-sales activities, rather than the hands-on design experience I was led to believe would be a core part of the programme.
I’ve consistently advocated for myself, sought out design work wherever I can, and pushed to get the skills the role requires. But it has felt like a battle at times, more effort spent trying to access design opportunities than actually developing within the discipline.
There is huge potential in this programme, and the people are exceptional. I just hope future graduates, especially those coming in as designers, are given more structured support and clearer pathways so they can focus on mastering their craft rather than fighting for the opportunity to do so.

A Designer in Client Engineering focuses on understanding user needs, framing the right problem, and rapidly creating prototypes that guide the team toward a clear solution. They work closely with engineers, architects, and stakeholders to translate complex ideas into simple, human-centred experiences. Designers facilitate collaboration, shape the narrative for client demos, and ensure that every solution is desirable, usable, and aligned to real user value. Their role is to bring clarity, creativity, and user advocacy to fast-paced, highly technical engagements.

I often feel that my ability to contribute meaningfully is limited because solutions are frequently agreed with the client before I’m involved. By the time I join a project, key decisions have already been made, which reduces the space for design input or user-centred exploration. This makes it harder to feel fully valued in shaping the direction of the work.

The benefits and packages offered are genuinely strong and I really appreciate them. However, there was a glitch in the system this month that meant my bonus didn’t go through as expected. It might sound minor, but it could have had a knock-on effect on things like my pension contribution and personal budgeting, especially given how closely payment cycles are managed. It was resolved, but it did cause unnecessary stress.

I’m genuinely unsure at the moment. While I’m gaining some useful exposure, the lack of consistent design-focused work and structured skill development makes it hard to clearly see how this role is preparing me for my future career as a designer. I’d like more clarity and alignment so I can understand how the experience I’m getting now will support my long-term growth.

Because I joined as a graduate with substantial prior work experience, I’ve often had to negotiate or push for support that should have been provided proactively. It doesn’t feel acceptable to have to fight for the basics, and it’s made the experience more challenging than it needed to be.

Work–life balance has been great, but because the role hasn’t aligned with what I hoped for, it has recently started to affect my overall happiness and sense of fulfilment at work.

On a personal level, the culture and atmosphere are fantastic, and people are supportive, friendly, and great to work with.

I am still often the only woman in the room, surrounded mostly by middle-aged white men, and that lack of diversity is noticeable. It can make certain spaces feel less balanced and inclusive than they could be.

Yes

I would recommend IBM to a friend, particularly if they are interested in sales, technical, or engineering roles. The opportunities, training, and career pathways in those areas are well established and clearly supported. However, based on my own experience, I wouldn’t currently recommend it to someone looking to grow specifically as a designer, as the structure and development opportunities for design roles feel less defined and harder to access.

The role hasn’t fully matched my expectations based on the recruitment process. I expected structured design training and clear opportunities to build my craft, but instead much of the work has been more technical or sales-focused. On top of that, I’ve often been left to figure things out on my own, with little guidance or support. The gap between what was presented during recruitment and the reality of the role has been significant.