Reflections on a Year into UX: Let’s Split Some Tea

It’s been a year since I made the transition to the exciting world of UX design, and if you’ve noticed my absence, I have a good excuse! Since embarking on the User-Centered Design certificate program at the University of Washington, I’ve been blown away by the creativity and functionality that UX brings. It’s so much more than the user experience I originally envisioned. But enough about me—let’s dive into the juicy bits! Brace yourself for the good, the bad, and the ugly as I share my top insights and reflections on my UX journey. Shall we start with the not-so-great news?

If you’ve been following my journey, you may recall my plan to transition into UX design within three months, inspired by YouTube videos of people who claimed they did just that. Well, let me tell you—reality hit me like a ton of bricks. Sure, I thought I could be one of those lucky and talented few who could transition without a hitch, but the truth is, it takes time and effort to fully grasp the essential skills needed for this field. Looking back, I can safely say that a solid foundation and plenty of practice are key to understanding UX design. If someone had told me a year ago just how much effort it would take, I might have thought twice before leaping.

Now, as the market becomes increasingly saturated and new AI technologies emerge, I advise anyone considering a transition into UX design to think twice before making the move. With tech companies laying off employees left and right, it’s more important than ever to assess the viability of your career path. Don’t get me wrong—I love this field and all its challenges, but it’s important to be realistic about the road ahead.

It’s a tough job market out there, and even graduates with master’s degrees are struggling to secure internships and jobs. What about those coming from bootcamps, then?

Sometimes reality is not what we have envisioned…

My advice for novices or those considering a transition to UX is to do your homework beyond just watching YouTube videos. Talk to UX designers in the industry you’re curious about and gain a better understanding of what they do daily before fully committing to the transition.

I’ve seen friends make the switch to UX, only to realize that it wasn’t quite what they had expected and end up switching to project management. It’s important to have a clear understanding of the realities of the field before investing significant time and resources into it.

By connecting with industry professionals and gaining a deeper understanding of the day-to-day demands of UX, you’ll be better equipped to make an informed decision about whether it’s the right path for you. And even if it doesn’t work out, you’ll have gained valuable insights and connections that can benefit you in your future endeavors. So, do your research, talk to experts, and make an informed decision about your future in UX.

Alright, enough with the negativity. I want to make it clear that I’m not here to discourage anyone from pursuing their dreams in UX design. While the job market may be tough, there are still opportunities (i.e., nonprofit organizations, and start-up companies) out there for those passionate about this field. You just have to keep looking!

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Now, let’s focus on the positive side of things. As I completed my certificate program at UW (let me know in the comments if you’re curious about my UCD journey with UW —I'm happy to share my thoughts on the program), I’m thrilled to announce that I’m continuing my pursuit of UX by being accepted into the Master’s Program in Human-Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington.

This is a testament to how invested I am in UX and in "myself." Graduate school might not be for everyone, and in my upcoming articles, I’ll be happy to share details of how I got enrolled — STAY TUNED!

So, what are the key takeaways from one year of UX?

1. Importance of making time for self-reflection. I found this to be especially helpful, particularly when keeping a blog or diary of my process. By looking back at my initial stages, I could see how much I had grown and how quickly time had flown by. Having dedicated time for reflection helped me bridge my current learnings into real-life professionalism. It allowed me to consider how to apply what I had learned theoretically to practical situations. It’s also helpful to reflect on how I have arrived at certain decisions and solved problems. By doing so, you can identify opportunities for improvement and consider how you might approach projects differently in the future if given another chance.
2. Understanding the core needs of the users for whom you are designing and balancing them with business needs. It’s important to ask yourself questions such as, "What problems are we trying to solve?” "Why should we care about what you have designed or proposed?” “What would be the business needs and constraints?” By doing so, you can propose solutions that truly meet the needs of your users and, at the same time, drive business. Finding that sweet spot is what will make you stand out. This is a daily practice for me as I strive to create better experiences.
3. Working on real-life projects will give you the skills. This is obvious. Who doesn’t know about it? We all want real client projects, but we just can’t find any. How is this a key takeaway, then? You learn how to brand yourself. Why not start with pro bono first? What about cold calls to redesign an existing website? When you have the mindset goal of getting a real client, you’ll slowly come up with good ideas on how you can achieve it, just like in the user-centered design method. You are the user, and your goal is to get a real-life project. What seems to be the problem? You can take this opportunity to brainstorm and create a solution for it.
4. Collaboration. Collaboration & Collaboration. Even if you are the only designer in the company, you still have to collaborate with others. Knowing how to efficiently communicate is a crucial skill.
5. Don’t get too attached to your designs. As a UX designer, it’s important to be flexible and open to feedback. Even if you’ve poured your heart and soul into a project, remember that the ultimate goal is to create a product that meets the needs of your users. Keep an open mind and be willing to iterate and improve based on user feedback and data.
6. Learning data visualization is a great extra tool for your UX skills, as it allows you to analyze and communicate data in a meaningful way. I'm grateful that I am taking a data visualization class where I gained valuable skills in interpreting graphs and charts, and translating complex data into clear and impactful design. This knowledge not only enhances my ability to create more effective UX designs but also enables me to better articulate the reasoning and justification behind my design decisions to stakeholders and team members.

My list goes on, but I consider these six bullet points to be the most valuable insights I have gained throughout this year that I wanted to share with all of you.

UX requires constant learning, and to excel in this field, you must be ready to keep innovating and improving on existing solutions. Don’t ever lose motivation, and please, if you have a different perspective than mine or an add-on, I am happy to hear from you.

Thank you so much for reading! I wish you the best of luck in this journey! I’ll see you in my next articles!

💭Feel free to reach out, & for more content, you can connect with me on Youtube | LinkedIn