How I became a UX UI Designer in 6 months from scratch: My career change journey
Overcoming obstacles to pursue my dream life
Are you ready to make a change in your career and pursue your dreams? My story may serve as inspiration and a roadmap for those ready to take the leap and make a change in their own lives.
Hi, I’m Vivi, a former Visual Merchandiser in the fashion industry who took the leap of faith to transition into a UX/UI designer just six months after quitting my previous job. And now, I’m living my best life as a fintech product designer in Sydney.
In this article, I’ll be sharing my journey of overcoming fears and obstacles to pursue my passion in the digital field and offering insights on how to make the transition to a new career. All the content is constructed based on questions that I’ve got so far from many mentees I’ve met. So, grab a cup of coffee and get ready to join me on an adventure as I take you through the steps I took to land my dream job in UX/UI and Product Design and gain the freedom to work remotely.
My Early Passion
: From Vintage Clothes Business to the Visual Merchandising
As a college student studying fashion in Seoul, S.Korea, I was filled with excitement and dreams of becoming a cool professional in the industry. I loved fashion since I was 12 and I even created my own online business selling vintage clothes when I was 14. As I approached my final year of uni and began to think about what I wanted to do with my life, I realised that I had a passion for designing beautiful displays and had always been drawn to creating visually appealing and customer-centric in-store experiences. So, when a job opportunity presented itself in the field of visual merchandising, where I could put my skills in curating product layouts and designing customer journeys to use, I jumped at the chance.
From Stuck to Start
: Realising My Values and Aspirations
However, as soon as I began working in that role, I knew it wasn’t the right fit for me. The early morning starts, the constant stress, and even physical altercations made me feel like I was living in a nightmare every day. I was constantly running around, trying to manage a hectic schedule between logistics. The fashion industry left me feeling trapped and unfulfilled, its traditional and rigid culture suffocated my aspirations for freedom, not only to work remotely but also to explore new countries and cultures.
Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but notice the graphic design team sitting next to me, working peacefully and listening to music, and I couldn’t help but feel envious of their much more relaxed work environment than what I was doing at the time. I gradually realised at the time that a digital career path would be what I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life.
From Googling to Quitting
: How I Discovered My New Passion for UX/UI
As I began my search for the perfect digital nomad job, I stumbled upon the field of UX/UI design. It immediately caught my attention — not only did it pay well, but the idea of designing user experiences and interfaces seemed incredibly cool. Plus, the opportunity to work overseas was an added bonus. It was a perfect fit for my passion for design and my desire for an international career.
But the decision to become a UX/UI designer wasn’t just about the perks — it was also about leaving behind a job that I had grown to dislike. I realized that in order to truly pursue my passion, I needed to take a bold step. So, without hesitation, I informed my boss that I was resigning. It may have been a risk, but I knew it was the only way to take control of my career and put my life on the right path. And that’s how my journey as a UX/UI designer began — with a simple Google search and a leap of faith.
From Fear to Future
: How I Overcame My Doubts to Pursue a New Career
When I first decided to pursue a career in UX/UI design, I felt a wave of fear wash over me. I knew that many of my peers from college had already secured jobs at reputable companies, utilizing the skills and knowledge they had acquired over their four years of study. The uncertainty of my future and the thought of leaving behind my degree and starting from scratch were daunting.
All these fears were like little voices in my head, whispering:
“What if UX/UI design isn’t for me?”
“What if I have to go back to the fashion industry?”
“How can I compete with designers who have proper design education?”
“What if I fail in this career change?”
“How can I be sure that this is the right path for me?”
But as I delved deeper into the field of UX/UI design, I came to realize that these fears were just a normal part of the process. Making a big change in your life can be scary, but it’s also incredibly exciting. The fact that I was already heading towards the goal I wanted, made all the hard work worth it.
To overcome my fear, I focused on my own growth and development, learning as much as I could and working on improving my skills every day. I even went as far as to block my social media to avoid distractions and focus on my goals. Through this process, I gained confidence and trust in my abilities as a designer and I started to envision a promising future for myself in this field.
My 6-Month Journey
: The road to freedom
[Month 1] Dove headfirst into a UX/UI Design competition
The beginning of my journey to becoming a UX/UI designer was filled with excitement and adventure. I knew I wanted to dive right in and learn by doing, so I decided to participate in a design competition I stumbled upon. Even though I had no prior experience in the field, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to learn the ropes. I’ve always found that hands-on learning and solving real problems help me to learn faster and retain more information.
The theme of the competition was to create a solution for QMIT, an organization with a mission to change sports culture through technology. The competition was organized by KSPO and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in South Korea. The main challenge was to develop a communication platform between soccer players and their fans.
At the time, most people were using Sketch, but I decided to take a chance on Adobe XD because it was free. I had some background using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator from my fashion studies, so Adobe XD’s interface felt familiar to me. However, I had to start from scratch when it came to designing digital screens and user experiences. But with a clear problem to solve, I put all my energy into the project and even pulled a few all-nighters to meet the deadline.
When the competition came to a close, I was ecstatic to receive a participation prize! While looking back at my designs now, they may not have been the most polished due to my lack of design skills at the time, but it was an important milestone for me. Not only did I add it to my very first portfolio, but it also gave me a taste of what it’s like to work on a UX/UI project and solve a problem. It was a great opportunity for me to learn, grow, and set the foundation for my journey as a designer.
🍬 Key Takeaways
- Dive in and join any competition or hackathon opportunities to quickly immerse yourself in the world of UX/UI design. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself, even if you don’t have any prior experience.
- Remember, the goal is not always to win, but to gain experience and become comfortable in the field.
- Use this project as a stepping stone for your portfolio. You will need at least 3–4 projects to showcase your skills, so focus on making great work. Even if you don’t win an award, your experience is already an asset.
- Collaborating with a team is a great way to network and potentially work on future projects together.
🔗 Some useful platform to check out
[Month 2–3] My First Portfolio: Built Despite a Disappointing UX/UI Design Course
When I first started learning about UX/UI design, I took a short course to build my portfolio. I had originally planned to take an expensive Bootcamp, but I found a government-supported free 2-month course. While the curriculum wasn’t as in-depth as I hoped, it offered the chance to get an internship or entry-level job at one of the partnered companies.
During my short course, I was excited to pack in as many projects as possible. But, in my haste to finish the course and impress with a high number of projects, I overlooked the importance of quality. The course also emphasized adding UI-focused projects over logical thinking and understanding end-to-end design processes and problem-solving, which are crucial skills for a successful UX/UI and product designer.
Despite my best efforts, I didn’t receive any job offers from the partnered companies. It became clear to me that they were looking for designers who focused more on visual design, rather than on the full UX/UI design process. In retrospect, I was fortunate that I didn’t land a job with them, as it allowed me to further focus on developing my skills in UX design. As a result, I decided to take a deeper dive into the field of UX design on my own.
🍬 Key Takeaways
- A Bootcamp can be helpful if your budget and time allow but it’s not necessary. Other options like self-study or other more affordable options can be effective too depending on how you manage yourself.
- Don’t rely on a course alone to build a strong portfolio. A course can teach you the basics, but it’s up to you to make your portfolio truly shine and show off your unique skills and abilities.
- Brand and position yourself as a designer, especially if you’re transitioning from a different industry.
[Month 4] The Power of Self-Education and Personal Branding
I was feeling a bit frustrated in the beginning because I couldn’t get accepted by any company, but I knew I needed to learn more properly. My ultimate goal was to work abroad as a Product Designer, so I wanted to align my skills with what the overseas market was looking for.
So, I dove headfirst into a plethora of resources like conferences, podcasts, blogs, research, and books. I scoured the internet for global platforms and designers working abroad, reading countless articles on Medium to get a feel for the overseas market and what it takes to excel in UX/UI. I even discovered the importance of creating case studies to showcase problem-solving skills, something that wasn’t yet a common practice in my home country of Korea.
I spent hours in the library every day, devouring UX case studies from experienced designers and listening to podcasts to gain a deeper understanding of good UX design. I was like a kid in a candy store, discovering so many useful resources and feeling excited that I was learning actual skills that I needed to improve on. I started my blog in Korea to document my journey and share the knowledge I was acquiring, and to my surprise, my blog gained a following and people valued my insights and perspective as a transitioning designer without a traditional design background.
Through this process, I learned the value of sharing my knowledge and repositioning myself as an individual who is eager to become a digital product designer and a digital nomad. It helped me to grow in UX/UI and ultimately provided me with the opportunity to create a unique portfolio and tell my own story.
🍬 Key Takeaways
- Share your knowledge with others, because teaching is the best way to learn.
- Position yourself as someone who is actively working towards a career in UX/UI, even if you don’t have a formal background in the field.
- Once you reposition yourself in a new career path, it will be easier for you to picture how to create your unique portfolio and make your own story.
🔗 Some useful articles that I got to know better about UX/UI from
[Month 5–6] Job Hunt to Job Win
Job hunting is a wild ride that requires patience, perseverance, and a healthy dose of humour, especially when you don’t have any prior experience and want to make the 1st move. My own experience was no different. As I dove headfirst into the world of UX/UI, I also had to give my resume, cover letter, and portfolio a makeover. I trimmed away the unnecessary bits and added more depth to my understanding of the design process.
When I first started, my expectations were sky-high. I was looking for opportunities with conglomerates or even just well-known companies. I felt pressure to start with a bigger company because I had previously worked at a pretty big fashion company. I wanted to keep my expectations high and build on my previous experience.
But as time passed, and I still hadn’t found a job, I began to feel the weight of disappointment. I even contemplated returning to my previous career in fashion due to the mounting anxiety of not finding a job opportunity. But then, I had a moment of genius and decided to aim lower and check out opportunities with smaller companies and startups. Sending out my resume and portfolio felt like tossing my fishing line into a sea of companies, but finally, I got some bites!
One IT company that creates interaction tools offered me a Photoshop gig that was simple but repetitive. At first, I thought it was just a basic job, but it turned out to be a great opportunity for me to gain experience working with a team of engineers and even work on UI elements. I didn’t expect to get any UX/UI experience through this company, but sometimes the best opportunities come in unexpected ways.
I caught the attention of another company with my writing and unique perspective as a transitioning designer, and they offered me the chance to work on a smart home product as an entry-level designer. And this is where I ended up honing my skills as a product designer for 2 and a half years, all while working remotely. As the company grew from a small startup to a stable one, I also got to experience designing for different platforms like mobile apps, websites, and admin dashboard designs from the ground up. It was like getting a backstage pass to the design world!
Throughout my journey of landing my first job, I learned that it’s okay to start small and that the most important thing is to start somewhere and accumulate hands-on skills first. I had to remind myself that:
“Starting from the bottom is better than being stuck in a dead-end job”
Sometimes, the thought of starting from scratch was daunting, but I reminded myself that as long as I was moving in the right direction, it was worth it.
🍬 Key Takeaways
- Lowering expectations and exploring opportunities with smaller companies can lead to unexpected opportunities
- Building practical skills and experiences is more important than working for a big company right away
For some, 6 months may seem like a short time, for others, it may feel like an eternity. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to land your first job when you’re making a complete career change. It’s not just about the external job search but also about dealing with internal emotions and conflicts. That’s why I wanted to share my journey as honestly as possible.
But it’s important to remember that my experiences and journey in transitioning to a career in UX/UI design are unique to me and may not be the same for everyone. Each individual has their own set of skills, experiences, and obstacles to overcome.
So, take this article with a grain of salt and remember that “one size doesn’t fit all” and “different strokes for different folks”. Use it as a reference and a possible source of inspiration, but trust your own instincts and do what is best for your own career path. And remember,
“when one door closes, another one opens!”
Thanks for reading and I hope my journey has been helpful!
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