Meet Jenny Björkman: co-founder and UX Consultant at Interaktiv Studio, a boutique UX/UI design agency, and active coach, mentor, facilitator, panel member, and guest speaker in the UX and tech communities.
With a profile like that, you might assume that Jenny has always worked in UX.
But actually, she pivoted much later in her career. Prior to UX, Jenny spent the best part of two decades in the financial services industry—first in information design, then in project management and marketing.
In November 2018, Jenny completed the UX Design Institute’s Professional Diploma in UX Design. In the very same month, she was hired as UX Lead at fintech startup Sustainably.
So what sparked Jenny’s career change? And how did she make the switch in just four months?
Let’s dive deeper into Jenny’s inspirational story.
From project management to UX: where it all began
In the early years of her career, Jenny worked as an information designer at Standard Life Aberdeen, a global investment company.
Looking back, Jenny notes many similarities between information design and UX—describing it as “UX on paper before UX existed” and “the perfect 50:50 split of logic and creativity.”
This was the early 2000s, however, and UX as we know it today was still very much in its infancy. With little possibility for career progression, Jenny moved into a project management role within the same company. Then, four years after that, she took on a marketing consultant position.
After 17 years at Standard Life Aberdeen, Jenny met her now-husband, a creative director at a digital design agency. A casual conversation about Jenny’s previous role in information design sparked another conversation about UX—and planted the seed for Jenny’s career change.
“I started out in information design, which was like UX on paper before UX existed. I loved the job, as it was the perfect 50:50 split of logic and creativity. But unfortunately, there was no career progression, so I side-stepped into a project management role before changing lanes into marketing.
Then I met my husband, who was Creative Director at a digital design agency. When I told him about my old information design job and why I loved it, he said ‘You should do UX’. I started looking into it and thought ‘Yes—this is for me!’”
Setting the wheels in motion with a UX design course
After extensive research into the field, Jenny had her sights set firmly on UX—and she had a solid plan of action.
First, she would start to incorporate UX into her marketing role as much as she could. Then she would transition internally from marketing to the UX department.
In preparation for the move, the company’s Head of UX suggested Jenny take a UX design course to formalise her skills. So she completed the UX Design Institute’s two-day in-person training course, followed by the UX Design Fundamentals online course.
Jenny’s initial studies confirmed that UX was definitely the right path for her, and she was all set for her new UX role at Standard Life Aberdeen. But things didn’t quite go to plan.
As Jenny explains:
“Unfortunately, through a combination of factors—including bad timing and a massive restructuring of the company following its buy-out by another company—the offer of a new role in UX that I’d previously negotiated was taken off the table.
I hung on for as long as I could in my current role at the time, but then the UX Design Institute reached out to tell me about the new diploma course they were launching. I took the opportunity to leave my job and start the course.”
As one door closes, another opens. And so Jenny dove into the Professional Diploma in UX Design.
Although Jenny decided to leave her company and focus solely on the course, note that you don’t need to quit your job in order to complete your UX studies.
All UX Design Institute courses are delivered entirely online at a self-paced schedule—meaning you can fit the course around your job, caregiving responsibilities, and any other commitments you might have. You can dedicate around 5 hours per week to complete the course in 6 months—and take up to 12 months if you need to.
Did networking help you land a UX job?
While I was doing the diploma, I was networking. Even just doing the diploma really opened doors because people were really interested in it. Even seasoned UXers were really, really interested in it. It was definitely a talking point when I was going to meetups and talking to members of the UX community.
“Even just doing the diploma really opened doors because people were really interested in it.”
When it came to job hunting it definitely added weight to my application. But that makes sense. The university credit-rating and portfolio were definitely important for the employers. The certification adds weight to your case that you actually know your stuff.
From UX student to UX Lead in the space of 4 months: the power of transferable skills and a credible diploma
Jenny completed the UX diploma in November 2018—and landed her first UX job in the very same month. Not only did she get hired remarkably quickly: she also went straight in as a UX Lead. Impressive!
Jenny effectively realised her career change in the space of four months—a strong testament to her hard work, and to the power of transferable skills, a high-quality UX education, and an industry-recognised diploma.
Transferable skills are your superpower
First: let’s talk about transferable skills. Jenny may have only officially started learning UX in 2018, but she was developing crucial UX-related skills throughout her career up until that point.
A career in UX requires stellar communication and collaboration, effective problem-solving and critical thinking, strong research and analysis skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects at once.
Then there’s the matter of stakeholder management—the ability to gather and understand various stakeholder needs, manage expectations, and foster alignment.
All of those essential UX skills are also fundamental to project management, and Jenny had them down pat before she’d even heard of UX design.
So: if you think you’re at a disadvantage because you’re coming from an ‘unrelated’ professional background, think again. Just like Jenny, your previous studies and/or work experience likely have more in common with UX than you realise.
A high-quality course and a credible certification can make all the difference
For Jenny, the structure and quality of the UX design course proved crucial.
Thanks to a thorough and up-to-date curriculum, practical project work, support with creating a professional portfolio, and regular feedback from her mentor, Jenny was able to quickly build her UX skill set—and develop the confidence to apply for jobs.
And, because the Professional Diploma in UX Design is credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University, Jenny had no problem verifying her new skills and positioning herself as a qualified candidate.
That’s another key point to note for any aspiring career-changers reading this: not all UX qualifications and certifications are held in equal regard among employers. Make sure you study with a reputable provider who can issue an industry-recognised certification that employers will take seriously.
The present-day: a UX career going from strength to strength
Since completing the UX diploma and landing her first UX role, Jenny’s career has gone from strength to strength.
After three years as UX Lead at fintech startup Sustainably, Jenny co-founded Interaktiv Studio—a boutique UX/UI design agency where she works as a UX Consultant.
Not only is Jenny an extremely successful designer and entrepreneur. She’s also a highly engaged leader in the UX community. You can find her speaking at industry events, serving on various panels, mentoring and coaching aspiring designers, and advocating for social good.
Jenny is also a lifelong learner, continuously striving to expand her skill set and broaden her horizons. After obtaining her UX diploma, she has continued to study with the UX Design Institute.
She completed her Professional Certificate in UI Design in 2020, and in October 2021, obtained her Certificate in Software and Coding Fundamentals for UX. Most recently, in 2023, Jenny got her Professional Certificate in Content Design.
Are you considering a career in UX? Jenny’s advice for aspiring designers
It’s clear that Jenny has found her calling. And, through her mentorship work, she’s empowering others to follow in her footsteps.
We asked Jenny what advice she would give to students currently taking the Professional Diploma in UX Design, or considering it in the future. Here’s what she had to say:
“Make sure you’ve got your work done for the scheduled webinars and ensure that your course mentor knows that you’ve handed it in and you want it reviewed. That advice and feedback is really gold dust when it comes to your progress!”
Sound advice indeed! And, knowing what she knows now, would Jenny recommend the UX Design Institute?
“I would highly recommend the UX Design Institute. It’s a really great company with fantastic staff and the right attitude. There is always someone available to answer questions, and they’re always on your side.”
Last but not least, Jenny shared some words of wisdom for navigating the UX job market as a newcomer:
“Aside from putting in the work to get certified and qualified as a UX designer, there were a number of steps that I undertook to secure my first UX job with Sustainably. This included networking with other UX professionals in the industry, reaching out to and establishing relationships with people more experienced than me for mentorship, and reflecting on and changing up my own personal brand.”
Start your own career change with the UX Design Institute
If you too would like to transition to an exciting career in UX, take the first step with the UX Design Institute. Learn more about the Professional Diploma in UX Design via the official course page, and book a call with an education advisor. They can offer impartial advice about your career change, and answer any questions you may have about the course.
For further inspiration and industry insights, check out the following:
- Is the UX job market oversaturated? An in-depth analysis and outlook for 2024
- Want to become a UX designer? Here’s how your ‘unrelated’ work experience will help you
- UX Insiders: Transitioning from an unrelated career to UX with Emilie Mazurek, Senior UX Designer
